“Oral Expression in English” courses are devoted to improving students’ skills in speaking. Apart from the context of giving presentations, effective speaking involves effective listening, so the classwork and homework in these courses require that students engaged in speeches listening exercises.
As an elective 100-level course, Oral Expression in English 1 has a specific focus on generating effective oral communication involving listening and speaking between pairs of speakers. Objectives also include using vocabulary and grammar introduced in the classes.
By the end of this course, students will will have acquired new vocabulary and phrases necessary for discussing particular aspects of their lives and experiences in one-on-one conversations with people they have not met before.
✔ Applicable | How instructors' work experience benefits the course |
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An instructor with work experience as a performer will provide hands-on experience in the performing arts, based on practice in the field that fosters critical thinking and encourages creativity and self-expression. |
speaking, listening,oral communication, interactive
Specialist skills | ✔ Intercultural skills | ✔ Communication skills | Critical thinking skills | Practical and/or problem-solving skills |
Attendance is taken at each class. This course is designed to be a student centered/interactive course with students discussing and debating on various topics. New vocabulary and grammar will be routinely introduced to enable students to articulate ideas more clearly and to facilitate discussions. Students are required to listen to and/or read assigned materials before class, preparing for focused discussions of their content.
Course schedule | Required learning | |
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Class 1 | 1. Introduction to course 2. Unit 1: Protectors | Identify course aims. Acquire vocabulary, phrases, and concepts relevant for discussing protectors. Articulate ideas and opinions on issues. |
Class 2 | Unit 1: Protectors | Acquire vocabulary, phrases, and concepts relevant for discussing protectors. Articulate ideas and opinions on issues. |
Class 3 | Unit 2: Family Connections | Acquire vocabulary, phrases, and concepts relevant for discussing family connections. Articulate ideas and opinions on issues. |
Class 4 | 1. Unit 2: Family Connections 2. Midterm Group Presentations | Acquire vocabulary, phrases, and concepts relevant for discussing family connections. Articulate ideas and opinions on issues. Deliver a group presentation. |
Class 5 | Unit 3: Global Stories | Acquire vocabulary, phrases, and concepts relevant for discussing global stories. Articulate ideas and opinions on issues. |
Class 6 | Unit 4: Music | Acquire vocabulary, phrases, and concepts relevant for discussing music. Articulate ideas and opinions on issues. |
Class 7 | 1. Review of materials 2. Final Project (Group Presentations) | Consolidation of vocabulary and key concepts from Units 1-4. Articulate ideas and opinions on issues. Deliver a group presentation. |
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Bohlke, David. 2017. Keynote 2 (Student Book). Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Singapore, UK, US: Cengage. (ISBN-13: 978-1-305-96504-1)
Additional reading materials may be assigned throughout the term.
Suggested websites:
TED Talks https://www.ted.com/
VOA http://www.voanews.com/
NPR http://www.npr.org/
TED, VOA and NPR provide video transcripts.
Scientific American (video and podcasts “60-second science”) http://www.scientificamerican.com/
BBC http://www.bbc.com/news
National Geographic http://www.nationalgeographic.com/
Class Participation: 25%
Homework and In-class Assignments: 20%
Midterm Group Presentation: 25%
Final Project (Group Presentation and Paper): 30%
none
It is recommended that students take this course in sequence with LAE.E132 (Oral Expression in English 2).
Attendance at the first class is compulsory for students planning to take this course.