TAMU ELIO 100-102 Syllabus Spring 2016 - Sturgeon

SYLLABUS Spring 2016 Oral Skills 100-102

ELIO 100-102
GLAS 205
MWF 11:30 a.m. 12:20 p.m.
Instructor Information
Name
Email address
Office hours
Office location

Sharron Sturgeon
sharronsturgeon@tamu.edu
Tuesdays and Thursdays 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. or by appointment
Academic Building 4th Floor @ the ELI 402A

Textbook and Resource Material

Clear Speech from the Start, 2nd edition, Judy B. Gilbert. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-107-68715-8.
Available at the Texas A&M University Book Store.
Sound Files are available on Mediamatrix: https://mediamatrix.tamu.edu/login.php
Present Yourself 1 Experiences, Gershon. Cambridge. ISBN 978-0-521-71328-3. Sound Files are on Mediamatrix.
Optional:
Conversation Strategies, Kehe. Pro Lingua Associates. ISBN 0-86647-189-8. This book is for practice with
conversation partners and classroom partners.

Also required:
Daily access to computer with internet access (at home, in the ELI computer lab, or at other open computer
labs on campus)
Daily access to our class website at http://ecampus.tamu.edu
Folder that has two pockets and three rings for holding loose-leaf paper and copies distributed in class.
Loose-leaf paper, 8 inches x 11 inches. Pencil/pen.

Course Description and Prerequisites

Oral Skills 100 is for students with basic level speaking skills. Emphasis is on development of pronunciation skills,
question and answer techniques, and pattern drills. Students are given extensive practice in both guided and free
conversation as a means to develop oral fluency. [http://eli.tamu.edu/program/courses.php]
Students will actively participate in speaking activities in the classroom, such as:
Reading out loud
Repeating sounds and phrases
Asking and answering questions in an interview setting
Presenting topics to other students
Describing pictures
Discussing topics with TAMU Classroom Partners once a week
Playing games focused on vocabulary development and pronunciation
Students will complete a variety of out-of-class assignments, including both written and recorded oral work.

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TAMU ELIO 100-102 Syllabus Spring 2016 - Sturgeon

Course Goals
To enable students to participate in class, program, and sheltered university community activities by achieving
transitional communicative competency in various modes of discourse (classroom speaking and listening,
conversations, speeches, interviews, discussions), demonstrating an average level of clarity in pronunciation and
accuracy in grammar and lexical choice, and adopting core skills necessary to function in the context of U.S.
universities.
Below are the proficiency levels of the entire sequence of oral skills instruction.

Basic (100)

Intermediate (200)

Intermediate II (250)

Advanced (300)

Communicates with growing

ability in formal and
informal situations.

Communicates moderately
well in formal and informal
multicultural situations in
preparation for university.

Communicates effectively in
formal and informal
multicultural situations in
preparation for university.

Communicates with
reliable competence in
formal and informal
multicultural situations.

Performs at the Poor to Fair

Levels as reflected on the
ELIs Oral Skills
Presentation, Discussion and
Interview Profiles.

Performs at the Good Level

on the Institutes oral skills
Presentation, Discussion
and Interview Profiles.

Performs at the Good Level

on the Institutes oral skills
Presentation, Discussion and
Interview Profiles.

Performs at the very good

to excellent mastery levels
as reflected in speeches
and discussions.

Student Learning Outcomes for Oral Skills 100

At the end of the semester, a successful student:
Communicates with emerging competence in formal and informal multicultural situations.
Gives a presentation appropriate to the audience with an introduction, appropriate content, effective
transitions, and a conclusion. Outlines and maps to prepare speeches.
Gives an oral report including information from a partner or survey. Initiates and responds to common
questions with partners in an active and effective way showing an understanding of positive group
interaction.
Attempts good delivery in speech and discussions: posture, gestures, eye contact, and other non-verbal
communication, plus volume, rate of speech, and audience interaction.
Recognizes basic spoken and non-spoken language, like cultural cues, with some time to understand these
cues.
Produces simple vowels and consonants and some other common English sounds when reading aloud,
talking, and giving speeches.
Uses correct intonation when asking questions and uses common English rhythms based on syllable stress,
thought groups, and focus words.
Attempts answers with full content.
Answers prompts with some delay or in a rehearsed fashion.
Uses simple and compound sentence structures. Basic errors may obscure meaning, but speaking
demonstrates an understanding of basic grammar. Uses function words and common daily and academic
vocabulary effectively.
Is prompt and prepared, follows simple directions for basic tasks and interacts with instructor and peers
appropriately. Prepares for assignments and events and submits work on time.

