Basic Skills in Academic Listening & SpeakingEAP 135:002 Fall 2017

Tuesdays and Thursdays 11-12:15 Curtin 103

Instructor: Jennifer Mattson

Email: jennifr@uwm.edu

Office: Curtin Hall 697

Office Hours: Tuesdays 3:30-5:00, Wednesdays 12:00–2:00, and by appointment

Course PrerequisitesThere are no prerequisites to take this class. Upon completion of this course, the instructor may recommend that the student take ESL 145 or ESL 435 to practice, polish, and build on skills learned in this course.

This course is primarily for English language learners who are dually-admitted to UWM and have not completed intermediate or advanced levels of an English language program. However, it is open to any undergraduate English language learner at UWM who wants instruction in basic academic English lecture listening and note-taking, or presentational speaking skills.

Students may consult Gitte Frandsen in ESL Programs (gpf@uwm.edu) for advice on enrolling in ESL 135 or a more advanced academic listening, note-taking, and presentational speaking course, such as ESL 145 or 435.

Course DescriptionThis course is designed for English language learners who have had little or no experience taking notes or giving presentations in a university setting. It teaches students to pay attention to the organization of a lecture and to listen for phrases during a lecture that indicate important information is coming (topics, main ideas, definitions, examples, contrasts, etc.). Listening materials cover various academic topics and include short straightforward lectures for students to practice strategies (e.g., using indentation, outline formats, symbols and abbreviations). Students will increase note-taking speed.

Students learn to organize their own academic presentations, including narrative, informative, or comparative talks. There is a strong focus on ensuring that students support their ideas with effective details and examples in presentations. Additionally, the instructor will address challenges in organization, grammar, and pronunciation individually.

To help form well-developed ideas for their presentation topics, students have many opportunities for discussion with classmates. Students learn and practice phrases to utilize in various situations (such as sharing an opinion, disagreeing, asking a question, etc.) and get regular practice answering questions and sharing ideas during these discussions. Guided discussion experiences build students’ needed skills and confidence for participation in similar real-life discussions.

Learning OutcomesStudents who successfully complete this course will be able to:

Academic Listening• Write down main ideas and some details during lectures delivered with clear

speech, at a moderate pace, and with straight-forward organization• Understand main points of recorded material in his/her field of interest or study• Recognize language that signals main ideas, definitions, examples, and

transitions• Revise lecture notes and add details that can be of use for study or review

Presentational Speaking• Organize basic academic presentations with an introduction, body, and

conclusion• Deliver presentations with comprehensible grammar and pronunciation• Present advantages and disadvantages of various options • State a position clearly and support his/her point-of-view • Answer straightforward follow-up questions from the audience

Interactive Speaking & Listening • Contribute ideas and exchange information on familiar or academic topics with

some confidence in discussions with small groups of peers • Explore the main points of a discussion with classmates• Pose questions and contribute relevant points to contribute

during discussions

Required Text and Materials

Learn to Listen, Listen to Learn 1, third editionby Roni S. LebauerLevel: High-Intermediate-High-AdvancedISBN: 9780138140014

The required textbook for this class may be ordered online through the UWM campus bookstore by going to: http://uwm.ecampus.com/. If

you order online through the UWM bookstore, you will receive your book in two days, and you won’t be charged for shipping. You may purchase your book directly at Neebo Books, 3132 N. Downer Avenue. You may also choose to purchase online through Amazon, etc. You should order a new book, not a used one with someone else’s answers in it; doing this would not help you to truly improve. If you don’t have your textbook yet by the second week of classes, you should print chapter one from D2L (Content>Supplemental Readings) and bring it to class until you get your own text. Bring your text to class every day; don’t come “naked” to class!

Also, bring a pen/pencil, notebook, and your class handouts with you to each class session.

D2LD2L (Desire2Learn) is an online resource that we will use often for this class. To find D2L, navigate from the UWM homepage or visit: http://d2l.uwm.edu/ and log in with your ePanther ID. You will need to become comfortable using D2L to find extra materials for class, check your attendance and grades, and submit assignments using the Dropbox and Discussions features. Sometimes, there will be content posted on D2L that you will need to print and bring to class.

Coursework

Listening Tests/Quizzes

Students will be exposed to various listening materials and new vocabulary.  You will have listening quizzes which are mainly based on the listening text.  In addition, there may be unannounced quizzes. 

