CLP

Elementary 1 Syllabus, Fall 2016

Community Language Program Fall 2016
Teachers College, Columbia University
CLP Office: 46E Horace Mann Hall, 525 West 120th Street, Teacher College
Instructor: Yin Lin
E-mail: yl3381@tc.columbia.edu

Class time: 9 11 am (M/W/F)

Classroom: TH 422

Important Dates:
Week 1
Monday, September 26
Friday, September 30
Week 2
Wednesday, October 5
November 21-25
Week 10
Friday, December 9

First day of class

Last day for level consultation
Last day for refunds
Thanksgiving Break: NO CLASS
Last day of class

Course description:
The course is designed to help Elementary English language learners develop English listening, speaking,
reading, writing, and comprehension skills that are required for everyday life. Using a theme-based
teaching approach, students will learn grammar, pronunciation as well as relevant vocabulary to meet daily
needs. Each class will be centered on a theme in order to centralize learning and functions associated with
each particular topic.
Courses Objectives:
After successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
use simple structures and vocabulary to communicate about people, possessions, places, and
free time.
use language functions to meet people for the first time, shop, give directions and talk about
abilities and interests.
write a personal description, a description of ones home, a description of ones favorite city,
and an email to a peer.
Course Textbook and Workbook:
1) Life, Course Book 2. (2015). Cengage Learning.
2) Life, Workbook 2. (2015). Cengage Learning.
We will cover units 1 4.
Course Requirements:
Unit Tests 1, 2, 3 (each 15%): 45%
Final Test: 30%
Attendance and Participation: 10%
Homework: 15%
Attendance Policy:
If a student misses 5 or more classes, or is late for 10 classes, s/he cannot pass the course. S/he will,
however, be eligible for a letter of attendance.

CLP Elementary 1 Syllabus, Fall 2016

Grading:
A+/-

Excellent

A+ 97 100%

A 94 96%

A- 90 93%

B+/-

Good

B+ 87 89%

B 84 86%

B- 80 83%

C+/-

Satisfactory (pass)

C+ 77 79%

C 73 76%

C- 70 72%

Fail/Repeat

Poor (no pass)

Below 69%

Schedule May Change

Unit 1: People
Grammar and Vocabulary
be
possessive s and possessive
adjectives
personal information
family
wordbuilding: word roots
everyday verbs
word focus: in

Test Date: Oct 10

Pronunciation, Speaking, and Listening
contracted forms
the same or different
sounds
spelling
an interview with an explorer
people at a conference
asking questions
friends and family
facts about countries

Unit 2: Possessions
Grammar and Vocabulary
plural nouns this, that, these, those
there is/are
prepositions of place
colors everyday objects furniture
countries and nationalities
wordbuilding: suffixes (1)
word focus: one/ ones adjective

Test Date: Oct 26

Pronunciation, Speaking, and Listening
/ or /i/
word stress
contrastive stress
an interview with Andy Torbet
your objects and possessions
a room in your home
where things are from

Unit 3: Places
Grammar and Vocabulary
simple present
telling time
adjectives about cities
workplaces word focus: work
wordbuilding: collocations
cardinal and ordinal numbers
places in a city

Reading and Writing

articles about a family of explorers and the
world population
text type: a personal description
writing skill: and, but

Reading and Writing

articles about studio
apartments and global products
a description of a room in your
home
text type: ads
writing skill: describing objects with
adjective

Test Date: Nov 11

Pronunciation, Speaking, and Listening
-s endings
saying numbers
someone talking about a 24-hour
restaurant in Norway
an interview with a student living in
New York
an interview with F. Richards
your life
exchanging
information about a photographer
favorite numbers and their relevance

Reading and Writing

articles about car-free zones and languages
spoken around the world
text type: a travel website
writing skill: capital letters

CLP Elementary 1 Syllabus, Fall 2016

Unit 4: Free time
Grammar and Vocabulary
like/love + -ing
adverbs of frequency
expressions of frequency
can/can
pastimes
wordbuilding: verb + noun
collocations
sports

Test Date: Dec 7

Pronunciation, Speaking, and Listening
//
linking sentence stress
three people talking about their
pastimes
an interview with Paul Nicklen
likes and dislikes
daily life
your abilities

Reading and Writing

articles about identical twins, a nature
photographer, and extreme sports
an ad for volunteer work
text type: short emails
writing skill: reference words

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.

Sexual Harassment and Violence Reporting: Teachers College is committed to maintaining a safe
environment for students. Because of this commitment and because of federal and state regulations,
we must advise you that if you tell any of your instructors about sexual harassment or gender-based
misconduct involving a member of the campus community, your instructor is required to report this
information to the Title IX Coordinator, Janice Robinson. She will treat this information as private,
but will need to follow up with you and possibly look into the matter. The Ombuds officer for
Gender-Based Misconduct is a confidential resource available for students, staff, and faculty.
Gender-based misconduct includes sexual assault, stalking, sexual harassment, dating violence,
domestic violence, sexual exploitation, and gender-based harassment. For more information, see
http://sexualrespect.columbia.edu/gender-based-misconduct-policy-students.
Have a great semester! J