Welcome to English 1A, which is about speaking and listening skills. In this course we will be practicing such skills with a variety of topics ranging from social issues to economics. Moreover, we will learn how to use the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), an excellent tool for both representing language and focusing on sounds and sound processes.
In my courses I seldom use textbooks, and in the present course we will also have no textbook. Class material will be available here, on Dropbox, and on Google Drive; feel free to download, save, print, or otherwise use it. I seldom make paper handouts, but if you prefer paper, please take care of printing files yourself.
Session #1 (April 10, 2018)—Course Introduction
Good morning, and welcome to English 1A. Today we'll be getting acquainted and learning the basics of our class. We will also be talking some about what sort of e-mail you will be writing (in English, of course); this skill is of considerable importance here in our class as well as outside in the big, wide world.
Second, you will be crafting a personal vocabulary list as part of our Class Word Bank. This is done online using Google Drive, to which I will invite you.
Class Material for Session #1:
Session #2 (April 17) — Q&A;
In the first part of our class today, we will be speaking about questions. Yes, people, questions. This is an integral part of communication and one which you have been practicing since you were very, very small. In the class material below you will find an overview page of questioning.
Our second task is to briefly meet the International Phonetic Alphabet (hereafter IPA), which we will be both learning and using some. In a very brief nutshell, IPA is a system with which we can accurately transcribe the sounds of all languages. This is necessary because writing systems are inadequate for accurately representing sounds (both within and outside that particular language). Think for a moment about how English is written using katakana—are R and L accurately noted? Even within English the spelling and pronunciation are often quite different.
Our final task today will be to introduce our listening activities. As we are learning more about sounds through our study of IPA, I would like you to practice recording your voice; the recordings will often be handed in.
Finally, allow me to suggest that there are many, many resources available online for your listening practice. You might begin here with 12 English podcasts for English learners.
Class Material & Homework for Session #2:
- ✔ An excellent overview of questioning
- ✔ Cherry blossoms at the National Arboretum
- ✔Your HW: record the cherry blossom story and add a one-minute response; when finished, submit it by email.
Session #3 (April 24) — Plosives; Listening HW
In our class this morning, we will be engaging with the strong, explosive set of
sounds dubbed the plosives.
Our second task is some listening practice using the material below about Alexandria. This is, of course, an ancient city that once was the leading city in the known world.
Class Material & Homework:
Session #4 (May 8) — Contemporary Japan Listening; Fricatives
Welcome back, everyone! How was your Golden Week vacation? Let's chat about that some this morning ...
On to more important matters! Today we will devote some classtime to the next category of sounds, which would be the fricatives. Of course, the name has to do with friction, which is integral to producing such sounds. Of course, as with the plosives, the place of articulation is also important.
Class Material & Homework:
- ✔ IPA fricatives
- ✔ Your homework this week: record the cherry blossom story and add a one-minute response. Submit your recording by e-mail (with a polite e-mail, of course).
- ✔ Quite a story about old oyster shells. Your homework this week is to listen to (several times), read, and study this story. You might find some very useful vocabulary here, too.
Session #5 (May 15) — Social Issue Listening; Affricates & Nasals
Good morning, everyone. Our IPA discussion today will center on two more categories, the affricates and the nasals. Both are rather small categories, and you'll have no problem since you're all capable students. Affricates (notice that the name is somewhat like fricatives, which we covered last week) are combined sounds, specifically of a plosive and a fricative. Nasals are basically sounds with a 'nose' element.
Our second task today is to discuss the oyster shell story from last week, which you listened to several times (right?). Working with a group this morning, you will first summarize the story and then offer opinions about it. Finally, imagine and talk about whether similar projects could be effective here in Japan. A bit later I will ask for a brief report of your group's discussion, so pay attention (and perhaps take a memo) while you are discussing the oyster shell story.
Class Material:
- ✔ Coming soon.
- ✔ IPA affricates
- ✔ IPA nasals
- ✔ Your homework this week: record the oyster shell story and add a one-minute response. Submit your recording by e-mail (with a polite e-mail, of course).