Presentations

Students will be assessed on presentations related to material covered in class. These will be assessed using a rubric and will receive a numeric grade and will include written feedback on content and language.  In addition, students will give smaller presentations and oral responses in class.

Each day, you should also be prepared with completed homework, paper, a pen/pencil, a folder to store handouts for this class only, and a planner to record due dates and important information. We will also read some online materials which you will access through our D2L site. You need to print the assigned materials and bring them to class on days we discuss them. For this, you’ll need a printer and printer paper, or you will need to purchase a print card if you print at UWM.

Do you see yourself in this picture?

Conferences

You will have at least one individual conference with me this semester at which we will meet to talk about your presentations. Please come to the conference with specific questions about your concerns for your presentation. If you miss a conference, I may or may not have time to meet with you at a different time to make up for that missed conference. Arriving late for a conference is also a problem because we may not have time to meet or reschedule. You will sign up for conferences in class.

Out-of-Class Requirements

Because this course aims to improve academic listening ability, you will be asked to take advantage of the many events and resources on campus, and attend one on-campus event each month during the semester. The three events can be: at least two lectures by a guest speaker (in English of course) on campus, an on-campus event, such as a cultural or organizational fair or even a sporting event where you can have a conversation with another person. Only a maximum of one of the three should be a sporting event, and you should aim to attend a variety of events. You will write a reflection (criteria on D2L) about each event, and you must answer all of the questions and include a photo of yourself at the event in order to get credit. You may attend events with classmates.

GradesYour final grade for the course will be determined by this grade distribution and grading scale. You will be able to view your grades on each assignment on D2L. Please take time to look at grades and comments so you can improve. To be eligible for full admission at the end of the semester, dually-admitted students will need to receive 83% or better in their EAP classes.

Succeeding in this Course

Attendance Policy

You cannot improve without coming to class. Therefore, you need to make coming to class a priority in your life. You are expected to attend all classes. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to find out what you missed in class and what work is due for the next class. You will be required to submit any work you missed when you return. Look on D2L and/or ask another student for this information. Looking on D2L for the assignments is often more reliable than asking classmates. It is very important to read the Class Work and Assignment Schedule on D2L, which will change from day to day. Always come prepared for the next class!

Arriving late for class or leaving early not only means that you might miss something important but also that you might disrupt important work that others are doing. Four late arrivals/early departures count as one absence. (Please talk to me if you have special circumstances that make it difficult for you to arrive on time.)

You will receive one of the following markings for attendance and/or lateness, which you can see on D2L:“P”: You arrive on time and stay until the end of class (on D2L: translates to 100%). “L”: You arrive more than 5 minutes late or leave early (on D2L: translates to 75%). NOTE: this is only for being a LITTLE late, not for missing half the class.“A”: You attend less than 50% of the class (translates to 0%).

If you miss classes, you will get a lower grade for the participation portion of your grade. If you miss more than four classes for the course this semester, you will not pass the course. There are no excused absences; if you are absent, you will be marked absent.

If you need to be gone for a religious celebration, you can (and should) go, but alert your instructor in the first three weeks of the class make alternative arrangements for exams or presentations. More information can be found in the university policy: http://www4.uwm.edu/secu/docs/other/S1.5.htm

Individualized Meetings

I invite you to visit me in my office during my scheduled office hours whenever you need extra help, encouragement or advice. If you’d like to meet me and you’re not free during my office hours, let me know in person or via email, and I’ll be happy to arrange a meeting time.

In-Class Requirements

Small group discussion

We will sometimes have small-group discussions in class, so make sure you have carefully read and thought through the assigned material so you have something meaningful to say. This is part of the class participation portion of your grade. Class discussions help you process information about our current topic of study and practice academic discussion skills. In order for these discussions to be productive, you must be present, prepared, and participating . Students who do not contribute to discussions will not receive credit for these discussions. Our class discussions will allow students to share differing opinions, so respectful listening and thoughtful responses are absolutely mandatory.

Presentations

Academic presentations will be scheduled ahead of time and will not be rescheduled. You must be present on the scheduled date to give presentations. Presentations may be video recorded so I can watch the video of the presentations again to give you detailed feedback, and so you can see exactly how you are doing with your presentations. You will be given a rubric for each presentation, so you will know in advance how you will be graded.

