American English Speaking and Listening

Course Description

This course is designed to allow international students to address specific oral skills.  Students will refine their communication skills through listening, discussion, and oral presentation in an academic environment.

The class meets eighty minutes a week and focuses on refining listening, pronunciation, and speaking skills through classroom and language laboratory practice.  Since problem areas will differ depending on the first language of the students, the program of study has been developed based on a contrastive analysis of English utilizing, for example, consonant distinctions, segmentals, stress, rhythm, and intonation.  Students will receive individual and small group instruction to maximize speaker/listener interaction and presentation skills.  To further improve intelligibility when speaking in a classroom situation, international students will learn the importance of cultural cues.  ITAs are placed in this course on the basis of their SPEAK/RIVA scores.

Course Requirements

All students are expected to take an active role in creating a positive learning environment.  There will be approximately one presentation assignment every other week with additional assigned listening exercises, as well as in-class discussions.

Materials

• Chosen by the instructor to meet individual learning styles and needs.
• A blank cassette for practice recording.

Final Evaluation

Students will give a presentation on a topic from the student's field of study, which may be in one or a combination of the following formats: definition of a term, and/or teaching a process. The presentation will be videotaped.

Grading

At the end of the semester, students receive a pass/fail grade.  In order to pass, students need to complete all assignments and demonstrate improvement in presentations.