2019 Fall: 大二通識 English 3

 

 

Course: English (三) 授課教師: 賴淑麗 Shu-li (Sally) Lai
授課班級: 大二通識 學分/時數: 2/2
Email: shulilai@gmail.com Time/Location:  15:25 to 17:10 (Room 7)
研究室: 承曦樓 904 (by appointment) Course website: https://www.shulilai.idv.tw
Textbooks

  1. Six Minute English
  2. TED Talk
  3. Class handouts
  4. Other free online materials (to be announced)
  5. Blogs
Overview of the course
This is a one-year four-skill integrated course which prepares students to become more effective and confident readers. While the focus will be on academic reading and vocabulary, this class will also encourage students to discuss and write about the ideas they discovered in the readings, aiming to make them better speakers and writers of English as well. Students will engage in a variety of activities, including discussion, group activities, and group presentation.
對應校核心能力: 外語能力、專業素養
對應通識課程核心能力: 語言思辯表達、問題溝通解決
Grading Policy
Six Minute English Project: 20%
Assignments & Quizzes (in-class & after-class): 65%
TOEIC: 15% (深耕計畫&post-listening)
Group Project
Requirements

  1. You need to attend class and submit all class work on time. There will be weekly listening and writing activities along with the group and individual projects. The syllabus is subject to change.
  2. Preparation for the next class is required because the class will be conducted based on the assumption that students have prepared for the class. Finish listening to the assigned audio/video files before the class and bring up questions about the topic. Be in class on time.
  3. Homework must be turned in on-time. No late work will be accepted.
  4. There will be quizzes and exams based on the materials discussed in and after the class. No make-up tests.
  5. Participation is crucial to the success of your learning. You’re expected to ask questions, answer questions, and share information in different ways.
  6. You’re responsible for getting class notes and handouts, if late or absent from class. Absence from class will not be an acceptable excuse for missing assignments or tests.
  7. Please switch your mobile phone to silent mode during class time. Unless it’s used for dictionary lookup or for information searching, please don’t use your mobile phone during class time.

Our Blogs

Date Major Textbook Useful Links Assignments
9/11
  • Orientation
  • Students sign the consent form
  • Create your online blog (link)
  • How to create a google blog? (link)
 Create your blog
1. sign in to blogger (with your google account; or create a new account)
2. Change the default language from Chinese to English
3. Name your title
4. Decide your blog address (URL)
5. Choose a template
6. Click create blog		 1. Create your blog and type the URL of your blog here. (link)
2. Assignment #1 My new plan this year! (at least 50 words) Due on 9/16 (Monday)
9/18 Listening, Speaking & Writing 1. Assignment #2 Are the speaking and listening tasks difficult for you?  What are the challenges you often face when you listen and speak in English? (Due on 9/23)
A. Read aloud (a short paragraph & a conversation)
B. Express your thought (1 minute)
C. Retell the story (4 minutes)
2. Preview the video: What is a Podcast
3. Browse the website: Six Minute English
9/25 Assignment #3
1. Listen to the podcast (Transport of the future) at least twice. 
2. Look up the words you think are difficult and important to you.
3. List 5 words you learn. (word, definition, one example sentence each)
Due on 9/30
10/2 Six Minute English 1
Transport of the future		 1. Hyperloop One
2. Hyperloop Transport Concept – 3D Animation		 Assignment #4
1. Your thoughts about the topic we discussed today. You can comment on the Hyperloop system (strengths, risks, realistic or not), you can also comment on the transport system here in Taiwan (the problem and your suggestion).
2. Listen to Are you hungry when you are angry. Be ready for some questions next week.
10/9 Six Minute English 2
Are you hungry when you are angry
  • Begin to prepare for your midterm project
    • Select an episode of your interest
    • Listen to the audio file and imitate the way the hosts broadcast.
    • Practice as many times as possible with your group members (be as fluent as possible)
    • Two will be the hosts and on will be the expert.
 Assignment #5
Listen to Can you trust a smart speaker, and answer the following three questions: (A) Do you have a smart speaker at home? (B) What is a smart speaker? (C) How does a smart speaker work? (at least 50 words)
Due on 10/14
10/16 Six Minute English 3
Can you trust a smart speaker?
  • Decide your group members
  • Decide your topic (if possible)

Google Assistant (Chinese)
Google Speaker (English)

 Grouping & Topics
1. Discuss with your group members and decide on a topic. Begin to prepare for your midterm project.
2. Link to your group members. (link)
Due on 10/21 (Monday)
10/23 Documents to hand in:
1. Your recorded video
2. Midterm Project Form (link)
3. 6 Minute English PDF handout
10/30
  • Showtime
    • G3 Coffee cups: do you use your own? (by Gary, Tom, Rick)
    • G7 Vampire shoppers (by Penny, Rainbow, Bonnie)
    • G5 Why does ‘x’ mean ‘kiss’? (by Hugo, Jason, Peter)
  • Language Proficiency Test (高教深耕) 2 B 鉛筆
  • Upload your files (video, and a document file, along with the PDF handout to Blackboard system. (due on 10/29 Tues & 11/4 Mon)
  • Please upload the files to your blog as well.
11/6 Showtime (9 to 10 groups) Link to your Six Minute English project (link)
11/13
  • What is TED Talk
  • TED Talk and English Learning
 Assignment #6
1. Listen to the assigned talk at least two times.
2. Embed the talk to your blog.
3. Write down 5 keywords you learn from the talk
4. The power of passion and perseverance
5. Introduce the talk (within 3 sentences)
Due on 11/18
11/20 TED Talk 1
The power of passion and perseverance		 Assignment #7
1. Listen to the assigned talk at least two times.
Inside the mind of a master procrastinator
2. Embed the talk to your blog.
3. Write down 3 keywords you learn from the talk
4. Summarize the talk (within 5 sentences)
Due on 11/25
11/27 TED Talk 2
Inside the mind of a master procrastinator		 Vocaroo:

  • to record your voice for free.
  • just click the record button
  • after you finish recording, you can: 
    • listen to it
    • Email it to your friends
    • Embed it into your blogs
    • Link it to the Vocaroo page
    • Download as a WAV file
 Assignment #8 
1. Do you procrastinate sometimes? Why do you procrastinate? How to stop procrastinating?  (at least 50 seconds)
*** This time, let’s try voice blog. Post your audio recording first, and then your texts.2. Preview TED Talk 3
12/4 TED Talk 3
What makes a good life?		 Assignment #9
1. Briefly introduce the Harvard study on happiness; 2. Are you surprised by Dr. Robert’s findings? 3. According to your opinion, what makes a good life? (at least 1 minute)
*** Let’s do what you did last week. Post your audio recording first, and then your text.
12/11 Discussion Assignment $10 (10%)
Reflection Paper
12/18 Speaking test
A. Read aloud (a short paragraph & a conversation)
B. Express your thought (1 minute)
C. Retell the story (4 minutes)
12/26 Listening and Evaluation
1/1 Holiday (No Class)
1/8 Wrap-up

Dictionaries
1. Longman (https://www.ldoceonline.com)
2. Oxford (https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/us)
3. Cambridge (https://dictionary.cambridge.org/zht)
4. Yahoo kimo (https://tw.dictionary.search.yahoo.com)

Some tools
1. Random name picker!  https://www.classtools.net/random-name-picker/
2. https://www.classtools.net/random-name-picker/46_PAPdFB