Welcome to English Core II-B, which to me is much clearer as simply "Speaking & Listening II" or something similar. This is an integrated-skills offering in which students will engage in and with the four basic skills of language acquisition. Using a series of topics from our textbook, we will explore various modes of expresssion, including oral presentations and debate. This course will focus on language useful in university contexts. This is a 15-week course offered by the Department of Science and Engineering during Autumn, 2017.

The principal focus of this course is on enhancing English presentation skills English that students can and hopefully will use during and also after their university career. Although the primary focus is on speaking, this course will include reading and writing as necessary.

Class material will be provided by the instructor and will also be available online. Students are encouraged to bring any electronic devices they feel might be helpful, including by not limited to e-dictionaries, smart phones, and personal computers.

 Week 1 (September 17, 2018) — Course Overview; Chapter 4—Weather and Climate 

Good day, everyone, and thank you for enrolling in this course. We will endeavor, as you certainly know, to expand your knowledge of skills necessary to function in English both in your university context(s) and in the wider world.

Good People, you know, of course, that vocabulary knowledge is important, and supplementing your knowledge will again be part of our class. On your vocabulary page in Google Drive, all students are required to continue adding at least five new words or phrases each and every week. More words would be better, so I'll expect more words this term. For example, if you had a total of 65 words last terms, how about aiming for 50% more this term? (Do the math, folks: 65 + 32.5 = 97.5 words ... oh, let's call it an even 100.)

 Homework: 

 Week 2 (September 24, 2018) — PowerPoint 

Today we will explore the use of PowerPoint, Microsoft's very useful presentation software. However, please note that there are other software programs that may be used; some of note are Keynote and Prezi. The latter, Prezi, is a Flash-based program thats zooms in, out, and around a single image, and I find it quite effective (and perhaps more interesting than PowerPoint).

Text here ...

 Homework: 

 Week 3 (October 1, 2018) — Chapter 1 

Add text here about ...

 Homework & Class Material: 

Please remember that we will have no class on October 8 because of the university festival—please enjoy the festival.

 Week 4 (October 15, 2018) — More Presentation Prep 

Today we will be talking some about your upcoming presentation, about which you may well be wondering. On the 13th (yes, just two weeks away) you will make a short presentation about a science- or engineering-related topic. Your presentation should be 4-5 minutes in length with, say, 12 or more slides in your PowerPoint. Of course, the PowerPoint should be in the required format, which we will review in class and for which you will see examples below.

 Week 5 (October 22, 2018) — TBA 

Today, Gentle Students, we will continue with some exercises in our textbook as well as have some time for you to work on and ask questions about your upcoming presentation. Incidentally, the picture to the left is an example of a pueblo, which is a traditional First Nation (Native American) dwelling found in the American Southwest. If you're wondering why I have it here, you'll have to ask me for a definitive answer.

Today I would like to introduce another small task for you good people. You may well be familiar with TED Talks, the 'TED' of which is not the teddy bear of movie fame but an acronym for technology, entertainment, design. Your job will be to watch at least two talks and prepare a critique of them.

 Class Material: 

 TED Talk homework (due by January 31, 2018): 

 Week 6 (October 29, 2018) — TBA 

As you'll recall, today we'll have presentations to small groups. In addition, as you'll know from class, you are required to evaluate your classmates. This is an essential step in your development as a presenter, for you will consume far more presentations than you will make, I suspect. Thus, recognizing what constitutes a good presentation is an important skill.

 Homework: 

Week #7 (November 5, 2018) —  Cause & Effect 

Today we will be working more with out textbook. I'd like to look at two chapters as we lead into our second presentation, which will take place before Christmas. Exactly when, however, is your choice. You may do your presentation in our final class on December 18 or in our makeup class on December 16 (Saturday).

 Homework: 

Week #8 (November 12, 2018) —  The 4-stroke Internal Combustion Engine (Unit 4) 

One of the more ...

From our textbook, we will be examining the intricacies of the 4-stroke internal combustion engine, which you'll find on pp. 26ff. Just for your enlightenment, here we have two videos on how such engines work ( construction and movement and with narration

Week #9 (November 19, 2018) —  The Mighty Pinhole Camera 

Today we will be working on several things, Good People. First, I would like about 15 minutes on your vocabulary in our class Word Bank. As you can cleverly discern, this is our ninth class, which means you should have at least 45 words.

Today, we will be learning some about pinhole cameras. These are quite simple devices, yet the photographs they take are of reasonable quality: How a pinhole camera works and a 5-minute introduction to pinhole cameras. In our book, you'll find our material in Unit 8 (pp. 50ff).

 Week 10 (November 26, 2018—Saturday; Presentations 

In this class we will be enjoying student presentations. Remember that you may come either in the morning or in the afternoon; this depends on when you will take the TOEIC test. Of course, you will need to evaluate a total of five and provide substantial comments on our class feedback form. (I will have explained this in class.)

 Week 11 (December 3, 2018) — Cause-and-Effect Presentations, Part 2 

Good morning, everyone. As you are well aware, today we will enjoy cause-and-effect presentations.

A reminder, everyone: You will remember that you have a TED Talk assignment from several weeks ago. In case you've forgotten, you need to watch a total of 20 minutes of TED talks and write a critique of those talks.

 TED Talk homework (due by January 31, 2018): 

 Week 12 (January 15, 2017) — Presentations Galore 

Happy New Year, my good minions! I hope your holidays were relaxing and enjoyable. Today we will take time to finish up previous presentations, after which you will have time to prepare for your upcoming group presentation.

 Group presentation (on January 20 or 22): 

 Week 13 (Saturday, January 20, 2018) — Final Presentations 

Today we will begin final presentations. .

Today, my minions, you will thrill your classmates with your final presentations about some aspect of ...

 Week 14 (January 22, 2018) — Final Presentations 

Yes, the time is at hand for that dreaded event, your final exam. Not to fear, however, for your good attendance and excellent study habits mean that you will all do fine on this/these. I will explain in class exactly what you need to do to finish our English II-B course.