Welcome to English 4A, which is about speaking and listening skills in academic contexts. In this course we will be practicing such skills with a variety of topics ranging from social issues to economics. MOreoever, we will learn how to use the International Phonetic Alphabet, an excellent tool for both representing language and focusing on sounds and sound processes. More specifically, upon completing this course, students will be able to do the following:
- ✔ listen to a short lecture and make notes about the main points;
- ✔ talk logically about a given topic and give a short presentation; and
- ✔ participate effectively in discussions and present an argument logically.
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) — Reading (social issue); Note-Taking
In the second part of today's class, we will be talking some about taking notes. You have been doing this for many years, of course, while progressing through the education system, and it's not difficult. However, to do so well does take some thought and practice. Let's begin with a glance at a page on taking notes, courtesy of UC-San Diego. A second very useful webpage is this one from the University of New South Wales in Australia.
Class Material & Homework for Session #2:
- ✔ Forgetting a language I never knew
- ✔ Your HW: check on what heritage language means. In addition, check on at least one language that represents a heritage language to some group. A couple examples would be Ainu and Hawaiian; in my case, it would be Danish. What is being done to protect and maintain those languages?
- ✔ Here is an extensive webpage devoted to heritage languages (courtesy of Monica Medina).
Session #3 (April 24) — Oral Reports; Lecture Notetaking
In our class this morning, we will begin with the fundamentals of oral
reports, which could be in class or in any other academic context.
Our second task is to speak about and begin practicing lecture notetaking. As you will recall, the first step in this is, of course, to be somewhat familiar with your topic, and that topic is heritage languages, which you looked at in your homework.
The third ...
Class Material & Homework:
- ✔ Listening: Alexandria, Lost
- ✔ Heritage languages—Okinawan
- ✔ Prepare an oral report for next week on some topic related to a heritage language. Your report should be 4-6 minutes in length.
- ✔ Three reasons to preserve and develop a heritage language (Charles Chang at TEDxRiceU 2014)
Session #4 (May 8) — Oral Reports; Q&A
We will begin with several oral reports given to small groups. As always, you are expected to remember the tips I've given you about these oral reports (posture, voice, eye contact, and so forth).
In the latter half of today's class, we will focus on the crucial skill of asking and answering questions. Of particular importance in today's class are paraphrasing and framing, which will be explained in class.
Class Material & Homework:
- ✔ Your homework this week: revise and add to your heritage language report. Follow the correct report style as shown here.
- ✔ How to take Cornell Notes
- ✔ Professor David Crystal on standard vs. non-standard English
Session #5 (May 15) — Class Discussion
Today, Good People, we will be having a discussion about languages, but more specifically we will talk about learning and teaching non-first languages. By "non-first languages," I mean any language that falls under one or more of the headings of foreign language, second language, or heritage language.
Working with a group of your classmates, prepare a statement of your group's position on this issue: Students should learn a foreign (heritage) language from first grade in elementary school. Your group should include at least three sources of information to support your view. In addition, consider talking about a specific language or situation to further help explain your position.
Class Material:
- ✔ Coming soon.
Session #6 (May 22) — Debate Fundamentals
In today's class we will speak at length about the basics of debate. This is a skill which is useful for debating, of course, but also for everyday interaction both inside and outside academia.
Let's begin with an in ...
Class Material:
- ✔ Coming soon.
- ✔ A primer on Lincoln-Douglas debate
- ✔ Some background on the Lincoln vs. Douglas debates
- ✔ Kelsey Virginia Shampoe on the homeschooling vs. public schooling issue
- ✔ An example on health care reform (main points and support)
- ✔ An extensive look by Todd Hering at classic debate
- ✔ Some debate cross-examination questions from the International Debate Education Association
- ✔ More cross-examination questions from Seth Brake
- ✔ A lengthy but informative blog post on the cross-examination element of debate
Note that we will have no class on May 29.
Session #7 (June 5) — Reading (current event)
Good day, everyone, and welcome back after your one-week holiday. Part of your homework this week is to choose one of the TED Talks from the following links, listen to it, and take notes. We will be talking about notetaking soon, my fine students.
Here you'll find a ...
Class Material:
- ✔ Courtesy of Meaghan, here are 10 must-see TED Talks on language learning.
- ✔ From those nice folks at Fluent U, here we have more TED Talks on language learning.
Session #8 (June 12) — Debate Preparation
Today we will devote our time to further preparing for the debates next week. One point
to consider is, of course, the actual vocabulary (words, phrases) that you will use during
a debate. These include many possibilities, but the important thing is to use them to
support your statements by making your intention or purpose very clear.
Class Material:
Session #9 (June 19) — Debates
As you know from class, today we will enjoy a series of debates about
language- or education-related topics.
More coming here, folks.
Class Material:
- ✔ Coming soon.
Session #10 (June 26) — Debate
As mentioned in class, I have ...
From ... well worth your time, folks.
Class Material:
- ✔ Coming soon.
Session #11 (July 3) — Reading (contemporary Japan); Presentation Fundamentals
As mentioned in class, I have ...
From ... well worth your time, folks.
Class Material:
Session #12 (July 10) — Note-taking practice
As mentioned in class, I have ...
From ... well worth your time, folks.
Class Material:
- ✔ Coming soon.
Session #13 (July 17) — Oral Report Preparation
In class today we will have time for you to work on your final report(s). As I mentioned, this will be based on a TED Talk of your choice; my advice would be to choose something that is useful in your field, major, or specialty. In the class material below, you will find several possibilities as well as a list of TED Talks on economics.
Furthermore, this preparation is for your oral report next week to a small group of your peers (your classmates).
Class Material:
- ✔ TED Talks on economics
- ✔ David Susskind on 3 myths about the future of work (and why they're not true)
- ✔ Mia Birdsong on The story we tell about poverty isn't true
- ✔ Michael Metcalfe on We need money for aid. So let's print it.
- ✔ Keith Chen on Could your language affect your ability to save money?
- ✔ Anthony Lovins on A 40-year plan for energy
Session #14 (July 24) — Final Presentations
Today, my Good People, you will be making oral reports of your TED Talk activity. You should be well prepared and should speak "long enough" to cover the necessary points. Remember, too, that you need to have good eye contact while speaking.
Session #15 (July 31) — Class Summary
As mentioned in class last week, attendance at this class is the student's prerogative. For anyone choosing not to attend, you will submit a written version of your TED Talk report. For anyone choosing to attend, the written report is not required.
Here is a sample critique about a TED talk by Simone Giertz about making useless things. Please use this style in your report.
Please enjoy a safe, relaxing summer vacation!
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%
- ✔ Word Bank 10%
- ✔ Oral reports (2 x 10%) = 20%
- ✔ Final presentation and report 50%