English A1 Class Policies 2015

Welcome to the English program. The objective of the program is to prepare you to participate in the globalized
world. The course methodology is based on the communicative approach and task-based learning, focusing on
the development of communicative and intercultural competencies through interaction in situations related to your
context. Therefore, it is important that you participate actively and attend all classes and activities.
Textbook:

New American Inside Out (first edition), Students Book. These books are
available for you to borrow from the library, according to your level. Please bring the
book to every class and remember not to write in it.

Attendance:

You are required to attend all the classes, but 5 absences are permitted during the
semester. Attendance is taken during the first 10 minutes of class.

Tutoring center:

You will be given the opportunity to reinforce class work, ask questions, and have
extra material to study in our new tutoring center. If you have any questions about
the online platform, you can go to the tutoring center for help or send an email to
utalidiomas@gmail.com. For more information and timetables, please visit the
tutoring center in the Programa de Idiomas building on each campus.

Blended component:

This course includes a component of independent study in which you work on an

online platform. The material focuses on situations relevant to your context with
videos, articles and various exercises. In addition, it includes the creation of a virtual
portfolio of 16 texts.
The material is divided into 8 units, which correspond directly to the face-to-face
classes. Plan to work 2.5 hours a week on the platform. Note that the unit is open for
a limited period of time: remember to check the dates and work periodically during
the semester!
You are evaluated on your completion of the online homework. Additionally, 4 of the
texts from your portfolio will be selected by the professor and evaluated with a rubric.

Cultural Agenda:

The independent study also includes one essay about a Cultural Agenda event.
Choose and attend 1 event from the calendar provided by your professor, and then
write a response in English to describe it and give your opinion. The individual essay
will be evaluated with a rubric by your professor.

Evaluation:
Evaluation type
Online homework
Online portfolios
Test 1 (Units 1-4)
Test 2 (Units 5-8)
Essay (Cultural Agenda)
Final oral exam

% of your grade
10%
20%
20%
20%
5%
25%

A few suggestions:

Attend the section in which you are officially enrolled.

You can only take tests in your corresponding section.
Remember to arrive on time for your tests. If you miss the listening section, you cannot
respond to those questions.
Any unethical situation (copying on a test; using a cell phone; and plagiarism: presenting
work as your own, copying without citing, using a different persons ideas without reference;
etc.) results in a 1.0 on the assignment and a notification to your school.
Your professor can check the authenticity of any of your written work and request that you
re-write it. If there is a significant discrepancy in your work, the teacher will only evaluate
your re-submission.
Please do not use online translators for your written work, as this is not a true
representation of your language level. The coherency of your work will be affected.
To facilitate your independent study, check Educandus or talk to your teacher for more
resources. Additional extracurricular activities are available, such as The English Lunch
Table or the Cultural Agenda.
Any situation not covered in these policies should be presented in writing to the Head of the
English Department (rarancibia@utalca.cl) to be presented before the Consejo del
Programa de Idiomas if necessary.