LENG-106: ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE 3

Instructor: Julia Rold, Cell Phone: (617) 849-0546

Professor E-Mail: jrold@berklee.edu
(email is the best way to reach me)

Office: 7 Haviland Street Office Hours: TBA

Room 324

Mailbox: Outside my office door, 7 Haviland, Room 324

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Students develop the skills of reading, writing, and

analytical thinking that are necessary for success in all college courses. Students are
introduced to thought-provoking ideas in readings from a variety of disciplines that will
help them recognize, define, and evaluate their own beliefs. Students learn to organize
material, analyze ideas, and write clearly in standard English appropriate for first-year
college.

COURSE OBJECTIVES (LEARNING OUTCOMES):

1. English Language Skills:

Upon satisfactory completion of this course, students should be able to:

Read with greater comprehension (draw inferences, generate hypotheses,

understand purpose and tone, discriminate between opinion and fact, and evaluate
arguments).
Write with greater effectiveness (find ways to generate, select, and arrange ideas,
find modes for expressing them, and evaluate and revise what has been written).
Write expository essays in a variety of rhetorical modes (including process, cause
and effect, and argumentation).
Speak more clearly and effectively with improved pronunciation, rhythm, and
intonation.
Listen more effectively in formal and informal contexts.
Use advanced grammatical structures in speaking and writing.
Use a greater range of vocabulary (by focusing on synonyms/antonyms, phrasal
verbs, and idiomatic expressions)

2 Higher-Order Thinking Skills

Upon satisfactory completion of this course, students should be able to:

Analyze ideas, concepts, and artistic, sociocultural, political, and historical themes
and trends.
Synthesize knowledge, concepts, and aesthetic principles from diverse disciplines.

1
 Interpret knowledge, concepts, and cultural trends from a variety of perspectives.
Evaluate ideas, concepts, ethical principles, and sociocultural trends, reaching
conclusions and judgments based on supportable criteria.
Apply concepts and knowledge; logical, critical, and creative thinking abilities;
and problem-solving skills in a variety of artistic, ethical, social, and cultural
contexts.
Appreciate the process of arriving at ethical judgments and decisions in an
increasingly complex and interconnected world (understanding the intents,
actions, consequences, and cultural contexts of ethical principles).
Develop an appreciation of cultural diversity (values, beliefs, perceptions, and
behaviors).

REQUIRED BOOKS: We will be using mostly PDFs and on-line materials, so

please pay close attention to our ol.berklee.edu course website for all readings and
assignments.
You must also buy the grammar book Communicating What You Mean from Amazon

ENGLISH USE POLICY: Inside the classroom, all students are asked to speak
English only. First, this is to give you as much practice as possible. It is easy and feels
comfortable to speak native languages with other students who share your language, but
you will not improve if you fall into the habit of doing this, especially for students who
speak languages well-represented at Berklee. This includes during breaks and all times
you are inside the classroom. If you need to have a conversation in your own language
for some reason, you should do it outside the classroom. This also shows respect for your
other classmates who do not speak your native language and who may feel left out or
isolated during conversations they dont understand.

Occasionally, we may do some limited translation IN class, but only to help student
learning

COURSEWORK AND OUT-OF-CLASS PREPARATION: Students are

expected to come to class having read the required materials and to take an active part in
class discussions. In order to maintain satisfactory standing in this course, approximately
6 hours per week of out-of-class preparation are recommended.

EXAMINATIONS: On Grammar, Vocabulary, and Course Readings after every unit

ATTENDANCE POLICY: You are expected to attend class faithfully and on time
(classes start on the hour and finish at ten before the hour). Late attendance will be
considered an absence. You will not receive credit for the course if you have more
than 4 hours of absence. Please talk to me if you anticipate any problems with
attendance.

2
HOMEWORK and LATE ASSIGNMENTS: Assignments are due on the
designated dates. Late assignments will be lowered one full grade for each day late.

Homework is extremely important in this class. Homework may be hand-written or

typed but must be turned on the assigned date.

TUTOR POLICY: You are required to work with an English-speaking tutor one hour
a week (this is not optional). You will not receive credit for the course if you miss more
than two meetings with the tutor.

COURSE WITHDRAWAL POLICY:

You may withdraw from this class by completing a Student-Initiated Withdrawal from a
Class form at the Office of the Registrar. The withdrawal form must be submitted to the
Office of the Registrar by Friday, March 30th. If you submit the withdrawal form by the
deadline, you will receive a grade of W for the class. Withdrawing from a class cannot
be done after the deadline.

