Universidad de Guanajuato

Unidad de Idiomas campus León

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Materia: Inglés (EFL) CLAVE Inglés EL6
Área: Lenguas extranjeras Prof.: Salvador Ramírez
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AIM: The aim of this course is to help students PROCESS: Each week, for 16 weeks, the student will have 5
to develop as intermediate English speakers in hours of active class with a variety of activities aimed to help
compliance with the Common European them develop their listening, reading, speaking and writing
Framework (CEFR) level B1+ (strong skills. Additional to this, the student is responsible of
threshold). Students will develop the basic completing 20 hours-with-evidence of self-learning. There will
knowledge on the basics of written and spoken be 2 periods of evaluation in the semester: one in the middle
communication in English. (midterm) and one in the end (final).
PRE-REQUISIT: B1/Level 5/Exaubi 600

GENERAL OBJECTIVES: The student:

- Will be able to understand the main points of a clear and standardized given information related to work,
education, leisure time, etc.
- Will be able to face most of any given situation which may occur if touring a place where the target
language is spoken.
- Will be able to elaborate more complex texts in areas of personal interest.
- Will be able to describe experiences, events, dreams, hopes, and ambitions.
- Will be able to give elaborated responses and explanations to plans and opinions.

METHODOLOGY: Unidad de Idiomas works using a communicative approach, so the students learn the language
by communicating, creating significant and authentic environment. It also emphasizes on the fluency of the oral
production, as well as the development of the other linguistic skills.
We aim for a humanistic teaching process, allowing the student to adequate the language to their particular needs.

EVALUATION METHODOLOGY:
The areas to be evaluated during the semester, which the student is required to pass are:

Speaking: It refers to the ability to convey messages to Writing: It refers to the ability to convey messages to
their audience using oral production. an audience using written production.
• To achieve the “promoted” status in the section • To achieve the “promoted” status in the section
of speaking the student must be able to: of writing the student must be able to:
o 1-Can deal with most situations that o 1-Can write elaborated texts describing
arise travelling. a variety of situations.
o 2-Can enter unprepared into o 2-There is a noticeable precision in the
conversation on topics of personal use of punctuation according to English
interest. language rules.
o 3-Shows ability using a variety of types
of sentences.

Listening: It refers to the ability to receive, decode, and Reading: It refers to the ability to receive, decode and
comprehend messages given orally.
• To achieve the “promoted” status in the section
of listening the student must be able to:
o 1-Can understand straightforward
factual information about common
topics.
o 2-Can identify general messages and
specific details.
o 3-Manages to understand Mid-Western
American accent.
comprehend messages given in written form.
• To achieve the “promoted” status in the section
of reading the student must be able to:
o 1-Can read straightforward factual
texts on a variety of topics.
o 2-Comprehension and schematization
occurs while reading the text.
 Universidad de Guanajuato
Unidad de Idiomas campus León
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Materia: Inglés (EFL) CLAVE Inglés EL6
Área: Lenguas extranjeras Prof.: Salvador Ramírez
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To approve the semester, it is required:

1. To achieve 80% of the total attendance. This means to successfully complete 65 hours of class (the self-
learning hours are not included in the absenteeism rate).
2. To achieve the “promoted” status in the sections of “speaking”, “listening”, “reading”, and “writing”.
i. If the student fails the “speaking” section, he/she will automatically fail the semester.
ii. From the three areas left, the student may fail only one and still be able to be promoted.

Traditional grading (scaling 5 to 10, where 5 means not approved, and 6 – 10 approved) will not be used. At the
end of the semester, depending on the performance, the students might be given one of the following options:
o Promoted: Passed three out of the four areas to develop (of which speaking is mandatory to pass),
accomplished the minimum attendance during the semester, and completed the 20 hours of self-
learning*. To pass the areas evaluated in the semester (speaking, listening, reading and writing),
the student could be promoted because of averaged performance, or well because of a satisfactory
improvement. It means that if the student fails the first partial in any of the areas, he can still pass
the same in the final examination by showing a satisfactory improvement.
o Promoted with observations: The student complied with all of the above. However, there might be
observations to be made in one or more areas approved. It is both teacher and students’
responsibility to make sure the proper feedback is either given or received.
o Failed: To fail the semester, the student could have fallen in one (or more than one) of the
following: 1. Failed two areas of evaluation. 2. Failed speaking. 3. Failed to comply with the
minimum of attendance. 4. Failed to comply with the 20 hours of self-learning.

