TIE 055 Advanced Language Applications

Student Syllabus
Instructor: Trischa Duke
E-mail: tduke3@uic.edu

Front Office Phone Number: 312-996-8098

Cell Phone: 312-315-5030

COURSE DESCRIPTION
TIE 055, Advanced Language Applications, focuses on fluency, use of English in informal
situations, and cultural knowledge about the United States. This course develops students
language skills and cultural knowledge by exploring important events or movements in recent
American history we call these events touchstones. Students may explore touchstones with
a variety of media, such as fiction, internet archives, newspaper articles, popular movies,
documentaries, and music. Also, students will conduct oral interviews with a native speaker for
at least one of the touchstones. The course is run as a seminar, with students performing
independent research on touchstone topics and sharing their findings with each other. We
believe that these activities will help you interact with Americans formally and informally, in both
professional and academic settings.
This approach requires students to practice all their language skills simultaneously, including
listening, speaking, reading, writing, pronunciation, and grammar. For the purpose of practicing
informal English, students will study All Clear, a textbook of English idioms and pronunciation,
engage in classroom discussion, collaborate on projects, and discuss touchstone topics with
native speakers.
Because 055 students are advanced language learners who have different levels of skills, we
emphasize independent language practice. This means that you will identify language
improvement goals, and you will practice them independently. You will practice different
language elements every week and turn in a log detailing the type of practice and your
progress. You will record your speaking twice during the semester, and you will analyze these
recordings. Also, your teacher will analyze your recordings and give you feedback about your
language needs and progress. In addition, at the end of the semester, your language
proficiency will be assessed with the institutional TOEFL.

GOALS
We can divide our goals into four areas: language, culture, academic and professional skills,
and research. In these areas, students will:
Language
Focus on formal and informal language, such as that found in movies and fiction
Complete a weekly language report on grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation
Practice independent language learning strategies and communication strategies, such
as the ability to identify and practice challenging language independently
Conduct an oral interview and interact with native speakers in a professional manner in
informal circumstances
Focus on multiple language skills through a variety of activities

Read extensively in a variety of text types, such as novels, newspaper articles, and the
internet
Communicate ideas and opinions effectively in spoken and written English
Refine content test-taking skills



Academic and professional skills
Engage in a seminar-style atmosphere, featuring presentations, discussions, and
occasionally lecture
Practice professional skills, such as facilitation, presentations, and report writing, in
English
Conduct and present independent research from the internet
Utilize popular culture media in English (such as fiction and film) to inform and support
opinions on complex issues
Attribute information to sources appropriately
As a team, organize and prioritize learning experiences with classmates and the
instructor
Use critical thinking skills to compare different points of view, synthesize information
from different sources, and evaluate positions
Submit assignments in a professional and neat manner
When assigned, take a leadership role in organizing and facilitating class discussions

Culture
Learn about specific aspects of American culture through course touchstones
Contact and meet with native speakers for oral interviews
Participate in community events and/or explore Chicago through course activities

Research
Effectively use internet search engines
Critically evaluate web sites for quality and reliability
Locate class material at book stores and libraries

HOMEWORK POLICIES
For this course, you will have daily assignments and longer projects. Expect to have at least an
hour of homework each night, and more on weekends. For homework, you will read, research,
practice grammar and/or pronunciation, study idioms, write, create presentations, and conduct
interviews, among other activities. Written homework should be neat, readable, and, when
possible, typed. All homework should be completed before class. Homework completed during
class will not be accepted. Late work will be accepted only with prior arrangement and points
will be deducted. Absent students who notified the instructor in advance may make
arrangements with the instructor for missed homework. Students who have not completed their
homework should come to class rather than be late. Homework from a late student will be
accepted at the instructors discretion.

OTHER COURSE POLICIES

Students who miss quizzes due to absence may not make them up unless prior arrangement is
made with the instructor. Missing the second half of class counts as an absence. Dictionary

use is encouraged, but please leave your bilingual dictionary at home. Please leave your cell
phone off and put it away during the entire class period.

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES AT THE TUTORIUM

Good English language students do many things so that they can improve their English skills.
Successful TIE students use English for many hours every day. They do homework carefully
and arrive on time to class with their books and homework, prepared to learn. Being in class
and being prepared for class show that a student is trying to learn. Good students understand
that they are responsible for learning and that learning takes a lot of time and effort every day.
Student Responsibilities:
1. Attend class every day.
2. Be on time to class.
3. Be prepared for class and participate in class.

Because these actions are important for learning, TIE has rules about attendance and
participation.

1. Attendance Rules: Few good reasons to be absent

Students will be withdrawn from the program if they are absent 10 times. There are not very
many good reasons for being absent. A visit to the bank or a doctor appointment are not
usually good reasons. There are many other times that you are not in class to do these
things. If you must be absent, please let your instructor know before class.
There are NO excused absences. If you are absent 4 or more times, you will be asked to:

discuss your absences;

read and sign a statement about the TIE absence policy and the consequences of being
withdrawn from classes;

If you know that you will be absent for a religious holidays, you must tell your teacher and
submit a written notification to the TIE office by the second week of the semester. Please
refer to http://www.uic.edu/depts/oae/docs/ReligiousHolidaysFY20112013.pdf to view the list
of holidays recognized by the University.
Upon the 10th absence, you will be withdrawn from classes and may not be permitted to
register for future sessions. You will not receive any refund of your fees.
If you are sick and will be out of class for a long period of time, please get a written
statement from your doctor. If you have problems that prevent you from coming to class,
you should call or come to the Tutorium office and speak with a staff member.

