A5 Syllabus, Spring 2015

Grading:
A

Excellent

A+ 97 100%

A 94 96%

A- 90 93%

B+ 87 89%

B 84 86%

B- 80 83%

C
+
/

Satisfact
ory
(pa

C+ 77 79%

C 73 76%

C- 70 72%

69% or Below

D 63 66%

D- 60 62%

Fail/Repeat
W

Poor (no pass)

Withdrawal (With permission from the teacher and the

Director, the student withdrew from the course due to
extenuating circumstances)

APPROXIMATE
SCHEDULE
Week

Theme

Grammar

Listening and

Reading and Writing

Test
Dates

Listening for
tone

Reading: Distinguishing
facts from commentary

Test 1:
Feb 23

Pronunciation:
Varying intonation
patterns
according to
sentence type
(statements,
information
questions, tag
questions)

Writing: Analyzing a
research paper

Speaking
1&2

Unit 5: Amazing
Inventions

Identifying
people
and objects;
Giving
background
information;
Relative clauses:
with whose,
which,
and reduced
phrases

**
Note:
This
has
been
change
d to
Feb. 25

Speaking: Oral
presentation skills

A5 Syllabus, Spring 2015

3&4

Unit 6: Hooked
on Horror

Making and
rejecting
suggestions;
Talking about
cause
and effect;
Talking about
purpose;
Causatives and
expressions of
cause
and effect;
Expressions of
purpose

5&7

Unit 7: A Hard Act to

Follow

Assessing
abilities;
Making
recommendation
s;
Expressing
necessity

Listening for
supporting
arguments

Reading: Recognizing
tone and level of
formality

Pronunciation:
Reduction and
holding with
similar-sounding
consonants

Writing: Generalizing
and organizing
ideasbrainstorming,
time lines, idea maps,
outlines

Test 2:
Mar 11

Speaking:
Introductions of
oral presentations
Listening for
excerpts and
summaries
Pronunciation:
Recognizing
various spellings
of the same
sound (Part 1)

Test 3:
Apr 2

Reading: Conversations
Writing: Quoting and
paraphrasing sources

The subjunctive
Speaking:
Using visual
aids in oral
presentations
8&9

Unit 8: The Time of

Talking about

Listening: Taking

Your Life

preferences and

question-and-

personal

answer notes
Pronunciation:

Infinitives

Writing: Taking notes

and creating a

characteristics
Gerunds and

Reading for credibility

bibliography of sources

Recognizing
various spellings
of the same sound
(Part 2)
Speaking: Delivery
of an oral
presentation

A5 Syllabus, Spring 2015

10

Final
Exam:
Apr 20
or 22

Revision and Final Exam

Program Policies:
The College will make reasonable accommodations for persons with documented disabilities.
Students are encouraged to contact the Office of Access and Services for Individuals with
Disabilities (OASID) for information about registering with the office. You can reach OASID by
email at oasid@tc.columbia.edu, stop by 163 Thorndike Hall or call 212-678-3689. Services are
available only to students who are registered and submit appropriate documentation. As your
instructor, I am happy to discuss specific needs with you as well.
It is the policy of Teachers College to respect its members observance of their major religious
holidays. Students should notify instructors at the beginning of the semester about their wishes to
observe holidays on days when class sessions are scheduled. Where academic scheduling conflicts
prove unavoidable, no student will be penalized for absence due to religious reasons, and
alternative means will be sought for satisfying the academic requirements involved. If a suitable
arrangement cannot be worked out between the student and the instructor, students and instructors
should consult the Program Director. If an additional appeal is needed, it may be taken to the
Provost.

Have a great semester!