FIRST PARTIAL:

Online Exam: This will evaluate reading and listening. The exams will be posted in my website (which address is
provided a few lines below). The grading of these are working as follows:
❖ Above expectations: It represents the higher score, and the observations of the greatest
learning/improvements.
❖ Meets expectations: It represents that the student has learned appropriately and can keep
developing his/her learning.
❖ Average: It represents the basic score to “pass” the evaluated area. This one would represent a risk
for the student, since it indicates a low level of learning and development.
❖ Below expectations: It represents a fail in the area evaluated. The student didn’t show progression
towards developing the skill, as well as knowledge.
❖ Need improvement: It represents a fail with the lowest score. A student with this is in the risk of not
showing progression or very slow development for the upcoming
classes/sessions/partial/semester.
Writing Evaluation: This will occur progressively through the semester in classroom activities, as well as online.
The student is required with creating an account in storybird.com. All the writings to be evaluated will be posted
there. The amount of writings is to be defined though the semester.
Oral Evaluation: This will take place in activities held in the classroom, as well as online. The student is required
with creating an account in recap.com. The student is responsible of developing mini presentations where he/she
demonstrates the advances in vocabulary, grammar, fluency, and pronunciation. Those will be posted in recap
website. The amount of presentations is to be defined through the semester. No reading will be permitted during
the presentations, as well as memorization is not recommendable at all. Any symptom of memorization will
severely impact the score of the entire presentation.
Listening and reading are also continuously observed during class. The student should not rely on the online
exams to be promoted.
 Universidad de Guanajuato
Unidad de Idiomas campus León
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Materia: Inglés (EFL) CLAVE Inglés EL6
Área: Lenguas extranjeras Prof.: Salvador Ramírez
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Speaking divides in sub-skills, and they will be graded as follows:
❖ Grammar: Above expectations. ❖ Vocabulary: Above expectations.
Meets expectations. Meets expectations.
Average. Average.
Below expectations. Below expectations.
Needs improvement. Needs improvement.
❖ Fluency: Above expectations. ❖ Pronunciation: Above expectations.
Meets expectations. Meets expectations.
Average. Average.
Below expectations. Below expectations.
Needs improvement. Needs improvement.

Writing divides in sub-skills, and they will be graded as follows:

❖ Grammar: Above expectations. ❖ Vocabulary: Above expectations.

Meets expectations. Meets expectations.
Average. Average.
Below expectations. Below expectations.
Needs improvement. Needs improvement.
❖ Coherence: Above expectations. ❖ Writing Above expectations.
Meets expectations. Conventions Meets expectations.
Average. Average.
Below expectations. Below expectations.
Needs improvement. Needs improvement.
After observing the development in the four areas, the teacher will assign “Promoted”, “Promoted with
Observations”, or “Failed” in compliance with his experience as an English speaker, as well as a trained and
experienced English teacher.

FINAL: The final exam will follow the same methodology as the first partial evaluations. By this period, the
student must also turn in his/her completed self-learning portfolio. Any incomplete portfolio will not be
considered. Handing in a complete portfolio doesn’t guarantee the pass to the next level. Working evidence is
not the key to be promoted, learning evidence is.

SELF LEARNING

Self-Learning refer to those activities performed by a language learner in which he or she follows his or her own
lead towards different activities aimed to the development of their knowledge and skills. In this type of
activities, no feedback from an outside agent (a teacher/instructor) is expected, as well as no formal evaluation
will be performed. The students in Unidad de Idiomas are required with completing 20 hours of self-learning
activities additional to the 80 hours that comprise the formal course.

• To complete 20 hours of self-learning. The student is required with creating a portfolio of his/her self-
learning process. These hours can be completed in different formats:
b. CAADI – You can attend to any of the CAADI of our network of self-learning facilities. In order to
demonstrate your self-learning process, you will have to attach the activities you performed in
the CAADI. CAADI representatives won’t be signing anything anymore.
c. Online – There is a wide variety of web sites dedicated to the learning of a second language,
especially English. You can fill your portfolio of activities performed in those webpages.
d. Real life activities – You can include activities of your routine that allow you to develop in the
learning of English language. Examples of those activities are: watching TV/Online streaming in
 Universidad de Guanajuato
Unidad de Idiomas campus León
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Materia: Inglés (EFL) CLAVE Inglés EL6
Área: Lenguas extranjeras Prof.: Salvador Ramírez
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English, reading in English, having conversations with acquaintances from foreign countries via
social media, etc.
e. All of the above – Your portfolio can be filled with a variety of activities taken from the three
previous options.
This self-learning portfolio is to be created, but it will be neither shared, nor evaluated by me. It is your
responsibility to follow up on your own performance.

MATERIALS: It is recommended to the students to have something to write on and something to write with to
make notes during class of all that they might consider needed to keep record of. It is recommended for the
student to also bring either smartphone or tablet to class. In the case of using handouts, those will be shared via
the following website:
intelligo.wixsite.com

The student must bring the material printed, unless the teacher indicates differently.
The students are required with having as follows:
• E-mail address (which most likely already have on me)
• Recap (student) account
• Storybird (student) account
• Slack account
• LiveBoard account
• To register as a member in my website.

Due to the flow and dynamics of the class, the students are required with also having the following apps in their
phones:

• Must-have
o Google Chrome (To browse on the internet).
o A QR code scanner (whichever you prefer).
o Slack.
o Nearpod
o Liveboard*
• Optional
o Recap.
• Eventual
o Kahoot!

