Course Syllabus

ESL 0270 Level 1 Conversation

Course Description

This eight-week course is designed to give ESL students at the elementary level practice using English. They will improve their use of the language through small group work, problem solving activities, information gap activities, and roleplaying. The ratio of students to tutor is four-to-one.

Justification

The ESL Department at Snow College houses the intensive ESL program. The four-level program provides instruction for students at Levels 1, 2, 3, and 4 (elementary through exit levels). This course is a core course for Level 1. It is a prerequisite for entry into Levels 2, 3, and 4 at Snow College. Placement in ESL 0270 through the ESL department placement exam.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to communicate more fluently in English rather than focusing on error correction. Students will know appropriate vocabulary for various communicative situations with regard to personal, familial and cultural situations. Course activities will improve their listening and speaking skills. They will have an increased confidence when talking with native speakers outside the ESL classroom because of exposure to native speakers through class activities.

Course Content

A typical instruction approach will be the introduction of information via student-tutor oral presentation. Students will then be given an opportunity to practice the new information, that include different cultural topics, in small groups with their peers and student-tutors. Cooperative learning techniques are used extensively with students' cultural and religious backgrounds, identities, and constraints in mind.At a minimum, the following level 1 language areas will be introduced:• Vocabulary: personal and family terms, description family and home, etc. • Explanation: likes and dislikes, problem solutions, describing, etc. • Discussion: favorite movies, foods, abilities, etc. • Culture: simple nonverbal gestures, holidays, etc. • Interview: family and home, talking with parents, etc. • Roleplaying: telling the truth, describing an event, etc.