Basic Vocabulary

SYLLABUS
Course Title and
Number
Term
Times and Location
Name
Email address
Office hours
Office location
Phone

Basic Vocabulary ELIV 100 - 102

Spring 2016
TR 11:10 am 12:25 pm in C E 007
Instructor Information
Tanya Vernon
tvernon@tamu.edu
MWF 10:15-11:15 am, TR 9:15-10:45 am, TR 1:00-2:00 pm , or by
appointment
Academic Building (ACAD) 402A
English Language Institute main office: 979-845-7936
Course Description and Prerequisites

For students with basic level proficiency. Prerequisite skills: Recognition of basic words
and word forms. Emphasis is on development of vocabulary analysis skills through use
of synonym and antonym recognition along with additional prefix, suffix, and root
formations. Students are encouraged to develop context analysis skills as they relate to
university level subject matter.
Course Goal
To acquaint students with GSL (General Service List) and high frequency AWL (Academic
World List) vocabulary in spoken and written language including simple stories, highfrequency commands, brief instructions, and information using familiar words and phrases.
Below are the proficiency levels of the entire sequence.

Vocabulary

Basic (100)
Recognizes
and uses the
most common
words in the
English
language (the
General
Service List),
reads out loud
in a way that
others can
understand,
and connects
letters to
sounds and
syllables.

Intermediate
(200)
Defines,
identifies, and
uses target
vocabulary from
the most
commonly used
words in
textbooks,
Academic Word
List (AWL), in
writing,
speaking,
reading, and
listening
activities.

Intermediate II
(250)
Communicates
effectively in
classroom
language
(spoken and
written).
Discusses and
responds in
writing to
introductorylevel academic
texts and
lectures.

Advanced (300)
Communicates
effectively in a
multicultural setting
in written and oral
production.
Performs at the
Good to Very Good
range level of
academic
vocabulary on
category
Vocabulary on the
Oral Skills Interview
and the
Composition
Profiles.

Student Learning Outcomes

At the end of the semester, a successful student:

Defines, identifies, and uses target vocabulary in writing, speaking, reading, and
listening activities.
Composes sentences and paragraphs using target vocabulary. Accurately records
dictations. Presents target words orally to the class individually and in groups. Uses
target vocabulary in joint composition revisions.
Reads and comprehends selected academic texts and lectures incorporating target
vocabulary.
Chooses the correct word, idiom or collocation in a variety of formats. Builds words
with roots, prefixes, and suffixes.
Identifies and uses different forms of words (noun, verb, adjective, and adverb).
Selects the grammatically appropriate word form in writing and speaking. Builds words
with roots, prefixes, and suffixes.
Uses an English English dictionary to learn target vocabulary. Pronounces words in
classroom activities and presentations. Spells target vocabulary correctly in written and
oral production.
Uses technology and engages in independent study activities. Completes assignments
in a timed setting. Engages in formal and informal speech class discussions.
Textbook and/or Resource Material

Vocabulary in Use Intermediate, 2nd Edition, Redman, Zwier, Ed. Cambridge, ISBN 978-0521-12375-4
Recommended: Oxford Advanced American Dictionary for Learners of English by Oxford
University Press or online at http://oaadonline.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/
Class Policies
Check your TAMU email daily. Please use your TAMU email account, not another email
account, when communicating with ELI instructors and staff.
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.
In the classroom, students are expected to use only English as the common language of the
English Language Institute.

Grading Policies
The final course grade is calculated according to this formula:
Tests/Quizzes
Classwork/Homework
Final exam

50%
30%
20%

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.
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.
Course Topics, Calendar of Activities, and Major Assignment Dates
*This calendar is tentative and subject to change.
(See the ELIV 100 e-Campus Calendar for current changes and postings.)
Week
Topic or Chapter
1
Syllabus, Diagnostic, Unit 50 Relatives & family tree
2
What does it mean to know a word, Intro to Textbook, Units 1-5, 51
Computer lab on Thursday
3
Units 47-49 Describing people, Units 6-9 Word Parts
Joint Composition #1, Tuesday, Feb. 2 at 9:35 a.m.
4
Test #1, Units 32-37 Parts of Speech
5
Units 12-15, 22-23, Units 42-45 The World Around Us
6
Test #2, Units 20-21 Greetings, Units 52-55 Routines and Home
7
Units 30, 46, 58-59 Body and Health,
8
Test #3, Units 16-19 Social Situations
March 13-20 Spring Break no classes
9
Units 68-72 Work, Units 81-82 Education
Friday Reading Day, no classes
10
Units 83-88 Social Concerns
11
Units 38-41 Connecting and Linking
Joint Composition #2, Tuesday, Apr. 5 at 9:35 a.m. vocabulary grade
counts as test grade =Test #4
12
Units 24-29 Common Problem Words
13
Test #5, Units 93-96 Notional concepts
14
Units 97-100 Special Topics
15
Wednesday, May 4, Vocabulary Final Exam
Thursday, May 5, Certificate ceremony

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.