2. Tardiness Rules: Late or absent?

Do not be late for class. You should be in your classroom and ready to work a few minutes
before class is scheduled to begin. Do not arrive at the starting time. Arrive before your
teacher.
Fall and Spring Session classes begin at 2:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Summer Session classes
begin at 9:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

If you come to class late or return from break late, your teacher will mark you tardy for that
class. Three tardies will be counted as one absence. 3 Tardies = 1 Absence
If you miss more than 15 minutes of a class, you will be marked absent for that class.

3. Preparedness and Participation rules: Participating or absent?

Students may be marked absent for not being prepared to participate in class and/or for
not participating during class.
In a language class, students must actively use language to learn. Some class participation
requires preparation (homework); other participation requires active engagement in class
activities and with classmates. TIE wants all students to have the best learning environment
possible. Students who do not actively participate distract the whole class from learning.
Because participation is necessary for learning, students may be marked absent for not being
prepared to participate in class and/or for not participating during class.
Examples of non-participation include:
not being prepared for significant class activities such as presentations or leadership
roles,
not having the necessary homework completed for a participatory class activity such as
a peer review,
sitting in class but not participating in class activities,
not bringing books to class or not having a new textbook.
When a teacher notices instances of such behavior, the student will be warned the first time
and marked absent after that. Students are withdrawn from the Tutorium upon the 10th
absence. Students who are withdrawn for non-participation may not be allowed to re-enroll.

Withdrawals
A student who is absent 10 times will be withdrawn from the program. The 10 absences may be
a result of non-attendance, repeated extreme tardiness, lack of preparation and participation or
a combination of the three.
Example: Student A is absent, late and not prepared.
Absent 5 times + 20 minutes late 3 times + not prepared for 2 in-class
presentations = 10 absences

If you stop attending classes, please notify the Tutorium office, so we can properly advise you.
If you stop attending and do not notify the Tutorium office, you may not be allowed to return to
the Tutorium in the future and lose your immigration status if you have an F-1 student visa.

Note to Students on F-1 Visas:

If you withdraw from classes at TIE and do not register at another school, your student status is
no longer valid.

REQUIRED MATERIALS

A three-ring binder and dividers to store and organize all handouts and graded work for
this class.
Core Activities and Resources Booklet (CARB). Your teacher will give you this.
All Clear 3: Listening and Speaking, Fragiadakis (Thomson Heinle, 2007).
New American Rogets College Thesaurus, Morehead (Signet, 2002). This book is a
requirement for 050. However, if you are not in 050 it is strongly recommended that you
buy it also.
Novels, to be assigned during the term and purchased, downloaded, or borrowed by the
student.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES AND ASSESSMENT

A student who successfully completes 055 can

effectively lead and participate in organized literature discussions of at least 30 minutes

give an effective formal presentation of about 15 minutes on a researched topic that
includes a visual aid and questions from the audience
demonstrate understanding a broad range of factual and persuasive oral language in
extended, authentic, complex contexts, such as interviews, discussions, television, and
films.
evaluate and write reports on personal and group performance
within a time limit, take an exam in short answer, essay, and objective formats on
authentic cultural content previously presented in class or through homework. These
exams require summarization, synthesis, and analysis of course content.
conduct a formal hour long interview of a native speaker using prepared questions
achieve an ITP TOEFL score of 540 or better

ACTIVITIES FOR ASSESSMENT

During the semester, you will receive numerical grades on most assignments; 75% or above is
passing. Some activities have other grading scales. Grades will be based on at least 2 of the
following:

touchstone tests
written reports
oral presentations
book discussion facilitations
book discussion participation
idiom quizzes
class discussions

They will also be based on other activities, teacher observation, and the ITP TOEFL score.
Samples of your spoken language will be evaluated at two points during the semester and your
teacher will fill out a Speech Profile form.
For midterm and final evaluation, you are given an S for satisfactory (passing) performance or
a U for unsatisfactory (failing) performance. We divide grades for this class into two
categories: Professional and Academic Skills and Language Skills. You must pass 6
components in Professional and Academic Skills and 8 in Language skills to pass the class. On
the following page are explanations of the components in each category.

TIE 055 EVALUATION CRITERIA

A. Professional and Academic Skills
Component

Source for the Grade

1. Facilitating discussions

Your grade for the discussion facilitation packet (report, facilitation

itself, and discussion plan)

2. Participating in discussions

Your participation in class discussions

3. Writing reports

Your oral interviews and discussion facilitation reports

4. Taking content-area tests

Your touchstone tests (a grade of 75% is S)

5. Giving oral presentations &

holding Q/A sessions
6. Conducting oral interviews

Your touchstone and other presentations

Your oral interview report and discussion participation

7. Researching assigned topics SCAILAB research and other touchstone readings

8. Being prepared for class

Other homework for class activities

B. Language Skills

Component

Source for the Grade

1. Demonstrates effective
communication skills
2. Demonstrates control of
pronunciation
3. Demonstrates control of
spoken grammar
4. Demonstrates control of
written language
5. Demonstrates effective
listening comprehension

From the presentations, discussion participation and overall class

performance
From the presentations, discussion participation and overall class
performance
From the presentations, discussion participation and overall class
performance
From the grade on research summaries and reports.

6. Demonstrates level
appropriate reading
comprehension
7. Demonstrates effective
language self-assessment

From your understanding of the novels and other readings, ability to

follow written directions, and understanding of test questions, as well
as grades on reading quizzes.
From the self-assessments you complete during the semester (an
analysis of a recorded sample at the beginning of the semester + a
reflective paper at the end of the semester) and from the Weekly
Language Focus.
All Clear quiz average

From your understanding of the touchstone videos, ability to follow

directions, and performance in class discussions.

8. Demonstrates learning of
idioms
9. Demonstrates consistent
From Weekly Language focus (students weekly practice log)
individual language practice
10. Achieves 540 on ITP TOEFL An overall TOEFL score of 540
out-take