ESL 106 is an advanced speaking course for non-native speakers of English designed to improve the student’s base of articulation. Greatest emphasis will be given to intelligibility, which includes such things as accent reduction through focus on phonetics, intonation, rhythm (stress), body language, idiomatic speech patterns, etc.

INSTRUCTOR: Dr. James McKeithen    OFFICE: Brown 307
                           Assistant Professor of Foreign Languages  OFFICE PHONE: 342-1524

OFFICE HOURS:

COURSE OBJECTIVES:
To raise academic and pre-professional oral language proficiency by improving the student’s

1. ability to participate in classroom discussions dealing with a variety of subjects
(conversations evolving from specific assigned readings)
2. in-class presentation skills
3. listening comprehension

These goals will be met through learning the International Phonetic Alphabet and being introduced to the sounds of English based on this alphabet; practicing those sounds through classroom readings, recitations, and discussions (class participation); listening comprehension exercises; a formal in-class presentation on a subject relevant to the student’s academic major; and assigned conversation/pronunciation activities performed in the Language Learning Center. Each student is required to spend a minimum of one hour per week in the lab accomplishing the specific conversational and pronunciation tasks mentioned above with the aim of mastering sounds, particularly those which would make his or her spoken English more intelligible.

TEXT(S): Pronunciation practice in this course will be closely tied to the readings and vocabulary        in ESL 105--the essays included in Models for Composition and the assigned short              novel.

GRADES:
A student’s semester grade will be the average of percentage grades received in each component.

 30% Tests assessing mastery of the International Phonetic Alphabet and pronunciation
 30% Assessment of listening comprehension
 20% In-class Presentation
10% Work in the Language Learning Center (lab)
-“Speech Works” Computer Program
-Conversation practice with lab workers
10% Class participation

 ATTENDANCE: Students are expected to attend class regularly. Unexcused absences will result in a grade of zero for that day’s work. Students with 3 unexcused absences will be reported to the dean of their college.