Active listening is important to university courses, and it will be practiced and evaluated through notes, quizzes, and follow-up discussions. You will watch and listen to lectures in class and will be asked to take notes. Lectures will be videos from a variety of sources. Some notes will be graded, and you will be aware of the requirements ahead of time.

HomeworkSo that our class time can be as productive and interesting as possible, you will be asked to work on content, both new and old, from our textbook. All homework is required. Some homework will be collected, some will be submitted on D2L, and some is for student exercise. Late homework will not be accepted without prior permission. In-class discussions, presentations, and exams will be held on the date scheduled. Alternative arrangements can be made prior to known absences or in unexpected situations.

Preparation and Participation

To succeed in this course, you need to do all the assignments on time and bring with you all that you need to bring to class, such as your textbook. Before every class, refer to the “Class and Assignment Schedule” on D2L for details about assignments you need to do before each class and at other times during the week. You may hand in a late assignment within 48 hours of its due date for ½ credit, except for presentations. Please know that you should always discuss with me special circumstances that keep you from completing assignments on time. Participating in class by paying attention to what others say — your classmates as well as your instructor — will also help you succeed in this class. Contributing your own thoughts, comments and questions is another important way to participate in the learning community of our course.

And of course: Speak only English in class!

This includes before class starts when you come in and when you’re walking out after class. It’s rude to speak your native language when others don’t understand, plus the whole point is to practice ENGLISH!

Cell phones and Other Electronic Devices: You need to turn off cell phones before class begins and leave them off for the entire class period. Electronic dictionaries, iPods, tablets, iPads, and laptops also need to be turned off during class (unless I invite you to use them for a specific activity).

Succeeding at UWM

Managing Your Time

University educators estimate that to succeed, a native English speaker needs to spend at least two hours studying outside of class for every one hour in class. Multilingual speakers of English need to spend much more

time than native speakers of English do. Therefore, you will have to plan your time wisely so that you can complete all of your reading and writing assignments. To show me that you are reading this syllabus, please post a photo of a river in the D2L Dropbox under “Syllabus Assignment” by the end of the second week of classes. Budget at least 6 - 9 hours OUTSIDE class in addition to your three hours in class. That means you will need to spend at least 9-12 hours a week on this three-credit course.

Academic Misconduct and Plagiarism

You are responsible for honestly completing and representing your work and for respecting others' academic work. Plagiarism is commonly defined as a form of academic theft — the act of claiming the intellectual work of others as one’s own. In other words, plagiarism is cheating, so it is not allowed in the university.

You must be aware of how seriously plagiarism is treated in the United States. At the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, plagiarism is considered a form of academic misconduct, and all plagiarism cases are subject to University of Wisconsin System rules and regulations on academic misconduct. The penalties for intentionally plagiarizing range from failing the assignment or course to being suspended or expelled from the university. For more information on academic misconduct, see http://www4.uwm.edu/dos/conduct/academic-misconduct.cfm.

Furthermore, I will not tolerate any other forms of cheating in class. This includes copying homework assignments and quizzes from other people, including past students. If I catch you — and I will! — I will give you a zero on the work. More important than the grade, though, is that you won’t learn if you don’t do your own work.

Where Can You Go for Help? (Campus Resources)

Writing Center

The Writing Center is UWM’s best resource for all kinds of writers. Their main office is in Curtin 127, but there is a satellite Writing Center on the first floor in the East wing of the Library. For writing assignments for this class (and probably other classes), your instructor is the first person you should consult when you have questions or difficulty with a writing assignment. Your classmates can also be helpful. The Writing Center is the best source of guidance after you have consulted your instructor. When you go to the Writing Center for help with a writing assignment, take your course syllabus and anything else your instructor gave you with details about requirements and expectations for the writing assignment.

http://www4.uwm.edu/writingcenter/

Student Success Center at UWM Visit the Student Success Center in Bolton 120. Make an appointment with a mentor. A mentor is a friendly and helpful UWM student who has been at UWM for a couple of years already. You can meet with a mentor on a regular basis. Here is the website for the Student Success Center, full of helpful ideas and resources for connecting with friendly people and succeeding academically at UWM: http://www4.uwm.edu/ssc/index.cfm

Panther Academic Support Services (PASS) PASS is located in Bolton 180. PASS’s mission is to provide UW-Milwaukee undergraduate students a variety of academic support services to empower them to learn, achieve, and succeed in college. PASS offers supplemental instruction review sessions of big lecture classes, walk - in tutoring , online tutoring , residence hall tutoring, and study groups. http://www4.uwm.edu/pass/

