Prerequisite(s): ESL II or Low Intermediate placement test
score
Textbook: NorthStar Listening and Speaking Basic/Low
Intermediate 2nd ed., Pearson
Education, 2004 (or comparable text).
Course
Description: A third level ESL course that introduces
intermediate students to a higher level of difficulty and fluency than ESL II
requiring compound tenses, longer sentences, and simple complex sentence
structures
Objectives: By the end of the course, students should be able to
listen, speak, read, and write using compound tenses, simple complex sentences;
longer sentences including more comparative adjectives and adverbs; verbs plus
gerunds and infinitives; modals; and more extensive vocabulary than expected of ESL I or II students.
Instructional
Methods: An
integrated cumulative skills development methodology increases language
retention and fluency by stimulating students to make meaning in a new language
through active learning activities.
Recorded listening passages build on vocabulary and ideas from
background material and exercises.
Students work individually, in pairs, and in small groups on guided,
linked activities built around each unit's theme. Instruction is
supplemented with ESL audio and video material keyed to textbook units.
Grading: The final grade is
based on the following:
|
Class
Participation |
25% |
|
Assignments |
50% |
|
Exams |
25% |
|
Total |
100% |
|
Week |
Topics |
Assignments and Tests |
|
1-3 |
Introduction
to NorthStar method. NorthStar
Unit 1 Theme: Work Communication
Focus: making predictions, expressing
and defending opinions Grammar
Focus: descriptive adjectives Unit
1 Video Sequence. |
NorthStar
unit exercises. Student
video activity sheet. |
|
4-5 |
NorthStar
Unit 2 Theme: The Country and the City Communication
Focus: sharing opinions, expressing
agreement with “too” and “not either”; making past tense statements Grammar
Focus: simple past tense Unit
Video Sequence |
NorthStar
unit exercises. Student
video activity sheet. |
|
6-7 |
NorthStar
Unit 3 Theme: Money Communication
Focus: making suggestions and coming
to an agreement, comparing products, asking and answering questions Grammar
Focus: comparative adjectives Unit
3 Video Sequence |
NorthStar
unit exercises. Student
video activity sheet. |
|
8 |
Review,
Units 1-3 Drafting,
editing, and re-writing short essay. |
Write
short essay based on topic assigned by teacher (part of bi-monthly grade) Bi-monthly
Exam |
|
9-10 |
NorthStar
Unit 4 Theme: Animals Communication
Focus: expressing opinions,
constructing and performing a dialogue, asking for more information, asking
and answering information questions Unit
4 Video Sequence |
NorthStar
unit exercises. Student
video activity sheet. |
|
11-12 |
NorthStar
Unit 5 Theme: Cell Phone Etiquette Communication
Focus: comparing and discussing
solutions, expressing likes and dislikes Grammar
Focus: verbs plus gerunds and infinitives Unit
5 Video Sequence |
NorthStar
unit exercises. Student
video activity sheet. |
|
13-14 |
NorthStar
Unit 6 Theme: Male and Female Roles Communication
Focus: making predictions, expressing
opinions, using intonation to denote attitude, agreeing and disagreeing,
asking and answering questions about daily habits Grammar
Focus: adverbs and expressions of
frequency Unit
Video Sequence |
NorthStar
unit exercises. Student
video activity sheet. |
|
15 |
NorthStar
Unit 7 Theme: Food Communication
Focus: making predictions, sharing
opinions, comparing and discussing solutions, politely expressing wants,
discussing a shopping list Grammar
Focus: count and non-count nouns |
NorthStar
unit exercises. |
|
16 |
Review,
Units 4-7 (partial unit 7) Drafting,
editing, and re-writing short essay. |
Write
short essay based on topic assigned by teacher (part of bi-monthly grade) Bi-monthly
Exam |
|
17 |
NorthStar
Unit 7 continued. Unit
7 Video Sequence |
NorthStar
unit exercises. Student
video activity sheet. |
|
18-19 |
NorthStar
Unit 8 Theme: Travel Communication
Focus: making polite requests,
conducting and interview, agreeing and disagreeing, asking and answering
travel questions Grammar
Focus: “can/can’t” Unit
8 Video Sequence |
NorthStar
unit exercises. Handbook
reading and exercises corresponding to grammar focus of NorthStar text Student
video activity sheet |
|
20-21 |
NorthStar
Unit 9 Theme: Health and Illness Communication
Focus: making predictions and
expressing opinions, expressing concern about health, giving and receiving
advice Grammar
Focus: “should/ought to/have to” Unit
9 Video Sequence |
NorthStar
unit exercises. Student
video activity sheet. |
|
22-23 |
NorthStar
Unit 10 Theme: Endangered Languages Communication
Focus: sharing background information,
making predictions and expressing opinions, giving examples to explain a
general statement, interpreting statistics Unit
10 Video Sequence |
NorthStar
unit exercises. Student
video activity sheet. |
|
24 |
Review,
Units 8-10. Drafting,
editing, and re-writing short essay. |
Write
a short essay based on topic assigned by teacher (part of bi-monthly grade) Bi-monthly
Exam |
rev. 2/05, 2/07; 5/08