INTERAMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO

VICE PRESIDENCY FOR ACADEMIC AND STUDENTS AFFAIRS

AND SYSTEMIC PLANNING
GENERAL EDUCATION PROGRAM
COURSE SYLLABUS
I.

COURSE TITLE
Course Code
Credits
Category

II.

ENGLISH AS A SECOND
LANGUAGE I
GEEN
1101 Three
(3) Basic
Skills

COURSE DESCRIPTION
Development of English as a second language. Emphasis on auditory
comprehension, oral production and vocabulary acquisition in context. Requires
additional time in a laboratory. Required course.

III.

COURSE OBJECTIVES
A.

Terminal
By the end of the semester students will:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

B.

Understand simple oral and written discourse.

Speak English in a variety of contexts.
Read simple texts.
Write basic English structures.
Demonstrate an appreciation of the value of English as a means of
communication for personal, academic and professional purposes.

Enabling
By the end of the semester, students will:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

C.

Reading Comprehension
1.
2.
3.

D.

Respond appropriately to a range of oral input, including commands,

requests, directions, instructions, apologies, etc.
Express ideas using basic vocabulary and language structures.
Retell and report basic information.
Recognize sounds, stress, and intonation patterns through dictation
of words and simple sentences.
Use context to determine meaning of vocabulary.
Answer reading comprehension questions.

Identify main ideas or readings

Locate information
identify sequence of events

The English laboratory program complements the English class and

encourages the students to play an active role in the learning process. Its
fundamental aim revolves around supplementing the existing curriculum.
The lab program fosters the development of fundamental communication
skills through vocabulary building, listening comprehension, grammar
review, pronunciation practice, and role-play. The laboratory will also be
used for remedial purposes.

IV.

SUGGESTED EVALUATION
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
R
G.
H.

VI.
A.

Exams
Quizzes
Assignments
Oral communication exercises
Reading and writing exercises
Open laboratory activities
Alternative assessment
Final exam

RESOURCES AND DIDACTIC MATERIALS

Suggested Texts and Reference Materials
Recent ESL combined skills or content-based texts. Examples follow:
More True Stories
Expressions 2
Short Cuts 2: An Interactive English Course
True Colors 2: An EFL Course for Real Communication
Focus on Grammar
Side by Side, Book 1 (Third edition)
English to English Dictionary
Spanish to English Dictionary

B.
Audiovisual and Multimedia Resources Available in the Inter American
University System.
Crossroads Cafe. Intelecom, 1996.
Learn to Speak English: Complete Interactive English Course for Non-Native
Speakers. Laserdiscs. The Learning Company, 1998.
Longman Interactive American Dictionary, PC Version for Windows. Essex:
Addison, 1997.
C. Bibliography
Resources available in the Inter American University System.
1. Books
Berish, Lynda. Amazing Stories to Tell and Retell. Boston: Houghton, 1999.
Broukal, Milada. More about the USA: A Cultural Reader. White Plains:
Longman, 1996.
Cordeli, Jane. Cambridge Business English Activities: Serious Fun for
Business English Students. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2000.
Datesman, Maryanne Kearny. The American Ways: An Introduction to
American Culture. 2nd ed. Upper Saddle River: Prentice, 1997.
Farreli, Edith R. Side by Side: Spanish and English Grammar. Lincolnwood:
Passport, 1996.
Hewings, Martin. Pronunciation Plus: Practice through Interaction.
Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1998.
Karant. Priscilla. Grammar Through Stories. Cambridge:
Cambridge UP, 1998.

Naterop, B. Jean. Telephoning in English. Cambridge: Cambridge UP,

1997.
Newbury House Dictionary of American English: An Essential Reference for
Learners of American English and Culture. Boston: Heinle, 1996.
Obee, Bob. The Grammar Activity Book. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1999.

Robinson, Barbara. Focus: Interactive Grammar for Students of ESL. 2nd ed.
Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1998.
Thrush, Emily Austin. Interactions Access: A Listening/Speaking Book. 2nd ed. N Y :
McGraw, 1997.
Wallwork, Adrian. Discussions A-Z Intermediate: A Resource Book of Speaking
Activities. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1997.
2.

Web Sites
About.com - English as 2nd Language
improve your English skills. Find articles on conversation, listening, grammar and
comprehension, plus online English lessons. http://esl. about, com/
English Grammar Links for ESL Students
Directory of learning tools includes comprehensive grammar, idiom lists and interactive
quizzes. http://www.gl.umbc.edu/~kpokoy1/grammar1.htm
Dave's ESL Cafe - ESL Web Guide
Extensive directory lists resources for teachers and learners of English as a Second
Language. Find articles, lessons and dictionaries.
http://www.eslcafe.com/search/ Grammar Bytes!
Grammar Bytes offers English grammar explanations, handouts for students and teachers,
and interactive grammar exercises, http: //www. chompchomp.com/ .
Kathy Chareonsup's ESL Center
Find numerous aids and guides for students of the English language. Practice listening,
grammar and reading, and play word games.
http://members.aol.com/eslkathy/esl.htm Ohio University-ESL
Numerous reading, grammar, writing, listening and speaking exercises.
http://www.ohiou.edu/esl
Randall's ESL Cyber Listening Lab http://www.
esl-lab. com

Self-Study Quizzes for ESL Students

Students test their English knowledge with these sorted quizzes.
Covers homonyms, grammar and vocabulary.
http://myw.aitech.ac.jp/~itesli/quizzes/
Dictionary .com. www, dictionary, com
The Internet Dictionary Project www. june29. corn/IDP/
Merriam-Webster Dictionary www.m-w.com

Revised: May 2003