The instructor will not withdraw you from the class for any reason (including absence) or
submit the form for you. It is your responsibility to withdraw from the course.

If you withdraw from this class, you continue to be nancially responsible for the class
and are not eligible for a tuition refund or replacement course. Please be aware that
withdrawing from a class may affect scholarship, nancial aid, and/or international
student visa status. If you receive nancial aid or veterans benets, your eligibility for
aid may be reduced by withdrawing. If you are an international student, you may
jeopardize your F-1 visa status.

In case of doubt about your status and options, ask the instructor, department chair and/or
the Counseling & Advising Center.

FINAL GRADE DETERMINATION: Your final grade will be determined by

considering the following components at the indicated weights:

Class Participation and Attendance 10%

Homework and In-Class Tests 30%
3 Essays/2 Revisions: 30%
Mid-Term and Final Exams: 30%

GENERAL GRADING CRITERIA:

A Exceptional work; far beyond what is simply "required;" demonstrates

3
 superior control of course material; participates enthusiastically in
classroom discussions.

B Good; demonstrates a solid grasp of the material and participates

consistently in classroom discussions.

C Average; demonstrates adequate comprehension of material and participates

sporadically in classroom discussions; work that is enough to "get by."

D Below average; understanding of material and participation in class are poor,

but "passable."

F Not passing; careless approach to course requirements and deadlines; little or

no effort applied to essays and class discussions; poor attendance.

ACADEMIC HONESTY

Berklee College of Music insists on academic honesty. Unless the assignment explicitly is a
group project, all of the work in this class must be your own. The source of all information in any
written assignment must be cited properly, whether it is a quotation, paraphrase, summary, idea,
concept, statistic, picture, or anything else you get from any source other than your own
immediate knowledgeincluding the Internet.

Writers give credit through accepted documentation styles, including parenthetical citation,
footnotes, or endnotes; a simple listing of books and articles at the end of an essay is not
sufficient. Plagiarismnot giving proper credit to a source and thereby passing off someone
elses material or idea as your ownis a type of intellectual theft and deceit and cannot be
tolerated in an academic setting. Plagiarism will result in a failing grade for the assignment or
course and possibly dismissal from the College. It is your responsibility to be aware of and abide
by the rules governing plagiarism, fraud, and cheating found in the College Bulletin. If you have
any questions about what plagiarism is and how to avoid it, please ask me. If you have any
questions about what plagiarism is and how to avoid it, please speak with me or a reference
librarian. Websites that discuss types of plagiarism and how it can be avoided through evaluation
and proper documentation of sources include:

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/index.html
www.wisc.edu/writing/Handbook/Documentation.html
http://lib.nmsu.edu/instruction/evalcrit.html

SUPPORT SERVICES

(1) English Language Tutoring Program: This program provides assistance to

native and nonnative English-speaking students with all aspects of the language:
writing, reading, speaking, listening, grammar, and vocabulary development.
The tutors are trained Berklee students, and they meet with students needing
additional help with their English and coursework one hour per week for the

4
 whole semester. Peter Gardner is the coordinator of the program
(pgardner@berklee.edu), and he can be contacted with any questions.

(2) College Writing Center: The center provides writing assistance to all Berklee
students, staff, and faculty, on an as-needed basis. The tutors are English
professors and graduate students who offer help with all academic and creative
writing, including essays and written assignments for all classes, ESL-related
writing, creative assignments, resums and applications for internships, graduate
school, grants, and scholarship programs. Doug Kohn is the Acting Coordinator
of the Writing Center (dkohn@berklee.edu), and he can be contacted with any
questions. You can also sign up for sessions at the Writing Center (room 110, 7
Haviland Street).

DISCLOSURE OF DISABILITY

If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, if you have

emergency medical information to share with me, or if you need special arrangements in
case the building must be evacuated, please notify me within the first two weeks of the
semester.

PRIVACY

In compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, students
must authorize contact between faculty members and their parents/guardians. You will be
notified via e-mail and asked to reply in that format or in writing to grant this
authorization if your parent/guardian contacts me.

ESSAY FORMATTING GUIDELINES

Papers should be typed with standard formatting (double-spaced and 12-point font, one
inch margins, and with a title and page numbers). You will be submitting all essays on-
line through Turnitin.com.

CELL PHONE/Technology Policy:

Unless we are doing a task that requires technology, students are asked NOT to use cell
phones, laptops, OR any technology during class time. Do not try to TEXT or use your
phone secretly. I see you even if you think I cant, and I consider it disrespectful to
myself and your classmates. Your participation in class is important and this cannot
occur if you are texting friends, looking at Facebook, etc. Students who use technology
in class will be asked ONE TIME ONLY by the instructor to stop using that technology.
After this, if the students keeps using technology, the student should be prepared to
receive a very low grade and may even fail the class.