In the case of being given an assignment, the students will deliver either via e-mail, Slack, my website, recap, or
storybird.

Each assignment will have specifications (title of the work, subject of the e-mail, site where to upload it, word
counting, etc) which will be discussed in class for each assignment, as those may vary. It is important to pay
attention to those specifications, since failing to comply with them might represent the rejection of the
delivered work.

NO LATE WORK WILL BE PERMITTED!! Please note that students are NOT permitted to skip a single
assignment without penalty. I do not accept overdue work.

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 Universidad de Guanajuato
Unidad de Idiomas campus León
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Materia: Inglés (EFL) CLAVE Inglés EL6
Área: Lenguas extranjeras Prof.: Salvador Ramírez
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ATTENDENCE: Absence is not recommended; however, we have a tolerance policy. The attendance is taken in
an hour basis. The tolerance policy covers a total of 14 hours, 59 minutes and 59 seconds. Reaching the 15
hours of absence will cause the student to fail the semester.
No hours can be recovered. In case of reaching the limit, there is no way to justify those absence hours.
In the case you need to be absent because of an emergency, let the teacher know to see if he can offer you a
work around. The solution will depend of the situation the student is presenting, and the very judgment of the
teacher.

COMING LATE AND LEAVING EARLY: Tardiness is not permitted. Any student who leaves early without
expressed permission from the teacher will also receive an absence mark.

CONTENT: Please note: this content is a work in project and is subject to modifications/removal/addition of
topics, all of which may happen during the ongoing semester.

Healthy lifestyle and advices. Negotiations.

▪ Experiences. ▪ Narrative Tenses.
▪ Lifestyle. ▪ Events in a conversation.
▪ Agreeing and disagreeing ▪ City and services.
▪ Past and present routines. ▪ Future perfect simple.
▪ Opinions. ▪ Future perfect continuous.
Dating and relationships. Social networks. Safety in the workplace.
▪ Starting and ending conversations. ▪ Expressions of cause and effect,
▪ Leisure time. contrast, etc.
▪ Wishes, feelings, emotions. ▪ Speculations, deductions, etc
▪ Books and literature. ▪ Direct and indirect discourse.
▪ Media.
▪ Movies.
Politeness during casual interactions. Dealing with rudeness.
▪ Checking comprehension. ▪ Passive voice.
▪ Shopping. ▪ Mixed conditionals.
▪ Places in town. ▪ Past perfect simple and continuous.
▪ Food. ▪ Education.
▪ News.

CLASSROOM POLICIES:
➢ DO NOT ask for my permission to:
▪ Leave the classroom to go the bathroom (or somewhere else). Just leave, and make sure
you don’t take long.
▪ Enter the classroom when you are late. Just enter and don’t interrupt.
▪ Enter the classroom when you’re back from the bathroom (or wherever)
➢ You DO need to let me know when:
▪ You have to leave the classroom for an emergency, and it means you’re not coming back
that day.
➢ I need to be made aware of:
▪ A day you’re not attending. I need to know to plan accordingly.
➢ Participation is of major importance. The lack of participation in classes will have negative
consequences in the speaking section grading.
▪ Shyness, misanthropy, your hate for the world, and other stuff will not excuse you from
participation.

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 Universidad de Guanajuato
Unidad de Idiomas campus León
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Materia: Inglés (EFL) CLAVE Inglés EL6
Área: Lenguas extranjeras Prof.: Salvador Ramírez
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➢ Be engaged in presentations, discussion, and other activities. Don’t be distracted and don’t
distract your classmates.
➢ Be ready to learn more than only words and grammar. Unidad de Idiomas doesn’t work like that.
➢ Dare to challenge your own thinking and open yourself to the way other people see the world.
➢ Be open about the language, the way it is, its purpose and how it works. As you can see, we will
be working out of the traditional Mexican English class paradigm.
➢ You will learn a lot from your classmates, not only from me as your language instructor. Show
respect to those individuals.
▪ In this course, individuals will be respected. However, ideas shall be questioned, and if
not well supported, attacked and destroyed.
➢ Ask questions when you don’t understand.
▪ The questions I dislike are the ones asked after no paying attention. Make sure you pay
attention all times.
➢ Don’t wait for the teacher to tell you what to note and what to copy. Keep your own records
according to the way you feel you better learn.
➢ Don’t be late, and don’t expect the teacher to accept any late work.
➢ Cellphones, tablets, and/or computers will be required for many activities. It doesn’t mean you
can use your gadgets to facebook, to tweet, to whatsapp or any other activity that interrupts the
flow and the concentration of the class. Put them away when they are not requested for an
activity.
➢ Food is permitted during classes. However, this has its exceptions. Any “stinky” food (tacos,
quesadillas, gorditas, enchiladas, and so on) are not permitted. You are allowed to eat (and
share) nuts, chips (again, just make sure they are not stinky), candies, lollipops, sodas, etc. Just
make sure you put the empty bottles in the bin.