Professional Documents
Culture Documents
CEP
Community English Program Spring, 2016
Teachers College, Columbia University
Instructor: Yan Liang
E-mail: yl3102@tc.columbia.edu
Level: Intermediate Conversational English
Classes: Tuesday and Friday
Class time: 11:30AM-1:00PM
Classroom: TR 157
Course Description:
The Conversational English course is designed for students with intermediate level proficiency. It
provides students with an opportunity to develop and strengthen speaking, listening, and
interactional skills needed in both formal and informal encounters. Through interactive tasks, roleplays, and presentations, students will build up fluency, accuracy, and appropriateness in a range
of communicative situations.
About the CEP
The Community Language Program (CLP) is a unique and integral part of the TESOL and
Applied Linguistics Programs at Teachers College, Columbia University. It provides English as a
second language and foreign language instruction to adult learners of diverse nationalities and
backgrounds. In addition, the CLP serves as an on- site language education lab in which TESOL
and Applied Linguistics faculty and students enrolled in the programs teach the courses and use
the CLP as a setting for empirical inquiry. Here at Teachers College we believe that observation
and classroom research are the best way to learn about how we teach and gain insights into how
teaching might take place. Thus, we encourage observation and classroom research and want
people to use it as a tool for learning. Ongoing assessment and program evaluation allow us to
make the CLP a better program.
February 9
February 12
February 1
March 11
March 14 18
April 15 & 19
April 22
Important dates:
Course Materials: There is no text book for this course. All course materials will be
prepared and provided by the teacher(s) and will use a variety of activities. These will
include class discussion, roleplays, and presentations.
Course Objectives:
At the end of the course students will be able to develop: communicate in a variety of situations
from formal to informal interactions. Student will further develop other communicative skills in
English such as listening (for gist or details), problem solving, argumentation, and persuasion.
Students will also continue to improve their vocabulary and grammar knowledge through
instruction and practice.
Participation:
This course requires students to be active participants through the whole course. They should
come to class on time and prepared to contribute to class activities. This means homework is
complete to the best of their ability. While in class, students should be active participants which
means they should share their thoughts and opinions, and ask questions when they need.
Because the class activities rely on student interactions it is important that everyone helps
develop a comfortable class environment by being respectful of other opinions, thoughts, and
experiences.
Course Requirements:
Attendance and Participation: 30%
Midterm: 20%
Final test: 30%
Homework: 20%
Attendance Policy:
If a student misses 5 or more classes, s/he cannot pass the course.
If the student is late for 10 classes, s/he cannot pass the course.
Grading:
A+/B+/C+/Fail/Repeat
W
Excellent
A+ 97 100%
A 94 96%
A- 90 93%
Good
B+ 87 89%
B 84 86%
B- 80 83%
Satisfactory
C+ 77 79%
C 73 76%
C- 70 72%
(pass)
Poor (no pass)
69% or Below
D 63 66%
D- 60 62%
Withdrawal (With permission from the teacher and the Director,
the student withdrew from the course due to extenuating
circumstances)
Date
Tuesday
Feb. 9
Friday
Feb. 12
Tuesday
Feb. 16
Friday
Feb. 19
Tuesday
Feb. 23
Friday
Feb. 26
Tuesday
Mar. 1
Theme
APPROXIMATE
SCHEDULE
Activity/Skills
Discussion
Leaders
- breaking the ice
Getting to
Know You
Dating
Rituals and
Relationship
Customs
English
Idioms
The World of
Working
Folktales
Gadgets
Socializing
and Smalltalk
---
Model:
Rocky Wood
Homework
Watch youtube video:
Johnny Ts Subway Tips,
answer the questions and
prepare for the in-class
discussion.
Listen to conversations
and
gather idioms or phrases
you dont understand.
Complete assigned
homework and prepare for
the in-class discussion.
---
Group 1:
---
Group 2:
---
Friday
Mar. 4
Tuesday
Mar. 8
The World of
Eating
Hospitality
Problem
Solving
Friday
Mar. 11
Tuesday
Mar. 15
Friday
Mar. 18
Tuesday
Mar. 22
- topics
- listening markers
- agreeing and
disagreeing
- taste adjectives
- untypical food
vocabulary
- dining etiquette
- preference
Group 3:
In-Class
Midterm
---
Group 4:
Spring Break
No Class
Retelling
Information
Friday
Mar. 25
Movie
Contract
Negotiation
Tuesday
Mar. 29
Movie
Contract
Negotiation
Cont.
---
Group 5:
---
Complete assigned
homework and prepare for
the in-class discussion.
Friday
Apr. 1
Getting
Around the
Community:
Directions
Tuesday
Apr. 5
Debating
Current
Issues
Friday
Apr. 8
Tuesday
Apr. 12
Friday
Apr. 15
Tuesday
Apr. 19
Friday
Apr. 22
Informative
Public
Speaking
Moving to
New Places
Group 6:
---
Group 7:
- describing personal
needs
- types of house and
features vocabulary
- expressing preference
- hedging
Final Test
In-Class Presentations
Final Test
In-Class Presentations
Last Day of the Term
Class Celebration
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.