Sample Syllabus

Foundations B Listening and Speaking

Fall 2017
8:15-9:20 am, Room 203
(Possible to change)

Instructor Information
Instructor: Ms. Larissa Grahl
Email Address: larissa.grahl@byu.edu or email through Canvas
Office Number: ELC 342
Office Hours: By appointment. I am happy to meet with students!

Course Description
This course is designed to improve your speaking fluency and ease, introduce you to and help you use
new vocabulary, and increase your listening capacity in order to function in basic interpersonal
communication situations, such as speaking with professors and classmates at a university.

Course Learning Outcomes

1. Understands level-appropriate* text.

1. Understands explicit main ideas.
2. Understands explicit major details.
2. Produces level-appropriate* speech.
1. Narrates/describes in present tense across a variety of familiar and general topics.
2. Actively participates in conversations through proper responses.
3. Creates language based on memorized phrases and formulaic speech.
4. Uses basic syntax accurately.
5. Creates groups of sentences that are connected in meaning and purpose.
6. Asks and answers a limited variety of questions.
7. Uses correct stress in words and sentences.
8. Pauses when appropriate.
9. Uses correct intonation.
3. Acquires new vocabulary.
1. Recognizes high frequency general vocabulary.
2. Understands high frequency general vocabulary.
3. Uses high frequency general vocabulary.
4. Infers meaning of unfamiliar words by using background knowledge.

Required Materials
1. Top Notch 2 3rd Edition (Pearson), 978-0-13-392894-5 (MyEnglishLab access code included).
2. Paper, pen/pencil. Optional: binder/folder to keep work in.
 3. A super attitude.

Classroom Policies

1. Use your phone to learn. You may use a language translator when necessary, but do not let your phone
become a distraction. No social media during class. Silence your phone before class. Put your phone away
during tests or quizzes. If you know you have a problem getting distracted by your phone, keep it in your
backpack during class.
2. Use the restroom before or after class. You miss valuable learning that you are paying time and money
for when you leave during class, plus it is disruptive to others.
3. Raise your hand when you want to make a comment. We want to make sure that everyone has an
opportunity to participate without being interrupted. Please be respectful when others are speaking.
4. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Be actively engaged in class and participate. Asking questions helps you
learn.
5. Don’t fall asleep because you’ll miss learning opportunities.
6. Speak in English.
7. Have a good attitude and be respectful and helpful to classmates. When you help others learn, you learn
more too!

Grades
The ELC gives two grades, a proficiency grade and a citizenship grade. The ELC uses a grade point average
(GPA) system. For example, 4.0 is a perfect grade, 3.0 is good, 2.0 is low, 1.0 is failing.

Proficiency
The proficiency grade shows how well the student understands and uses English. It is based on speaking
performance, listening comprehension tests, and vocabulary quizzes. Generally students will need a
minimum proficiency score of above 2.0 in order to be considered to advance to the next proficiency
level. Students who continue to lack progress in their proficiency may be dismissed.

Citizenship
The citizenship grade is based on two things: appropriate class participation (50%) and timely
completion of homework (50%). In order to return the following semester, students must do the
following: (1) maintain a citizenship GPA of at least 3.0 (84%), and (2) keep attendance above
80%.

Assignments & Assessments

The following is a list of assignments and tests for the class. The dates of these activities can all be seen on the
calendar at the end of this document and Canvas.

Proficiency
Listening/Speaking Tests (50%)
You will have 4 tests that will make up 50% of your final grade.
 Chapter and Vocabulary Quizzes (30%)
There will be quizzes on the chapters we discuss in class. I will remind you the days we will have
quizzes during class. They are also posted on Canvas. You may not make up quizzes missed for
unexcused absences.
Paying attention in class, practicing using the vocabulary outside of class, and reviewing what we learn
will help you prepare for these quizzes.

Presentations (20%)
Give at least two formal presentations using communication strategies and tools such as PowerPoint
Presentation, Prezi, etc. Topics will come from our class textbook or current events.

Citizenship

Homework (50%)
Late assignments will lose 10% for each day late. After one week, late assignments will only be worth
half-credit.

Listening Log (Daily Homework)

Spend at least 15 minutes a day (5 days a week) listening to academic/non-academic materials and
news broadcasts outside of class. Record your listening experience in the Weekly Listening Log.

Speaking Log (Daily Homework)

Spend at least 15 minutes a day (5 days a week) discussing the topics recorded in your listening log.
Record your discussion/speaking experience in the Weekly Speaking Log.

Participation (50%)
Each day you can receive up to 3 points for participating in class. You can lose all participation points
for being absent. You also lose 1 or more points for being late, leaving class early, sleeping in class,
speaking in your native language, using electronic devices, doing homework from other classes, not
being prepared or not participating actively in a class activity. You may also lose points for other
activities that indicate you are not participating in class. You will not always be told immediately when
you lose points in class; this is at the discretion of the teacher.

Level Achievement Tests (LATs)

Level Achievement Tests (LATs) are given at the end of each semester. They are used to test your progress in
English in each skill area. If you plan to continue studying at the ELC, you must take the LATs (from The
Student Handbook). This semester, you will take your LATs on December 13th and 14th.

