Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
Foundation English (Level 1) Course Syllabus
Course Information
Course Name: Foundation English Level 1
Course Code: 812001
Contact Hours: 20
Credit Hours: None
Pre-requisites: TOEFL (institutional) score below 400
Faculty Information
Name:
Contact Tel.: Cell phone:
E-mail:
Office Number: Building:
Office Hours:
Course Description
The Foundation English Program is part of a package of programs which prepares students to
cope with university education. It mainly aims at bridging the gap between school and university
education. The English Program consists of a number of competencies: reading, writing,
listening, speaking, vocabulary, grammar, critical thinking skills, and self-learning. A
multimedia component of the program is also available to reinforce the language skills and to
support independent learning.
Level 1
This is an integrated Basic/Low Intermediate level course that develops students' receptive skills
(reading and listening) and productive skills (writing and speaking), reviews basic knowledge
and use of grammar and vocabulary, and encourages independent learning and critical thinking.
Classroom learning is reinforced with a variety of Multimedia programs and special websites for
student's supplementary materials and self- assessment.
Course Objectives
1. Understand and use effective aural strategies to process spoken language.
2. Communicate orally in English for personal, social, and academic purposes.
3. Apply critical thinking skills in reading and writing.
4. Read and comprehend texts of varying length at basic/low intermediate level.
5. Develop knowledge of vocabulary and grammar.
6. Understand and use effective writing skills to express ideas/give information.
1
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course students are expected to be able to do the following:-
Principles:
• Creating a student-centered environment where the students are responsible for learning.
The role of the teacher is mainly that of a facilitator, communicator, moderator, prompter
and an assessor.
• Using collaborative approaches (peer support and feedback)
Techniques:
• Individual, pair and group work
• Brainstorming activities
• Breeding critical thinking skills through discussions
• Relating topics and themes- as much as possible- to students' background and culture
1) Writing Portfolio
2) Oral Presentation
3) Speaking activities, such as an interview and role-play
4) Reading Projects
5) Class work
6) Participation
7) Multimedia work
8) Midterm and Final exams
The weighting is 65% exams and 35% class work. The pass mark is 60 %.
Following is the breakdown of grades for the Final Exam, Mid-term Exam and continuous
assessment by component:
Evaluation tool Course Components Total
Reading Writing Listening Speaking Grammar MM
Reading Project 4 4
Writing 10 10
Portfolio
10 (6 - 10
Speaking present. + 4
Assessment - 2 speaking
tasks)
Class work 3 2 5
3
Participation 2 2 2 6
Mid term Exam 9 7 5 4 25
Final Exam 14 11 9 6 40
Total 28 29 18 11 12 2 100
Grading Rubrics and Criteria for the Writing Portfolio, Reading project and Oral presentation are
attached at the end of the document.
• Text-based activities
• Small and large group discussions
• Exploration of theme
• Lecture and exposition
• Pre-review of vocabulary
• Reading Project (Assessment Information Attached)
• Writing Portfolio (Including product and process: assessment information attached)
• Oral presentation
• Quizzes
• Debates
• Other activities as assigned by instructor
Regulations
Student Responsibilities and Attendance Policies and Procedures
Class attendance is compulsory. In accordance with University regulations, a student’s absence
cannot exceed 25% of the total number (entire semester) of class meetings. If your absence rate
4
exceeds 25%, including both excused and unexcused absences, you will NOT be allowed to take
the final examination and will receive an ‘F barred’ grade for the course.
If you are absent for a scheduled class test, assessed classwork (group discussions) or a quiz, a
make-up test, classwork, or a quiz will NOT be given.
If you are absent for the common mid-semester or final examination, stringent Department and
University policies and procedures apply for make-up exams. Your course instructor can
provide further information on this. In order for you to successfully complete this course, you
must pay strict attention to your work and attendance.
Students are expected to participate actively in class because this forms part of the total mark for
the course. All homework assignments must be submitted to the instructor on time.