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TAMU ELIO 100-102 Syllabus Spring 2016 - Sturgeon

Class Policies for Oral Skills 100
English Only: Students are expected to use only English as the common language of the English Language Institute.
Attendance: Students are expected to come to every class on time. If a student is absent without an excuse, he or she
may not be allowed to make up missed work or tests.
An absence is excused if a student brings a note from a doctor or another form of official documentation. Some religious
holidays are excused absences. To understand which absences are excused and which ones are not, students should read
TAMUs attendance policy explained in Student Rule 7 at http://student-rules.tamu.edu/rule07 .
Three late arrivals to class count as one absence.
Fifteen minutes after the start of the class period, missing students will be marked absent.
ELI and TAMU Student Handbooks: Read these to become familiar with the Institutes rules. You can find them
online at http://eli.tamu.edu/elistudents/ and http://student-rules.tamu.edu/.
ELI Conversation Partners (CP): Each student will meet weekly with an assigned ELI person for a 30-minute
conversation.
ELI Classroom Partners (CRP): Every Wednesday TAMU students from other departments will join us for
enhanced conversation practice.

HOMEWORK
You will need to turn in sound files almost every week. You can record your voice in the ELI computer lab on the 4th
floor, or you can do it at home. Upload the sound file (MP3) to eCampus as follows:
Soundfile#NAMEELIO100 or CVP#NAMEELIO100
Example for homework Sound file 3: Soundfile3YANGEVAELIO100
So this is sound file 3 from Yang Eva, for class ELIO 100
Example for Conversation partner 2: CVP2MohammadAliELIO100
So this is homework conversation partner 2, from Mohammad Ali, for ELIO 100

Grading Policies
The final course grade is calculated according to this formula:
60%
10%

Classwork and homework*

Video-recorded Presentation

10%
20%

Midterm Exam Interview

Final Exam Interview

A letter grade (A, B, C, D, or F) is given at the end of the semester.

A = Student has mastered the course objectives and demonstrates 90%-100% of the student learning outcomes. Student
may advance to the next level.
B = Student has mostly reached the course objectives and demonstrates 80%-89% of the student learning outcomes.
Student may advance to the next level.
C = Student has reached some of the course objectives and demonstrates 70%-79%of the student learning outcomes.
Student may not advance to the next level.
D = Student has reached a few of the course objectives and demonstrates only 60%-69% of the student learning
outcomes. Student may not advance to the next level.
F = Student has reached none or very few of the course objectives and demonstrates less than 60% of the student
learning outcomes. Student may not advance to the next level.
NOTE: Attendance in 85% of all scheduled classes is required for a student to receive a Certificate of Completion.

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TAMU ELIO 100-102 Syllabus Spring 2016 - Sturgeon

About Grades
Grades are shown in eCampus. Your course grade is calculated as assignments come in and is not final until
after the Final Interview is done in December. Therefore, the course average shown there is NOT reliable but
gives you an idea of where you stand.
Keep track of the grades I post to eCampus. Do not throw away graded papers. Notify me of any problems.
Late work can only be accepted under certain circumstances such as illness or other events as decided by
TAMU policies. Other events or circumstances may qualify. Ask me and notify me immediately. Certain
assignments are better turned in late than not at all. 25% to 50% may be taken off the grade for that
assignment and it may take up to a few weeks before it is graded.
No arrangements you make with me are final until they are confirmed by email. Always identify
yourself with name and class number in your email. Here are some examples:
Dear Ms. Sturgeon,
I was absent yesterday in ELIO 100 and would like to make up the quiz. Please let me know what I should
turn in. The doctors note is attached to this email. Thank you, Ahmed Mansour.
Dear Ms. Sturgeon,
I did not finish homework assignment Sound File 3 on time for ELIO 100. Please let me know if you will still
accept it now. It is attached to this email. Thank you, Nina Bola.

