Course Outline Level 490G
Instructor: Gerry Luton
Philosophy
The ESL program at the University of Victoria is a communicative program. In the general stream the emphasis will be on improving your fluency in speaking and improving your listening skills. Much of our class work and homework will focus on these goals. Because vocabulary is so important to communication, we will work intensively on increasing your vocabulary. We will also work to improve your grammar, reading and writing skills.
Evaluation
Your progress is evaluated in class by your instructors on a daily basis. In addition, all homework is marked and the result is recorded. Quizzes/ tests are given throughout the session, with formal testing at midterm and at the end of the program. To pass into level 570, you must obtain a final grade of at least 80%. The final mark is calculated as follows:
Assignments: 50%
Listening
PractiseWith Gerry, you will have 7 regular listening lab assignments. The six best scores will be used to
calculate 24 marks towards your final assignment mark.
VocabularyWe will be studying approximately 15-25 new vocabulary items each week. Homework
for this vocabulary will consist of writing your own sentences using the vocabulary. You
will receive approximately 30 marks towards your assignment total from these assignments.
SpeakingYou will be assessed on your speaking ability in class on an ongoing basis. This assessment will count for 10 marks towards your final assignment mark.
OtherVarious assignments (news article, etc.) will count for approximately 5 marks towards your final total.
GrammarYou will have the occasional grammar assignment, including error analysis assignments.
Vocabulary homework will also be evaluated for grammar. Grammar evaluation will count for approximately 10 marks towards your assignment total.
Projects &The class will do a class-wide project in which each student will participate in group
Presentationspresentations. A self-assessment exercise and a reflective essay will count for 13 marks.
Class Tests: 30%
Vocabulary
TestsYou will have two major vocabulary tests during the session; one at midterm and one at the end of the program. These two tests will count for approximately 100 marks towards your test total.
GrammarYou may have grammar quizzes at various times throughout the session. You will also receive a
Quizzesgrammar mark on your vocabulary test. These quizzes will count for 10 marks towards your test total.
Speaking You will have an in-class speaking assessment at midterm which will count for 10 marks
Quiztowards your test total.
Note: The marks breakdown may change based on the number and type
of assignments and tests we are able to complete during the session.
Participation: 15%
Your participation mark will be determined based on the following:
Attendance Were you in class every day? /02
Were you on time?/01
Homework Did you do all your homework assignments? /03
Did you hand in your homework on time? /01
Effort Did you work hard or did you just do the minimum? /02
Did you correct your mistakes in your written work? /03
Did you stay on task during work in class? /02
Participation Did you participate in discussions & activities?/03
Did you ask questions in class? /01
Did you listen attentively to others? /01
Attitude Did you help make the class a positive learning environment? /01
Presentations/ProjectsDid you put sufficient effort into your presentations & projects?/03
Field Trips Were you present for our field trips and did you participate fully?/02
Communicative Competency: 5%______
How well do you communicate? Effective communication requires a combination of fluency, grammar which has sufficiently few major errors that the speaker is easily understandable, reasonably clear pronunciation, good discussion and communication strategies, sophisticated vocabulary and grammatical structures and good listening skills so that the speaker can interact well with other speakers.
Standardized Tests: 15%
In week 11 of the program, all the 490G classes will take standardized writing, reading and listening exams. The results of these tests will account for 5% for each test, or a combined total of 15% of your final mark.
Final Speaking Test: 5%
For the final speaking mark, you will be tested by two instructors, one of whom is your regular classroom teacher. Your mark will be out of 10.
Elective(s): 10%
You will choose one or two elective classes according to your own interests and needs. You will be evaluated by the instructor(s) of the elective(s) and will receive a mark worth 10% towards your final grade.
Textbooks
Required Text: Our listening text for the language lab is Judy’s World. The text, which includes both the workbook and audio CD, is available at the ELC desk on the second floor of CST for $30 + tax.
Optional Text: An excellent dictionary for English language learners is the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English or the Collins Co-build Learner's Dictionary.