Conversational English Syllabus, Spring 2016

CEP
Community English Program Spring, 2016
Teachers College, Columbia University
Instructor: Yan Liang
E-mail: yl3102@tc.columbia.edu
Level: Intermediate Conversational English
Classes: Tuesday and Friday
Class time: 11:30AM-1:00PM
Classroom: TR 157
Course Description:
The Conversational English course is designed for students with intermediate level proficiency. It
provides students with an opportunity to develop and strengthen speaking, listening, and
interactional skills needed in both formal and informal encounters. Through interactive tasks, roleplays, and presentations, students will build up fluency, accuracy, and appropriateness in a range
of communicative situations.
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
teaching might take place. Thus, we encourage observation and classroom research and want
people to use it as a tool for learning. Ongoing assessment and program evaluation allow us to
make the CLP a better program.

February 9
February 12
February 1
March 11
March 14 18
April 15 & 19
April 22
Important dates:

First day of class

Last day to transfer
Last day for refunds
Midterm exam
Spring breakno class
Final exam
Last day of class

Course Materials: There is no text book for this course. All course materials will be
prepared and provided by the teacher(s) and will use a variety of activities. These will
include class discussion, roleplays, and presentations.
Course Objectives:
At the end of the course students will be able to develop: communicate in a variety of situations
from formal to informal interactions. Student will further develop other communicative skills in
English such as listening (for gist or details), problem solving, argumentation, and persuasion.
Students will also continue to improve their vocabulary and grammar knowledge through
instruction and practice.
Participation:
This course requires students to be active participants through the whole course. They should
come to class on time and prepared to contribute to class activities. This means homework is
complete to the best of their ability. While in class, students should be active participants which
means they should share their thoughts and opinions, and ask questions when they need.
Because the class activities rely on student interactions it is important that everyone helps
develop a comfortable class environment by being respectful of other opinions, thoughts, and
experiences.
Course Requirements:
Attendance and Participation: 30%
Midterm: 20%
Final test: 30%
Homework: 20%
Attendance Policy:
If a student misses 5 or more classes, s/he cannot pass the course.
If the student is late for 10 classes, s/he cannot pass the course.
Grading:
A+/B+/C+/Fail/Repeat
W

Excellent
A+ 97 100%
A 94 96%
A- 90 93%
Good
B+ 87 89%
B 84 86%
B- 80 83%
Satisfactory
C+ 77 79%
C 73 76%
C- 70 72%
(pass)
Poor (no pass)
69% or Below
D 63 66%
D- 60 62%
Withdrawal (With permission from the teacher and the Director,
the student withdrew from the course due to extenuating
circumstances)

Date
Tuesday
Feb. 9

Friday
Feb. 12

Tuesday
Feb. 16

Friday
Feb. 19

Tuesday
Feb. 23

Friday
Feb. 26

Tuesday
Mar. 1

Theme

APPROXIMATE
SCHEDULE
Activity/Skills
Discussion
Leaders
- breaking the ice

Getting to
Know You

Dating
Rituals and
Relationship
Customs
English
Idioms

The World of
Working

Folktales

Gadgets

Socializing
and Smalltalk

- meeting new people

- developing a class
environment
- questions
- dating vocabulary
- cultural traditions about
dating
- stating opinions
- American cultural
specific expressions
- compare and contrast
(similarities and
differences)
- comparative adjectives
and phrases
- connectors
- formality differences
- interview skills
- resume/CV differences
- learning to reword
(synonyms)
- active voice
- pauses
- voice use to draw
interest and create a
mood
- simple past
- past progressive
- descriptive adjectives
- stating how something
works
- passive
- audience analysis
- intonation
- speaking energy
- persuasion
- how to make
introduction
- greetings in different
contexts

---

Model:
Rocky Wood

Homework
Watch youtube video:
Johnny Ts Subway Tips,
answer the questions and
prepare for the in-class
discussion.
Listen to conversations
and
gather idioms or phrases
you dont understand.
Complete assigned
homework and prepare for
the in-class discussion.

---

Group 1:

---

Group 2:

Find a short story/folktale

from your culture. Read it
4 times and be prepared to
share it in the next class.
Complete assigned
homework and prepare for
the in-class discussion.

Think of 5 problems that

you have socializing in
English and reflect why
those might be difficult for
you. For example, asking
for peoples names.
Complete assigned
homework and prepare for
the in-class discussion.

---

Friday
Mar. 4

Tuesday
Mar. 8

The World of
Eating

Hospitality
Problem
Solving

Friday
Mar. 11
Tuesday
Mar. 15
Friday
Mar. 18
Tuesday
Mar. 22

- topics
- listening markers
- agreeing and
disagreeing
- taste adjectives
- untypical food
vocabulary
- dining etiquette
- preference

Group 3:

- Group Problem Solving

- Giving bad news
- Hospitality vocabulary
- Word clusters for giving
bad news
- Future tense
- Modals

In-Class
Midterm

---

Group 4:

Record yourself speaking

naturally with your partner
(topics will be given in
class) and reflect on your
pronunciation. What are
things you do well? What
are things do you need to
improve? Are there things
you are not sure about?
Complete assigned
homework and prepare for
the in-class discussion.

Spring break homework

activity. Handout will be
provided in class.

Spring Break
No Class

Retelling
Information

Friday
Mar. 25

Movie
Contract
Negotiation

Tuesday
Mar. 29

Movie
Contract
Negotiation
Cont.

- listening and note taking

skills
- descriptions of people,
place, things
- past tense
- phrasal verbs
- time signals
- discuss the format of
negotiations
- polite disagreeing
- arguments and
counterarguments
- contract vocabulary
- modals

---

Group 5:

---

Complete assigned
homework and prepare for
the in-class discussion.

Take your role home and

research your character
and their position. Prepare
the information you want
to discuss and how you
want to do it.
Complete assigned
homework and prepare for
the in-class discussion.

Friday
Apr. 1

Getting
Around the
Community:
Directions

Tuesday
Apr. 5
Debating
Current
Issues

Friday
Apr. 8

Tuesday
Apr. 12

Friday
Apr. 15
Tuesday
Apr. 19
Friday
Apr. 22

Informative
Public
Speaking

Moving to
New Places

- how to give directions

- pronunciation
- vocabulary: places and
directions
* need to bring phones
- how to build arguments
and counter arguments
- how to debate
- agreeing and
disagreeing
- pointing out flaws
- opinions vs facts
- transitions
- format for informative
speeches
- transitions in words and
movements
- passive
- reported speech

Group 6:

---

Group 7:

- describing personal
needs
- types of house and
features vocabulary
- expressing preference
- hedging

Update your understanding

of current events around
the world (probably by
watching the news). Form
an opinion on the topics.
Complete assigned
homework and prepare for
the in-class discussion.

Choose your topic for your

final speech and email
Rocky with it. Begin
preparing your speech.
This will be reviewed in
the next class.
Requirements will be
handed out in class.
Continue preparing your
final presentation.

Final Test
In-Class Presentations
Final Test
In-Class Presentations
Last Day of the Term
Class Celebration

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.