Attendance Policy
Consistently attending class is a central part of learning and improving your English. When you are absent from
class, you miss important information and practice opportunities that you need to improve your English. The US
Government allows each English program to establish its own attendance policy. The following requirements
reflect the ELC’s commitment to create the right environment to help you improve your English.

ELC students must maintain 80% attendance in each and every class at all times. As soon as your
attendance drops below 80% in any one of your four classes, you will receive a warning letter. If you have any
unexcused absences before raising your attendance back to 80%, you will be dismissed. If your attendance
drops below 80% a second time in any one of your four classes, you will be dismissed from the ELC. Once you
receive your attendance dismissal letter, you must go to Anna Bailey’s office (4056 JFSB) immediately.

The US Government states that if a student is dismissed for violation of a school's attendance policy, then their
student visa is immediately terminated and the student will need to leave the US within two weeks. If students
want to transfer to another school, they will have to reapply to be reinstated. However, attempts to be reinstated
are rarely successful. If you are sick and unable to attend class, please provide a note from your doctor. Within
two days of returning to class, the doctor’s note must be received in the ELC office (103 UPC). Be aware that
forging a doctor’s note is a violation of the BYU Honor Code and will result in an immediate dismissal from the
ELC.
If you know that you will be absent from class for any reason other than an illness (i.e., a family wedding or a
death in the family), you should notify the ELC administration in writing and deliver your letter to UPC 103.
These absences will be considered on an individual basis and may not necessarily be excused. Being absent also
results in missing class participation points that are part of your citizenship grade. Whenever you are absent
from class, please contact each of your teachers to receive information on the assignments that you
missed. Students who are ill should go to the Student Health Center (see Health Care or http://health.byu.edu
for more information).

Students who are more than 10 minutes late, miss more than 10 minutes during class, or leave more than
10 minutes early will be marked as absent (from the Student Handbook).

Preventing Sexual Discrimination & Harassment

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is intended to eliminate sex discrimination and sexual
harassment in educational contexts. Any ELC student, teacher, staff member, or administrator who becomes
aware of sexual harassment, discrimination, or misconduct of any kind, directed toward them or any other
member of the ELC community should immediately contact Dr. James Hartshorn (801-422-4034,
james_hartshorn@byu.edu) or Dr. Norman Evans (801-422-8472, norman_evans@byu.edu). If they are
unavailable, please leave a message and then contact the Equal Employment Office (801-422-5895, 1-888-238-
1062, http://www. ethicspoint.com) or the Honor Code Office (801-422-2847) (from the Teacher Handbook,
1.2.6).

Students with Disabilities

If you suspect or are aware that you have a disability, you are strongly encouraged to contact the University
Accessibility Center (UAC) located at 2170 WSC (422-2767) as soon as possible. The disability will be
evaluated and eligible students will receive assistance in obtaining reasonable University approved
accommodations (from http://uac.byu.edu/).

Academic Honesty
ELC students should seek to be totally honest with others. You should complete your own work and be
evaluated based upon that work. You should avoid academic dishonesty in all its forms, including cheating,
falsification, and plagiarism (from the ELC Student Handbook).

Calendar (possible to change)

 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Listening Exercises
Textbook
Week 1 Speaking Exercises Overview
Introduction Introductions Syllabus Review
Getting to know SRL (Module 3) Class Discussion
you SRL (Module 1) SRL (Module 2)
September Lab day SRL (Module 4)

11 12 13 14 15
LS Log Review
Week 2
Unit 1: Getting
SRL (Module 5) SRL (Module 6) Lab day Quiz 1
Acquainted
September
18 19 20 21 22
Week 3
Unit 2: Going to LS Log 1 due Lab day Quiz 2
the Movies
September 25 26 27 28 29
Week 4
Unit 3: Staying in LS Log 2 due Lab day Units Test # 1
Hotels
October 2 3 4 5 6
Week 5 Speaking Test in
Unit 4: Cars and LS Log 3 due Lab day Quiz 3 computer lab
Driving
October 9 10 11 12 13
Week 6
Unit 5: Personal
Care and LS Log 4 due Lab day Quiz 4
Appearance
October 16 17 18 19 20
Week 7 LS Log 5 due
Presentations Presentations Presentations Presentations
October
23 24 25 26 27

Week 8
Unit 6: Eating Well LS Log 6 due Lab day Units Test # 2
October/November
30 31 1 2 3
Week 9 Speaking Test in
Unit 7: About LS Log 7 due Lab day Quiz 5 computer lab
Personality
November 6 7 8 9 10
Week 10
Unit 8: The Arts LS Log 8 due Lab day Quiz 6
November
13 14 15 16 17
Week 11 No classes ELC Closed ELC Closed
Unit 9: Living in LS Log 9 due (Thanksgiving) (Thanksgiving) (Thanksgiving)
Cyberspace
November 20 21 22 23 24
Week 12
LS Log 10 due
Unit 10: Ethics and
Lab day Quiz 8
Values
November/Dec.
27 28 29 30 1
Week 13 Units Test # 3
LS Log 11 due Presentations Presentations Presentations
December
4 5 6 7 8
(Last Day of
Week 14 LS Log 12 due Classes)
Presentations Presentations LATs LATs
December
11 12 13 14