- ✔ Here, Good Students, we have a story about cell phones (or, in the current vernacular, smart phones), which we all have and joyfully (?) use. Your homework this week is to listen to (several times), read, and study this story. You might find some very useful vocabulary here, too.
Session #6 (May 22) — Listening on Social Issue(s); Glides and Liquids
As we all know ...
Let's begin with an interesting TED talk by ...
Class Material:
- ✔ Coming soon.
- ✔ IPA glides and liquids
Note that we will have no class on May 29.
Session #7 (June 5) — IPA Quiz #1; Recording Homework
The obvious ...
Here you'll find a ...
Class Material:
- ✔ Coming soon.
Session #8 (June 12) — Food Listening; Glides and Liquids
Good morning, my minions. Today we will devote our class to a quiz on IPA things. You
may begin with 10 minutes for reviewing (and panicking?), after which we will have a
small, easy quiz.
Class Material:
- ✔ Check on what Ramadan is.
Session #9 (June 19) — Craftsmanship Listening; Vowels, Part 1
Our first task today is to add to your knowledge of IPA vowels. As you know, we have a set of five that corresponds to the vowels in Japanese, but English has more for your enjoyment.
Yuo all will recall that I asked you to check on Ramadan. One facet thereof is fasting during daylight hours, which is an idea that has gained some measure of popularity. As a means of purification, it certainly has value, but it might also enhance your cognitive performance.
Class Material:
- ✔ Coming soon.
Session #10 (June 26) — Language Listening; Vowels, Part 2
As mentioned in class, I have ...
From ... well worth your time, folks.
Class Material:
- ✔ Coming soon.
Session #11 (July 3) — Discussion on Handwriting
As mentioned in class, I have ...
From ... well worth your time, folks.
Class Material:
- ✔ Coming soon.
Session #12 (July 10) — Handwriting Listening
As mentioned in class last week, your group will be meeting with me next week for a short period of time. This morning we will spend some time preparing for your meeting.
Sadly, we will not be practicing IPA this morning. Yes, I know you are sad. Very much. However, life goes on, my minions. Today we will be listening to and watching a wonderful video about Jake Weidmann, who is a master penman. When you see his handwriting, you will understand, folks. To give you a hand, here is the transcript of the video.
Class Material:
- ✔ Coming soon.
Session #13 (July 17) — Group Meeting with Dr. E
Today I will be meeting with groups for about 10 minutes. Remember that you only need to come to class for your time; if your time is 9:40, then come to class about 9:30, talk with me for 10 minutes, then leave at 9:50. Easy, right? Just make sure that you are well prepared, people.
Remember that your group will hand in a paper when you meet me ...
Class Material:
- ✔ Coming soon.
Session #14 (July 24) — Discussion Preparation
Good morning, My Minions, and welcome to our penultimate class. Today, as you will learn in class, you will be preparing for a final group presentation/report. Our topic is digital devices, and I would like you to choose a sub-topic. You might, for example, speak about recycling digital devices, the effect of digital device use on handwriting, progress on achieving a 'paperless' society, and so forth. I expect you to do some research, too, so you have solid facts and support.
Note that our class next week will meet in Room 5404.
Class Material:
Session #15 (July 31) — Final discussion on digital devices
As mentioned in class, I have ...
Class Material:
- ✔ Coming soon.
In this course, Good Students, we have a few rules. In more detail, those include
- ✔ Punctual attendance; being late is counted as 0.5 absences, and being more than 20 minutes late will be considered an absence.
- ✔ More than four absences will result in a failing grade.
- ✔ Homework will be submitted on time. Late homework will be penalized 25% per week late.
- ✔ If you must be absent for any reason, it is your responsibility to contact me.
Of course, you'll be wondering about your grade, which will consist of the following parts:
- ✔ Class participation 20%
- ✔ Homework 20%
- ✔ Quizzes (3 x 10%) = 30%
- ✔ Final oral project 30%