Some or all of the following methods will be used:
- whole-class instruction
- large- and small-group discussion
- pair work on tasks
- computer-assisted learning
- instructor feedback
- monitor-led lab tasks
Students will receive instruction in skills and strategies in the following areas:
- Use pre-listening techniques to prepare for a listening task.
- Identify gist, topic and main factual details in monologues and presentations of up to 5 minutes in length.
- Identify specific key words, factual details and some inferred meanings in casual small talk, introductions, and leave-taking.
- Listen for specific information (e.g., names, numbers, addresses and dates).
- Identify formal and informal style and register and infer some situational details including participant roles and relationships in short social exchanges of 6-8 turns.
- Recognize and identify the correct sequence of 4-5 steps.
- Follow sets of sequentially presented everyday instructions with longer phrases related to location, movement, manner, frequency and duration.
- Show an emerging recognition of common socio-cultural conventions.
- Recognize meaning based on simple sentences and structures and show an emerging understanding of some complex sentences and structures.
- Identify common vocabulary and idioms related to topics of personal relevance.
Take responsibility for:
- Attendance and punctuality
- Class work and assignments
- Participation and teamwork
Use common software to communicate and to complete information management tasks such as word processing assignments, sending emails, or signing in to an online learning management system.
By the end of this course, successful students will
- Understand short, modified descriptive or narrative monologues and presentations of up to 5 minutes in length in simple contexts.
- Understand short, simple formal and informal social exchanges of 6-8 turns on topics of personal relevance.
- Understand common, sequential instructions and directions of 4-5 steps related to familiar, everyday situations.
- Participate effectively in a college classroom.
- Assess own progress.
Student achievement will be measured using the mastery system in accordance with College policy. Students will receive ongoing feedback from the instructor throughout the course. Evaluation will be based on learning outcomes and course content. Mastery will be granted to students who achieve an average of at least 70% on the items listed below. Evaluation will include, but need not be limited to, the following tasks:
-A collection of practice listening assignments (such as short answer questions, multiple choice, or true/false) from at least 2-3 spoken texts of up to 5 minutes in length.
-At least 1 quiz in which students follow instructions to complete a task (such as finding a location on a map or putting pictures in the correct order).
-At least 3 skills-based quizzes (such as listening for main ideas and details, inferring the relationship between speakers, or writing from dictation).
-A complete record of weekly assigned lab tasks, such as short answer tests, group work, or discussion.
Sample grade breakdown for this course might be as follows:
A collection of practice assignments worth up to 25% (total)
Quiz about instructions worth up to 15%
Skills-based quizzes worth up to 35% (total)
Lab assignments worth up to 10% (total)
Participation worth up to 15%
Students may be required to purchase one or more of the following materials:
- lab software
- a dictionary such as Cambridge Learner’s Dictionary
- textbooks at the CEFR A2 level such as McGraw Hill Interactions Listening and Speaking 1 or Pearson Northstar Listening and Speaking 1. See Instructor Guidelines for the textbooks designated for each term.