5
 COURSE OUTLINE

1. Week One

UNIT ONE: INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION

Tuesday: Introductions and Diagnostics

Thurs or Fri.: In New Directions Where Do We Stand 19-22

Do Reading Journal and Main Ideas Exercises 23
Review Structure of Paragraphs:
Topic Sentences, Supporting Details
Go Over Syllabus

2. Week Two (Grammar: Perfect Tenses)

Tuesday: WritingStructure of Essay/Thesis Statements
Grammar: Perfect Tenses
Topics for Essay One
Go Over Oral Presentation Topic/Music Review

Thurs. or Fri: Discuss Time Talks With An Accent 27-31; Do Main Ideas, 31

3. Week Three (Grammar: Perfect Tenses)

Tuesday: Writing TechniquesThesis Statements Continued
Grammar: Perfect Tenses.

Thurs. or Fri: Discuss Polite But Thirsty

4. Week Four (Grammar: Perfect Tenses)

Tuesday: Essay #1 Due
Pronunciation

Thurs. or Fri: Discuss A Coward

Figurative Language

5. Week Five (Grammar: EXAM)

Tuesday: No Class; Follow Monday Schedule

Thur/Fri: Exam: Intercultural Communication Vocab. & Perfect Tenses

UNIT TWO: EDUCATION

6. Week Six (Grammar: Passives)

Tuesday: Revision Essay #1 Due

6
 Discuss reading from New Directions.
School Is Bad for Children 59-63
Do Reading Journal Question and Main Ideas 63

Thurs./Fri: Writing Techniques: Developing Body Paragraphs

Types of Supporting Material
Topics for Essay #2
Grammar: Passive and Active Voice

7. Week Seven (Grammar Passives)

Tuesday: Discuss reading from New Directions.
Multiple Intelligences and Emotional Intelligence 77-81
Do Reading Journal and Main Ideas 83

Thurs./Fri Writing Techniques: Interpreting and Synthesizing

Read Articles about Education in South Korea and Finland
Grammar: Passive and Active Voice

8. Week Eight (Grammar Passives)

Tuesday: Essay #2 DUE
Discuss reading from New Directions.
The Teacher Who Changed My Life 88-92; After You Read 92
Video about School in Arkansas

Thurs./Fri: Writing Techniques: Using and Documenting Outside Sources

Grammar: Passives

SPRING BREAK

9. Week Nine
Tuesday: Review for Exam

Thurs./Fri: Exam 2: Education Vocab. & Passive and Active Voice

Watch: The Race to Nowhere or Digital Nation or TBA

UNIT THREE: GENDER ROLES AND HUMAN SEXUALITY

10. Week Ten (Grammar: Conditionals)

Tuesday: REVISION OF Essay #2 DUE

Discuss reading from New Directions.
Sex Roles 189-194; Do Reading Journal and Main Ideas 195

Thurs./Fri: Writing Techniques: Introductions and Conclusions

See Movie: Super Venus
Grammar: Conditional Sentences

7
11. Week Eleven (Grammar: Conditionals)

Tuesday: Discuss reading from New Directions.

Sex, Sighs, and Conversation: Why Men and Women Cant
Communicate, 211-213; Do Reading Journal and Main Ideas 214
See: Its Not About the Nail

Thurs./Fri: Discuss: Men Are Stuck In Gender Roles article from LA Times
Writing Techniques: Coherence
Grammar: Conditionals

12. Week Twelve (Grammar Clauses and Complex Sentences)

Tuesday: Discuss 7 Anecdotes that Show Sexism in the Music Industry

Link on website

Thurs./Fri: Writing Techniques: Coherence; Advanced Punctuation

13. Week Thirteen (Grammar: Adj. and Adverb Clauses; Complex Sentences)

Tuesday: Discuss reading Similarities Between Men and Women

Link provided on course website

Thurs./Fri: Writing Techniques: Description and Sensory Detail

Advanced Punctuation
Grammar: Clauses and Complex Sentences

14. Week Fourteen (Grammar: Advanced Punctuation)

Tuesday: ESSAY #3 DUE; Review for FINAL EXAM

Thurs./Fri: Final EXAM: ALL VOCABULARY AND GRAMMAR AND

QUESTIONS ABOUT FINAL READINGS

15. Week Fifteen (Final Week)

Tuesday: Final Class: Exams Returned