Classroom Discipline
1. Students are expected to be punctual (every 3 late class arrivals will be counted as 1 class
absence) in class attendance and to conduct themselves in an adult and professional manner.
2. The use of mobile telephones inside the classroom is NOT allowed.
3. Any student disciplinary issues, which may arise, will be referred to the Head of the
English Department. Additional information on student classroom conduct will be given to
you by your course instructors.
Learning Resources
The required textbooks:
1. NorthStar 2nd Ed. Basic/Low Intermediate Listening/ Speaking Student Book
2. NorthStar 2nd Ed. Basic/Low Intermediate Reading/ Writing Student Book
3. NorthStar 2nd Ed. Basic/Low Intermediate Writing Activity Book
4. Focus on Grammar 2 Third Edition, 2006
5. Longman Dictionary of American English
6. Supplementary materials for reading, writing & listening
Additional Sources:
Websites:
http://www.longman.com/northstar
Appendices
Syllabus Schedule
Evaluation Criteria (evaluation rubrics for oral presentation, reading project,
writing portfolio)
Multimedia Program
5
ORAL PRESENTATION ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
PROCESS / PREPARATION – 20 %
o As directed/documented by instructor
DELIVERY ( 5 % )
Grammar (10%)
o Grammar: needs improvement/very weak/weak/weak in parts/satisfactory/good/very good
Vocabulary (5%)
o Word choices support the topic and ideas: poor / pass / good
o Variety: limited / average / excellent varied / repetitive
o Usage: poor / pass / good
6
Reading Project
Assignment _____
Student Name:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Number. . . . . . . . . . . .
A. Basic Information
_____/1
Title of Story . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Author: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Source: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
B. Content
Four Questions: main ideas and details
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
............................................................................
............................................................................
............................................................................
.............................................................................
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
............................................................................
.............................................................................
.............................................................................
.............................................................................
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
............................................................................
.............................................................................
............................................................................
.............................................................................
_____/4
7
C. Personal Response
Did you like the story? Why or why not? Which character / event was the most
interesting?1
Give specific examples and details from the story to explain your responses
............................................................................
............................................................................
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
............................................................................
.............................................................................
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
............................................................................
............................................................................
............................................................................
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
_____/4
Mention something you learned from the story, e.g. new information / vocabulary / new
ideas…
.............................................................................
..
.............................................................................
..
.............................................................................
.
.............................................................................
.
____/1
8
Reading Project
Assignment 2 (Non-Fiction)
Student Name:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Number. . . . . . . . . . . .
Level ….. Group . . . . . . . . .
Date . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A. Basic Information
_____/1
Title of Article. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Author: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Source: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
B. Content
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
............................................................................
............................................................................
............................................................................
.............................................................................
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
............................................................................
.............................................................................
.............................................................................
.............................................................................
_____/4
C. Personal Response
Did you like the article? Why or why not? Which idea or part was the most interesting?2
Give specific examples and details from the article to explain your responses
2
Other relevant questions may be added
9
............................................................................
............................................................................
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
............................................................................
.............................................................................
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
............................................................................
............................................................................
............................................................................
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
_____/4
D. Learning Experience
Mention something you learned from the article, e.g. new information / vocabulary / new
ideas, etc.
............................................................................
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.............................................................................
.............................................................................
____/1
10
Writing Process Evaluation Rubric
Points Preparation Progress
5 Excellent All phases of writing were ready on time Shows great development,
and demonstrated effort and originality. commitment and understanding of
how to improve as a writer, responds
to feedback, and recognizes his/her
own strengths and weaknesses and
helps others see theirs.
4 Very Good All phases of writing were ready on time Shows development and improvement.
and demonstrated effort. Responds to feedback. Can recognize
own errors.
3 Satisfactory All phases of writing were ready on time. Shows some improvement though may
have depended on insights from the
teacher or other classmates.
1 Incomplete • Assignment not completed in required time. • Does not complete the writing process.
0 Not • No part of the assignment attempted. • Fails to carry out the writing process.
attempted
12