Community English Program

Level: Intermediate 2 (I2)

Teachers College, Columbia University

 

Instructors: Stacy Liu (zl2329@tc.columbia.edu) Ran An (ra2668@tc.columbia.edu)

 

Class time and dates:                                                                          CEP Office Hours:

Mon, Wed Thurs: 10am-12pm                                                              Mo/We/Thurs 10am—7pm

September 22nd---December 4th                                                          Tues, Friday 10am – 5pm

 

           

About the CEP

The Community Language Program (CLP) is a unique and integral part of the TESOL and Applied Linguistics Programs at Teachers College, Columbia University. It provides English as a second language and foreign language instruction to adult learners of diverse nationalities and backgrounds. In addition, the CLP serves as an on-site language education lab in which TESOL and Applied Linguistics faculty and students enrolled in the programs teach the courses and use the CLP as a setting for empirical inquiry. Here at Teachers College we believe that observation and classroom research are the best way to learn about how we teach and gain insights into how effective teaching might take place. Additionally, assessment and program evaluation play a major part in our program as well. Thus, we encourage observation and classroom research and want people to use it as a tool for learning.

 

About this Class

This is an integrated skills Intermediate 2 course. Students will practice and combine the skills of speaking, listening, reading, writing, and grammar through a range of activities. The class will focus on use of language in real, meaningful situations and tasks in order to benefit students’ lives and work in the real world.

 

Course Objectives

Students will practice:

• Speaking, reading, writing, and listening about various interdisciplinary subjects from the textbook and other sources

• Using grammatical structures listed in detail below

• Defining and contextualizing new vocabulary

 

Required Text and Workbook 

On Target 1 (2nd Edition) by James E. Purpura and Diane Pinkley

On Target 1 Workbook (2nd Edition) by James E. Purpura and Diane Pinkley

You can buy these at the Columbia Bookstore on Broadway and 115th and Broadway. The packet costs around $40.

 

Recommended: Pocket English dictionary (very helpful if you continue to learn English!)

 

Attendance and Automatic Fails

At the beginning of every class, you will sign in to Stacy or Ran that you are here. If you come in and are disrupting an activity, you are tardy. Please plan ahead and tell us if you know you will be absent so that we may plan ahead and help you out with everything that you miss.

10 tardies is an automatic fail. Please arrive to begin class at 10:00. If you arrive late ten or more times, then you cannot pass the class.

5 absences is an automatic fail. If you do not come to class regularly, then you cannot learn English effectively. 4 absences do not affect your grade, but 5 will.

 

Electronic Devices:

Cellphones, laptops, iPads, tablets, and all other electronic devices are NOT ALLOWED IN CLASS. They are distracting and detract from class time. Please be sure to put all cell phones on silent (not vibrate) at the beginning of class.

 

Course Requirements 

 

Participation (10%) – We want you to talk during class time either in small groups or to the class at large, or both. Being shy is ok, but if you’re too shy to talk in the large group, participate in the smaller groups and make sure your voice is heard then.

Homework assignments (15%) – We won’t give out very much homework, but we expect you to complete it before you get to class. We are not grading you on how many you get right, we are giving you credit for completing the assignment.

Unit Tests (45%)

Unit 5 (15%)

Unit 6 (15%)

Unit 7 (15%)

Final (Units 5-8) (30%)

 

Important Dates:

September 22nd – First day of classes

September 26th – Last day to withdraw for a full refund and transfers

November 24th, 26th, 27th – Thanksgiving Break! No Class

December 4th – Last day of classes (final grades and certificate)

 

Grading scale                                               

 

A+ = 99-100

A = 94-98

A- = 90-93

B+ = 87-89

B = 84-86 (Good)

B- = 80-83

C+ = 75-79

C = 70-74

C- = 60-69

F = 59 and below

 

Homework will be assigned by Stacy and Ran in class. If you plan to be absent, it is your responsibility to contact us to find out what we assigned for the days you were absent. Late work will be accepted as long as we are notified of the absences ahead of time.

 

 

Program Policies

 

The College will make reasonable accommodations for persons with documented disabilities. Students are encouraged to contact the Office of Access and Services for Individuals with Disabilities (OASID) for information about registering with the office. You can reach OASID by email at oasid@tc.columbia.edu, stop by 163 Thorndike Hall or call 212-678-3689. Services are available only to students who are registered and submit appropriate documentation.  As your instructor, I am happy to discuss specific needs with you as well.

 

It is the policy of Teachers College to respect its members’ observance of their major religious holidays. Students should notify instructors at the beginning of the semester about their wishes to observe holidays on days when class sessions are scheduled. Where academic scheduling conflicts prove unavoidable, no student will be penalized for absence due to religious reasons, and alternative means will be sought for satisfying the academic requirements involved. If a suitable arrangement cannot be worked out between the student and the instructor, students and instructors should consult the Program Director. If an additional appeal is needed, it may be taken to the Provost.

 

            Have a great semester!