Syllabus and Class Policies

                                                                                            Universidad del valle

                                                                                            Facultad de HumAnidades

                                                                                            School of Language Sciences

                                                                                            Dep. Of Languages and Foreign                                                                                             Cultures

Integrated skills in English III[1]

Code:   204186M    Credits: 4         Pre-requisits: integrated skills in english II

Section 02: 11:00 am -1:00 pm. Building 315, Room 3006 M/W/F

Prof. José Aldemar Álvarez Valencia, PhD

Office:   ECL-2014

Office Hours: Wednesdays 2:00- 4:00 (By appointment)

E-mail:  jose.aldemar.alvarez@correounivalle.edu.co

Course Web Site:  http://languageintegratedskills3.blogspot.com.co/

COURSE DESCRIPTION

            This course is designed for students of the Bachelor of Foreign Languages ​​who have completed the course Integrated Skills in English II. In this course contact with the English language continues, seeking to develop the four basic skills (listening, reading, writing and speaking) through teaching and learning based on a multimodal social semiotic view of language and communication. At this level, students express their opinions on various topics of general and academic interest, understand and compare different viewpoints and express agreement or disagreement. They understand and produce texts containing speculation and predictions about the past and the future with respect to issues of general and academic interest. In the literary field we continue work on the global understanding of a work (characters, settings, major events) and also focus on exploring the sociocultural aspects surrounding a play or a film. Based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, this course corresponds to an A2 + level.

            As part of Phase 1 of the classroom research component of the Bachelor of Foreign Languages, students will venture on observation of classroom context, making differentiations between descriptions and interpretations of the aspects observed.

            This class will involve use of technology in different levels which implies that time for autonomous work will be required.

                                                                             

COURSE GOALS

The course focuses on preparing students to:

1 develop understanding of issues of professional and general interest through exposure to a variety of documents

2 express opinions, orally and in writing, on issues of professional and general interest.

3 develop skills of synthesis of various documents

4 recognize the structure of the letter as a tool of formal and informal communication.

5 use different strategies to interact significantly with different documents and to improve the process of language development

6 increase and improve management of vocabulary related to their personal and professional environment

7 take responsibility for planning and organizing their own academic work

8 continue the process of acquisition of observational skills as a basis for the classes on classroom research

9 Develop intercultural awareness and competence by recognizing, valuing and reflecting about their own cultural practices and those of other cultures such as the Anglo-Saxon culture
10 Integrate computer mediated tools in their language development 
11 Understand the multimodal nature of communication and meaning making.

METHODOLOGY

           Methodology refers the "teacher's choices of activities, tasks, and learning experiences" (Thornbury, 2011, p. 185), that is,  all actions that teachers take in order to achieve their pedagogical goals. One of this actions is the promotion of independent learning through collaborative work. The semester contents will spin around project work. Student will work on a project about the concept of Journey, which will in turn be divided into tasks.  Each student will participate in group and individual tasks in which they will assume roles and responsibilities that will contribute to their learning and that of their peers. Each multimodal will be the product of negotiation and will mainly involve the comprehension and production of different multimodal texts. In moments of socialization of individual tasks each student will have the opportunity to share their thoughts, questions, insights and contributions for each subject. This methodological strategy will require preparation, active and committed participation, and ongoing inquiry. During the course we will use a blog that will allow interaction outside the classroom and the development of  the project tasks and other activities. There will also be a literary component. Students will read several short stories this semester and will be expected to discuss and workshop in class.

            The course will emphasize the use of authentic documents. The authentic text offers the advantage of showing students learning the language naturally also lets them know how the language establishes relationships between different grammatical and discursive elements.

            Students will give short presentations at the beginning of each class session throughout the semester. This will be a way to improve their reading and oral skills.

EVALUATION

            Given the objectives proposed, the process of evaluation will take place from the constant assessment of activities. This assessment is done through the review and subsequent feedback to student productions (exercises, workshops, evaluations, etc.).

             Students will be given quizzes in the middle and  at the end of the semester to test basic and complementary skills which will assess aspects worked during the semester and will inform about their learning process.