Norris Health Center Norris Health Center, your on-campus health resource, is located between Enderis Hall and the Klotsche Center. The staff at Norris will be your partner in and provide treatment if you are ill or injured, but more important, they will assist you in understanding your health needs and in learning to make healthy choices on a daily basis. Norris Health Center is the place to go for inexpensive non-prescription medicine, prescription medicine, health supplies, basic health care, blood tests, and mental health services if you’re feeling depressed or anxious. All the services here are either free or MUCH less expensive than a hospital or pharmacy like Walgreens or CVS because you’re a UWM student.https://www4.uwm.edu/norris/

The Student Accessibility Center The student accessibility Center is located in Mitchell 112. The Student Accessibility Center is an important resource for students with disabilities. If you need special accommodations in order to meet any of the requirements of this course, please contact me as soon as possible. http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/DSAD/SAC/index.html.

ULifeline ULifeline is an anonymous, confidential, online resource center, where college students can be comfortable searching for the information they need and want regarding emotional health. http://www.ulifeline.org/uwm/

EAP 135 Class Work and Assignment Schedule

Consult the schedule below to prepare for topics we will cover in class and assignment due dates. This is a dynamic schedule, and I will add to it as we go along. You need to check the Class Work and Assignment Schedule for every class, since it will be updated frequently.

Assignments are due at the beginning of the class on the day they are described below, unless otherwise noted.

Homework assignments are listed after HW and listed in bold. Homework assignments are due the day after they are assigned unless otherwise noted. (E.g., HW on Tuesday should be completed before class on Thursday).

Dates Tuesday Thursday

Week 1:

September 5, 7

GOAL: the importance of story-telling, the importance of truly listening to others and not just thinking about what YOU want to say. Secrets of awesome presentations.

In class Tues.

-Introduction to class (Syllabus on D2L)

-Information Sheet

-What is the most interesting subject in the world?

-Venn diagrams. Find one partner, preferably one who does not speak your language. Ask your partner questions about his/her life. Take turns taking notes on each other’s answers. Try to dig deeper than the usual questions and learn some interesting background and stories.

-Work on Thursday’s presentation with your partner. On Thurs. in class (after a few minutes to review) both partners will stand up in front of the class together. Each will briefly tell three things you have in common, and three things that you don’t have in common. Each partner will need to tell DIFFERENT things. Do not just list these things. Shape your presentation into little stories about the most interesting facts. Your goal is to make your partner sound FASCINATING!

Boring description: My partner Ling and I are both Chemistry majors. We like Chemistry. SNORE!!

Better story-telling: Ling and I are both Chemistry majors. We were happy to learn that we are in the

In-class Thurs.

-Presentation prep and presentations about your partner

-Continue cloze exercise.

HW: (due BEFORE class Thurs.)

-Carefully read the syllabus and do the specific assignment you read about in the syllabus.

-Acquire the text by next week Tues. If you don’t have it by then, print off and bring Chapter 1 from D2L (Content>Supplemental Readings)

-Practice your presentation: Introducing a classmate. See the rubric (Content>Rubrics) so you know what you’ll be graded on.

same Chem class this semester! Ling started trying to make things blow up in his kitchen when he was 8 years old by mixing different chemicals together. He burned his family’s kitchen table. Thankfully, he no longer does this!

-Cloze exercise/diagnostic

Week 2:

September 12, 14

In class Tues.

-Bring textbook to class and start Chapter 1.

-Presentation from new people who didn’t present last Thurs.

-Last presentation feedback (Content>Rubrics and feedback>Introducing a classmate) Did you make your partner sound FASCINATING? How do you do this?

-HW: (due BEFORE class Tues.)

-Listen again to the audio that we heard in class, adding to your notes in your book. (D2L>Content>Supplemental Listening)

-If you don’t have the text, print off and bring Chapter 2 from D2L (Content>Supplemental Readings)

In-class Thurs.

-Presentations from absent people

- Finish Chapter 1. Bring to class and start Chapter 2 of textbook.

-Introduce next presentation

HW: (due BEFORE class Thurs.)

-Listen again to the audio that we heard in class, adding to your notes in your book. Do the exercises for Chapter 2. (D2L>Content>Supplemental Listening)