Community English Program: Pronunciation and

Speaking
Teachers College, Columbia University
Summer B 2014 July 14 August 13
Instructor:
Allie Hope King, ahk2151@tc.columbia.edu
Class website: www.allihopekingps.weebly.com
Class time:
Mondays, Wednesdays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Room: Grace Dodge 452
CEP Information:
Office Hours (7/14 through 8/14):
Mondays through Thursdays: 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Fridays: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Email: clp@tc.columbia.edu Phone: (212) 687-3097
About the CLP:
The Community Language Program (CLP) is a unique and integral part of the
TESOL and Applied Linguistics Program at Teachers College, Columbia
University. It provides English as a second language to adult learners of
diverse nationalities and backgrounds. In addition, the CLP serves as an onsite 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 and learning might be most
effective. Thus, we encourage observation and classroom research and
want people to use it as a tool for learning.
Course Description:
Welcome to Pronunciation and Speaking! This course is designed to give you an overview of
North American English (NAE) pronunciation and speaking skills. We will explore linguistic
and cultural issues surrounding pronunciation and speaking and utilize a range of materials to
strengthen our listening and speaking abilities.
Course Objectives:
Upon completing the course, students will be able to:

Identify phonemic symbols of NAE

Recognize, distinguish, and produce consonant sounds of NAE

Recognize, distinguish, and produce vowel sounds of NAE

Recognize and elicit meaning changes in contrastive stress of words and sentences in
NAE

Recognize and produce intonation and rhythm in NAE

Practice typical speaking conversations on a variety of topics

Course Materials:

Our textbook (required) will be Well Said (2010), 3rd Edition, by Linda Grant. Be sure to get
the book that has a blue cover. The book can be purchased at the Columbia University
bookstore, located at 2922 Broadway (near 116th). Please always come to class prepared,
bringing a notebook, a folder with all class materials organized, and writing utensils. You
may also want to bring a small mirror to use to look at your mouth during exercises.
Course Pre- or Co-requisites:
Intermediate 4
Grading:

Final grades will be given as follows:

The breakdown of
grade is as follows:
97-100
A+
Participation: 30%
94-96
A
Homework: 30%
90-93
AQuiz: 20% each
87-89
B+
Final Presentation: 20%
84-86
B
80-83
B77-79
C+
74-76
C
70-73
C69 and below
Fail/Repeat

the

final

Homework:
Homework will typically be assigned on Wednesdays and will be due no later than 10am on
Saturdays. Exact due dates will be stated when homework is assigned. Late assignments
will be accepted, but will have an automatic grade reduction.
Audio Homework Assignments:
All audio assignments will be submitted via Google Voice. To submit an assignment, you will
call
(646) 484-8654 and you will record your audio homework there. The audio file will come to
me in my email, which I will be able to forward back to you for you to keep for your records
and study purposes.
STEPS
1.
Call this number: (646) 484-8654
2.
Listen to the outgoing message and wait for the tone
3.
**SAY YOUR NAME** and record your homework response
**If you do not have a phone that can make calls in the U.S., please see me after
class**

Alternatively, if you wish to create an audio file (.mp3) on your phone or computer,
you can do so and send it to me as an attachment. This is allowable unless otherwise
specified. Please email any audio attachments to ahk2151@tc.columbia.edu.

Tentative Course Schedule

Week

Topic

1: July 14 & 16

Introduction to
Course
Phonemes Part I

2: July 21 & 23

3: July 28 & 30

Phonemes Part II

Specific Focus

Assignments

Goals and perspectives

The Phonemic Alphabet
Voicing
The Consonant Inventory
Consonant Clusters

Diagnostic
Assessment
Leaving a message on
Google Voice
Reading 1, page 1 in
textbook.
DUE FRIDAY, 7/15 by
NOON
Assignment 2
DUE Saturday, July 19,
by 10am
Assignment 3

The Vowel Inventory

Tense & Lax Vowels
Syllables and Word
Tricky Vowel
Endings
Contrasts
Syllables
Word Endings
Phonemic Changes
Stops
Stress, Rhythm &
Stress
Intonation
Syllable Stress
Word Stress
Reduced Speech
Stress & Meaning
Corrective Stress
Contrastive Stress
Reduction
The Schwa []
Content vs. Function
Words
Intonation
Rising & Falling tones
Intonation & Meaning

DUE Saturday, July 26,

by 10am

QUIZ 1, Monday July

28
*Assignment 3
DUE Saturday, August
2, by 10am

4: August 4 & 6

Thought Groups &

Pausing
Special Questions
Putting It All
Together

5: August 11 & 13

Final Presentation
Reflections &
Strategic Planning

Thought Groups
Stress
Focus Words
Pausing
Special Questions
Tag Questions
Wh-Questions

*Assignment 4
Prepare Final
Presentation

Public Speaking
Independent
Improvement
Strategies
Resources
Practice

FINAL EXAM
(Presentation)

DUE in Class Monday,

August 11

POTLUCK PARTY!