ELI 215-01: Advanced English as a Second Language

Fall 2016, Binghamton University

Instructor: Jeremy Lee (lee@binghamton.edu)
MWF (9:30-10:30 AM)

Office Hours:

Class: MWF (12:00-1:00 PM) RC 260

Champlain 317

Office: Old

ESAs: Gabrielle Royzen (groyzen1@binghamton.edu)

ESL Main

Course description: This is a course for second-language speakers of English who have
been in the US for several years and have good skills in fluency and listening comprehension,
but who still need improvement in pronunciation and advanced speaking skills. As a general
education "O" credit course, the main goals for this course are:
o Development of accurate English pronunciation and listening skills including
knowledge of the features of English and application of these through speaking.
o Knowledge and use of skills necessary for giving academic presentations through
practice with voice, projection, audibility, clarity of purpose and organization.
o Giving and receiving critiques to improve oral proficiency as well as self-monitoring
through reflection.
o Enhanced confidence and level of comfort when speaking in front of others in an
academic situation and when speaking conversationally one-on-one through frequent
in-class opportunities.
Required texts:
1. Linda Grant, Well Said: Pronunciation for Clear Communication, Third Edition,
Heinle Cengage Learning
ISBN 978-14240-0625-0 (text only) or 978-14240-8802-7 (text and CD)
(This text will be more useful for out of class listening if you buy the
audio CDs as well. Also, because this textbook is a practice book, please do
not buy a used book that someone has already written the answers in)
2. Course Pack printed from Blackboard (3 pdf files)
Other Resources:
An on-line monolingual English dictionary that provides definitions as well as pronunciation
of words:
* http://www.m-w.com
Websites containing audio clips as well as video of the vocal tract to help you learn individual
English sounds and aspects of pronunciation:
* http://www.uiowa.edu/~acadtech/phonetics/
* http://www.rachelsenglish.com/
* https://www.youtube.com/user/JenniferESL

ELI 215-01: Advanced English as a Second Language

Fall 2016, Binghamton University
Attendance policy: Your attendance in this course is crucial. If you miss a class session, you
will hinder your individual progress, and inadvertently hinder the goals of the entire class.
This course is a skills development course, where students work collaboratively on a regular
basis and have an active role in group practice in order to improve their English speaking
and listening skills. If you are absent, you are affecting the class community as a whole. Keep
in mind that most class work cannot actually be made up if you are not present. I will not ask
you why you have missed class. I will assume that you are choosing your absences wisely.
That being said, if you miss more than 5 classes for any reason, you will not
receive credit in this course. If you are more than 5 minutes late to class twice, it will
count as one absence. You will also need to bring your book and course pack. You will lose
points for class participation when you do not have your materials. This means you can lower
your grade significantly by not being prepared. Please respect your instructor and classmates
by turning off any distracting devices before class and leaving the classroom only in the case
of emergency. If you must come in late, please do so as quietly as possible.

Course Projects and Grade Distributions

Journal: (20% -- 2% for each journal entry and 4% for final reflection):
You will be writing a pronunciation journal. The journal page you must fill out and type on is
located on Blackboard. Download the page, type your response, and upload to the
assignment file on Blackboard. Each journal should be at least one page of reflection in
length and should relate your experience to what we are currently studying or have studied
in class. You must also print out a copy and bring it to class to put in a folder for your ESA to
comment on. To summarize, you will write one journal entry per due date, but will both
upload onto Blackboard and print out a copy each time. At the end of the semester, you will
make a final 2-page reflection to be turned in on 11/28. 4 journals should be based on small
talks, 2 based on TV shows (30 minutes or more each, no monologues or news casts, please).
The other 2 journal entries are up to you to decide what to write about. These can be about a
conversation you overheard, a problem you are having related to the class material,
something you noticed as a result of the class, etc. Keep track of words you have trouble
pronouncing and list at least 3 per entry.
Presentations: (50%; 10% for #1, 15% for #2 and #3, and 10% for #4):
You are required to do three original presentations and one that you will improve based on
feedback and redo. Presentations will be recorded so you can see how you did. You will
receive ESA, peer and instructor feedback as well as your own feedback by filling out a selfevaluation based on your video.
Homework: (15%; 6% for self-reflections, 9% for class homework)
You will have various homework assignments during the semester. These include listening to
videos, voice recordings, self-evaluation from presentations and goal planning. Most
homework assignments will be scheduled ahead of time on a calendar and some will be given
in class. Because homework is preparation for the next class, no late assignments will be

ELI 215-01: Advanced English as a Second Language

Fall 2016, Binghamton University
accepted. In case you are absent, it is your responsibility to get the assignment and have it
done before the next class period.
General Participation/ class work/ quizzes: (10%; based on overall
participation/enthusiasm to learn):
Every student is asked to participate to the greatest extent possible, and those who
participate more than average will be rewarded with more points in this area. There is no
such thing as taking a day off in your language development. I ask that you establish a
goal for yourself and participate in order to enhance your own skills and improve the skills of
your classmates. Students cannot share a book. You are required to bring your book,
something to write with and the course pack in a ringed binder every day. If you come to
class unprepared I will take points off of your participation grade up to 10 points. That means
your grade can be lowered for not coming to class prepared. Students caught chatting on
their phone in class will be receive .5 absence, and a full absence after the first time.
Attendance: (5%)
This is an advanced pronunciation and speaking course, so attendance and group
participation is absolutely essential to your growth as an English speaker. You must come to
class and you must speak English in this class! Grading for attendance will follow this
formula: 0-1 absence = 5; 2 absences = 4; 3 absences = 3; 4 absences = 2; 5 absences = 1;
6 absences = 0; 7 absences = F (no exceptions!)
There are only limited opportunities for extra credit on homework assignments, so you must
prepare quality work on assigned presentations and tasks throughout the semester. Since the
purpose of the course is for each student to improve from where he/she started, a student
with a high level of listening/speaking skills at the start, for example, would not
automatically get an A unless that student worked diligently throughout the semester. The
grade you earn comes mostly from your consistent effort throughout the whole semester.

Grades
The point totals will then convert to the following scale. Graduate students and those taking
the course pass/fail must get a D to pass. I will not increase your grade at the end of the
semester.
95%+ = A
90% ~ 94% = A86% ~ 89% = B+

83% ~ 85% = B
80% ~ 82% = B76% ~ 79% = C+

73% ~ 75% = C
70% ~ 72% = C69% and below = Fail

Important Dates (subject to change, depending on the progress of the class)

Journal #1: 9/12

Journal #2: 9/19
Presentation #1: 9/19, 9/21, 9/23
Journal #3: 9/26
Quiz #1: 9/30
Journal #4: 10/17
Presentation #2: 10/17, 10/19, 10/21
Journal #5: 10/24
Quiz #2: 10/28
Journal #6: 11/7
Journal #7: 11/14
Presentation #3: 11/14, 11/16, 11/18
Journal #8: 11/21
Final Reflection: 11/28
Quiz #3: 12/2
Presentation #4: 12/5, 12/7, 12/8