WRITING OUTCOMES:
Write a well structured paragraph with main idea and details connected by transitions;
Write a five-paragraph essay with correctly structured, coherent paragraphs and clearly stated main ideas;
Write with a degree of fluency and accuracy that does not distract the reader and does not obscure meaning;
Understand and apply basic principles of writing such as brainstorming, outlining, drafting, and revising;
Apply spelling, capitalization, and punctuation rules consistently and correctly;
Control most kinds of sentence structures and grammatical forms;
Identify the audience, purpose, and strategies for a given writing assignment in English and write accordingly.
Express ideas using well-formed structures and vocabulary acceptable in English academic writing.
READING OUTCOMES:
Demonstrate comprehension of a variety of multi-page, non-simplified academic passages by
answering oral and written comprehension questions;
Identify and paraphrase main ideas and details;
Summarize and respond to academic passages;
R ecognize differences among fact, inference, and opinion
Use contextual clues and knowledge of word structure to guess the meaning of unfamiliar words.
LISTENING OUTCOMES:
Show improvement in comprehending medium-length and longer-length listening passages by
taking accurate notes and responding to comprehension questions
Recognize advanced patterns of stress, rhythm and intonation in lectures, poetry and colloquial
conversation
Show comprehension of audiovisual material through both limited oral and written summary of
the main ideas
Listen to and evaluate the main arguments within a debate or oral presentation and respond in
oral and/or written form
Analyze the organizational structure of a oral presentation and outline it in written form
ORAL EXPRESSION OUTCOMES:
Initiate questions for clarification purposes within an academic setting
Utilize and evaluate non-verbal communication in an effectivemanner
Discuss complex cross-cultural issues or current events
Participate actively in small-group discussions
Perform an excerpt from a piece of literary merit utilizing native-like stress, rhythm and
intonation
Organize and deliver a 10-15 minute presentation ona topic of academic interest to the students
Roleplay interviewing techniques and engage in work-related roleplays
Participate actively in a team debate
TOPICS
A. Nonfiction Reading
newspaper and magazine articles and selections from academic texts
Critical evaluation of readings for point of view, bias and validity
Note taking, paraphrasing, and summarizing
Contextual clues to infer meaning
B. Fiction Reading
Pre-reading skills to predict plot and theme
Elements of fiction in short stories, poetry and novels, such as point-of-view, setting, character
(protagonist, antagonist), plot, climax, theme, symbolism, foreshadowing, and irony
C. Oral Expression
Practicevarious speaking functions in small-group and whole-class discussions of current events
and academic topics
Facilitate (Lead) a group discussion
State and support a positionand express agreement/disagreement
Ask for clarification
Restate others' views (interpret)
Give instructions
Narrate
Solicit opinions
Discuss and Describe Problems and Offer Solutions
D. L istening
E ngaging, authentic recordings to stimulate discussion
Opportunities to develop skills such as listening for general ideas, listening for specific
information, and making inferences
A variety of native and non-native speaker voices and accent
ASSESSMENT:
This is a year-long course andthe final assessment will take place after completion of the second
part of the course in May. Certificates of completion are only awarded after completing the
whole course (parts 1 and 2) and obtaining a passing grade in the corresponding exam. After
completing the first part of the course students will be awarded a certificate of attendance if they
have attended at least 80% of the classes.
In order to obtain a certificate of completion at the end of the second term, students must have
attended at least 80% of the classes and pass the course exam. The final mark will be calculated
as follows:
75% will correspond to the mark obtained in the final exam
25% will correspond to continuous assessment
The exam will be a final exam and will include all materials covered in part 1 and 2 of the
course. It will consist of five parts:
Use of English
Reading comprehension
Listening comprehension
Written expression
Oral expression
You will be required to pass each separate part of the exam with a score of 50% and receive an
overall score of 60% in order to obtain a certificate of achievement for this course. The 25%
continuous assessment mark will only be taken into consideration if you have passed all parts of
the exam and will depend on students' completing the course's homework assignments as well
as participation in class.
Students will be notified of the date of the final exam during the first two weeks of the course.
Studentsare required to take the exam in the group they are enrolled in on the set date. Changes
will only be accepted in exceptional cases and with supporting documentation.
SUGGESTED READING
Novels, newspapers, magazines, any original material.
Advanced English Grammar in Use by Raymond Murphy (Cambridge) or similar.
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES
Meeting point activities appropriate to level.
Language Tandems.
American Space: elibrary USA training sessions
Information sessions.Fullbright and Education
Monthly breakfast debates.
Women and leadership conferences