If you are not sure, ASK!

* In this category, assignments are weighted according to the number of points. For example, a quiz of 50 points is
given more weight than a quiz of 20 points.
For matriculated students, a grade of A or B (80% or above) is required to meet the TAMU English Language
Proficiency requirement and exit Advanced level courses. A grade below B (<80%) does not meet exit requirements.
General Procedures FOR Oral Skills 100
Be Prepared
Check your TAMU e-mail and eCampus accounts daily.
Every day, bring your textbook, Oral Skills folder, and pencils/pens to class.
Please turn off or silence phones and other electronic devices during class. Research has shown that
using digital devices hinders speaking improvement.
About Attendance
Regular attendance is essential for success. Arrive a little early for class, and have your materials ready,
homework out, etc. by the start of class.
If you arrive after I have taken attendance, it is your responsibility to be sure you are counted present.
If you are absent or tardy, it is your responsibility to ask me or a classmate for the assignments.

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TAMU ELIO 100-102 Syllabus Spring 2016 - Sturgeon

You are responsible for all material presented in class, whether you were present or not, including
announcements about changes in course procedures and schedules.
Notify me in advance if you know you will be absent for a religious day or other reason. Contact me as soon
as possible if you are ill or have a personal emergency. Please notify me even if the absence is unexcused.
Excused absences must be documented. The best way is to take a picture of your doctors note with your
phone and email it to me. Be sure your name, the date and time, and the excuse are clearly readable.
The successful student completes and turns in all assigned work on time.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights
protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be
guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a
disability requiring an accommodation, please contact Disability Services, currently located in the Disability Services building at
the Student Services at White Creek complex on west campus or call 979-845-1637. For additional information, visit
http://disability.tamu.edu.

Academic Integrity Statement and Policy

For additional information please visit: http://aggiehonor.tamu.edu

An Aggie does not lie, cheat, or steal, or tolerate those who do.
Plagiarism is a type of cheating. Plagiarism is using the ideas, words, graphics, homework, etc. of another person and
pretending they are ones own. All work submitted should be your own work. You will benefit the most from this course if you
thoughtfully produce each assignment yourself. You may include another persons idea if you mention the source of the idea; you
may include another persons words if you put quotation marks ( ) around the borrowed words AND mention their source. For
more information about how to avoid plagiarism, see http://aggiehonor.tamu.edu/Descriptions/Plagiarism.aspx.

Oral Skills 100-102

Tentative Course Schedule

This schedule is subject to change. We meet on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Student is responsible for all announcements
made in class or by email.
Monday. No Class. Martin Luther King Holiday

Week 1
Jan. 18-20-22

Wednesday and Friday: Getting to know each other and showing off your abilities.

Week 2
Jan. 25-27-29

Chapters 1-2
Monday: 1-minute Introductory Speech
Tuesday: Joint Composition #1

Week 3
Feb. 1-3-5

Chapter 3
Start Classroom and Conversation Partners
Friday: NO ELI classes until 1:30 p.m.

Week 4
Feb. 8-10-12

Chapter 4
Video presentation topic due

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TAMU ELIO 100-102 Syllabus Spring 2016 - Sturgeon

Week 5
Feb. 15-17-19

Chapters 5-6

Week 6
Feb. 22-24-26

Chapters 5-6 continued

Video presentation outline due

Week 7
Feb. 29-Mar. 2- ORAL SKILLS MIDTERM INTERVIEW
4
Week 8
March 7-9-11

Chapters 7-8
Video presentation script due

Week 9
Mar. 14-16-18

Spring Break.
No Classes.

Week 10
Mar. 21-23-25

Chapter 9-10
Individual meetings to discuss presentation.
Friday: TAMU Reading Day NO classes

Week 11
March 28-30Apr. 1

Chapter 11

Week 12
April 4-6-8
Week 13
April 11-13-15

Week 14
April 18-20-22

Video Presentations
Chapter 12
Individual meetings to review presentation.
Chapter 13-15
Last week of classroom and conversation partners

Week 15
April 25-27-29

Chapter 16

Week of May 1

Tuesday: Final Interview

Thursday: Certificate Ceremony

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