Course Introduction
Textbooks: AMERICAN HEADWAY 1A (Units 1-7)
Since this is a conversation course, your grade will depend on how much English that you speak in class. Indeed, speaking English in every class is the ONLY way you will pass the class!!
You, the student, will be given the opportunity to use English in various ways including speaking, reading, writing, and listening. Maximum time will be spent on speaking practice with a partner or in group work during each class in order to improve your speaking ability. The course will follow the book with one chapter studied every day. ( i.e. day 1 chapter 1, day 2 chapter 2 etc. ) We will study the first 4 units and then have a REVIEW class prior to the midterm exam. After the midterm we will follow the same procedure for the last 3 units of the book and another REVIEW class prior to the final exam.
If you have any questions please ask me in class, during the break or after class. DO NOT be shy, other students will benefit from your questions. There is no such thing as a stupid question - if you don't ask you WON'T learn!!!
Class Procedure
During class, we will first review the chapter you are studying, then use each lesson in a conversation period. This conversation period will be based upon the textbook exercises, so you WILL HAVE TO DO THE PREPARATION BEFORE EACH CLASS in order to fully understand everything!!! Your role in class is to answer questions during the first part of class, and then to offer your own opinions and ideas during the second part of class. EVERY STUDENT IS EXPECTED TO PARTICIPATE!!! You cannot expect to speak English if you don't practice. The only homework that I will give is for you to read and complete selected sections from the student book as well as the writing for every chapter from the workbook PRIOR to that class.
Classroom Rules
1. I NEED a PASSPORT size picture of you, it will help me to remember everyone's name and will also help me when it comes to giving you your final grades!!
2. You MUST bring your textbook, workbook and the supplementary material book to EVERY class, you CAN NOT study without it. If you DO NOT have the textbook DO NOT come to class I WILL NOT allow you in the classroom without the text!!! ABSOLUTELY NO COPIES or USED TEXTBOOKS ALLOWED you must BUY YOUR OWN BOOKS !!!
3. Turn OFF ALL handphones when you enter the classroom, if by chance you forget and your handphone rings DO NOT answer it turn it off IMMEDIATELY!!!
4. When I, or anyone else is speaking, NO ONE ELSE WILL SPEAK. If it is important enough to say it is also important enough to be heard !!!
5. Leave your Korean (language) at the door. You are expected to use English, and ONLY English, while in my class!!!
6, DO NOT be late!! I WILL lock the door 10-15 minutes after the class has begun. If the door is locked when you arrive DO NOT knock I WILL NOT open it, you can join the class after the break.
7. Attendance is crucial. You WILL be penalized 2% for each absence and 1% each time you are late. Five absences WILL result in an " F ", I DO enforce this rule!!!
8. ABOVE ALL HAVE FUN, this should be a fun learning experience!!!!
Grades
Your final grade will be calculated according to the following scale:
Attendance - 15%
Participation - 35%
Midterm Exam - 20%
Final Exam - 30%
NOTE your participation and attendance grade is worth the most, because this is a CONVERSATION class!! Participation includes doing the required homework - I WILL EXPLAIN THIS COMPLETELY so that everyone understands!!!! BOTH the MIDTERM and FINAL exams are ORAL EXAMS!! You are also COMPETING for the best grades as Dongguk University policy states that the classes are graded on a curve, I WILL ALSO EXPLAIN THIS so that EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS.
