Type of Credit: Partially Required
Credit(s)
Number of Students
College English I/II is a two-semester course, designed to help students improve their English language proficiency, be prepared for learning in a higher education environment in English, and develop the ability to engage critically with the world. While it is a four-skills (listening, speaking, reading, writing) integrated course, a particular emphasis will be placed on speaking and writing skills freshman students tend to lack most. All College English I/II courses are conducted in English.
能力項目說明
By the end of the course, students will have improved their English language proficiency, be better prepared for learning other subjects in EMI (English as a medium of instruction) settings, and acquired familiarity with a selection of issues related to cross-cultural communication.
Learning outcomes for speaking
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
Learning outcomes for writing
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
Learning outcomes related to intercultural awareness
By the end of the course, students will have improved their ability to:
| The following schedule will be adjusted to accommodate the progress of the class. |
|
週次 Week |
課程主題 Topic |
課程內容與指定閱讀 Content and Reading Assignment |
教學活動與作業 Teaching Activities and Homework |
|
1 |
Course Introduction & email Writing |
Syllabus overview and academic email basics |
Writing exercise: Compose an email to a professor |
|
2 |
Describing and managing conversations |
Conversation phrases handout |
Assigned exercises |
|
3 |
Understanding communication styles |
Extracts from a book |
Assigned exercises |
|
4 |
Hofstede's cultural dimensions |
Moodle lesson: Videos and articles |
Moodle quizzes |
|
5 |
Summary writing |
Sample article for summary writing |
Writing exercise: Write a summary |
|
6 |
Discussing interpersonal relationships |
Supplementary materials |
Group discussion |
|
7 |
Reading biographies |
A newspaper article |
Prepare for the midterm exam |
|
8 |
Stereotypes |
Moodle lesson: Videos and articles |
Moodle quizzes |
|
9 |
Identifying story types |
Useful expressions and sample dialogues |
Assigned exercises |
|
10 |
Midterm exam |
N/A |
Exam |
|
11 |
Retelling stories |
Newspaper articles |
Group discussion |
|
12 |
Describing statistical data and diagrams |
Data chart examples and model paragraphs |
Writing exercise: A description of visual data |
|
13 |
Education |
Moodle Lesson: Videos and articles |
Moodle quizzes |
|
14 |
Exploring humor across borders |
Extracts from a book |
Assigned exercises |
|
15 |
Delivering jokes |
Sample jokes |
Prepare for the final exam |
|
16 |
Final Exam |
N/A |
Exam |
Class time will be devoted to activities that allow you to practice and interact in English. To successfully complete the course, you must prepare the assigned homework prior to class and, while in class actively participate in class discussions and pair/group work. Your final grades are determined by the following course components:
Participation
Your participation grade will be based on your attendance, homework preparation, and the contribution you make to the learning experience of others. Contribution includes your in-class questions to the instructor, insights and comments regarding class content, answers to the instructor's questions, and reactions to other students' contributions.
Oral presentations
You will give an individual oral report and a group presentation. For the individual report, you will tell a 3-minute personal anecdote. For the group presentation, you and three other students will report on a current event. The presentation should be approximately 20 minutes, followed by a 5-minute discussion. Each group should meet with the instructor two weeks prior to their presentation to discuss their topic and present their outline.
Written work
There will be two major in-class writing tasks during the semester. In each task, you will respond to a prompt about a cultural issue, using the writing skills you have learned in class. Your paper should demonstrate that you have thought seriously and critically about the topic and made effective use of the resources provided. The grading rubric is available on the class website. Missed in-class writing tasks may be made up with a valid reason, but will incur a grade penalty.
Examinations
All materials, including the readings, handouts, and information provided in class will potentially be included on mid-term and final exams. The mid-term exam is a written test, and the final exam contains a written test and a speaking test. The written tests include vocabulary/grammar questions, a listening/reading section, and short writing tasks. The speaking test requires you to answer two or more questions, each question for two minutes. The instructor will evaluate your ability to respond to the questions appropriately and to speak for an extended period of time without hesitation, deviation or repetition. The grading rubric for the speaking test is available on the class website. Exams can NOT be made up or rescheduled unless you provide documentation of a true emergency.
In-class exercises and quizzes
Periodically throughout the semester, there will be in-class exercises and pop quizzes. These cannot be made up.
Course materials
Textbook (TBA) and supplementary readings
Resources
VoiceTube: https://tw.voicetube.com
BBC Learning English: http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish
TED talks: https://www.ted.com/talks
LTTC BESTEP: https://bestep.tw/