            Note: Según el artículo 43 del acuerdo 009 de 1997 del Consejo Superior, se asignará una calificación de cero. cero (0.0), "para quien sin causa justificada no se presente a una evaluación o practica, sea sorprendido en fraude o coopere con él, o no entregue los trabajos académicos exigidos dentro de las fechas establecidas".

REQUIRED COURSE WORK

Assignment	Due Date	Percentage
Short assignments: short quizzes, listening activities, story reviews, workshops, and others TBA.	Weeks 1-15	25%
Project tasks	Week 2-15	25%
Mid term quizzes	Week 7	25%
Final quizzes	Week 16	25%
Total		100%

Note: there will be a short quiz most weeks. It will be announced at least one class in advance.

CLASS POLICIES

Student Responsibilities

·      Read the syllabus schedule on a daily basis, finish appropriate assignments, and bring your materials (homework/essays/books) to class. (“For class” means “prepare this work before you come to class.”)

·      Be alert to any schedule changes that may impact your work in the class.

·      Remember computers can crash and flash drives can be easily lost. Back up your files!

Class blog 

To access the class BLOG, go to http://languageintegratedskills3.blogspot.com.co/ I will use the BLOG to distribute syllabus, detailed assignments, handouts, and readings for you to print and read. It is your responsibility to make sure you can access the BLOG. If you are having problems accessing it or finding documents, let me know. Please check the BLOG regularly for updates and announcements. 

Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism

All University of el Valle students are responsible for upholding the Code of Student Conduct, available at http://secretariageneral.univalle.edu.co/consejo-superior/reglamento-estudiantil/acuerdo%20009.pdf

You must do your own work for all the assignments in this class and have a full understanding of all terms and concepts you have used. If your instructor questions whether the work you have submitted is your own, he or she may test you on its content.

Submitting an item of academic work that has previously been submitted without fair citation of the original work or authorization by the faculty member supervising the work is prohibited by the Code of Student Conduct.

Attendance

Third semester courses are workshop classes that include in-class work and peer group work. Therefore, students should not be late and should not miss class. If a student reaches 5 absences, I will be the first one to suggest him/her to cancel the class section. You will be marked absent if you arrive 15 minutes after the class sessions has started. 

Leaving the classroom during class time

This year the Foreign Languages Department is implementing a new policy. Class sessions will finish 10 minutes before your next class so that you have some time to walk to your next class, make a phone call, grab something to drink or go to the bathroom. I will start my class at _11:10__ and finish it at _1:00 pm. With this in mind, I expect everyone to be on time at the start of the class session. I expect you to remain in class during the class session as well. However if you don't it, I will mark you absent from class if you leave the classroom for more than 10 minutes. 

Class Etiquette

Cell phone and other electronic devices should not be used in class, unless your instructor allows you to take notes with such equipment. You will never see me leaving the classroom to answer my cellphone, so I expect you to do the same, unless you notify me that you have an urgent matter and it is necessary for you to do it.

Food and drink are not permitted in most classrooms. But I can be flexible as far as drinks. If you happen to be chewing gum in class, please avoid gum popping. It drives me crazy!

Please plan on staying in class for the whole class period unless it is urgent for you to leave or you have made arrangements with your instructor ahead of time.

Email submissions are unacceptable unless prior arrangements have been made between you and your instructor. You should never assume that emailing your assignment as an attachment means you have met a class deadline. 

Late Work

Late work will not be accepted without penalty unless students make arrangements for an extension before the due date. Most of the times, late assignments will not be received and, if so, the assignments will incur a 5% penalty per 24-hour period.

Students with Disabilities – Accessibility and Accommodations

If you anticipate or experience physical or academic barriers based on disability, please let me know immediately so that we can discuss options. You are also welcome to contact Bienestar Universitario (http://vicebienestar.univalle.edu.co/) (3392370) to establish reasonable accommodations. 

Information contained in the course syllabus, other than the grade and absence policies, may be subject to change with reasonable advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.

Bibliography 

Thornbury, S. (2011). Language teaching methodology. In J. Simpson (Ed.),  Routledge Handbook of Applied Linguistics (pp. 185-199). London/New York: Routledge.

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[1] Note: Este curso no es  habilitable ni validable