Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Upon completion of the course students should be able to:

1. Read, understand, and respond to level-appropriate text.
2. Write three to five simple sentences.
3. Manage basic interactions in highly predictable settings using present tenses.
4. Arrive in future classes on time with the necessary materials, exhibit appropriate classroom behavior, complete homework assignments, and use voice mail to inform instructor of absences.
5. Use language lab software, the internet and keyboarding skills to continually develop English language skills.

These activities and methods are required every term:

Short lectures and explanations

Readings appropriate to the level

Sentence-level writing assignments

Dictations

Listening activities and exercises

Dialog and information exchange

Pronunciation activities and exercises

Pair and group work

Written and oral grammar practice

Exercises and activities using the internet and language learning software

Quizzes and tests

These assessment strategies are required every term:   Short quizzes, including spelling tests Comprehensive tests In-class writing assessments Informal oral assessments Completion of homework

Attendance and class participation

A. Life Skills Content B. Reading C. Writing D. Speaking and Pronunciation E. Listening F. Grammar G. Vocabulary H. Study Skills I. Technology   A.    Life Skills Content   1.     develop an understanding of American educational settings and practices 2.     gain knowledge of salient aspects of American community life, such as health, housing, transportation, recreation, consumer economics, employment, and emergency procedures 3.     begin to develop awareness of some topics related to American culture, such as holidays, history, citizenship and geography 4.     set realistic goals as a student and community member   B.   Reading   1.     decode simple words phonetically 2.     recognize and respond correctly to common sight words, signs and symbols 3.     use reading comprehension strategies, such as prediction, to read short paragraphs on familiar topics 4.     read for specific purposes and recognize various written formats, such as forms and applications 5.     interpret visual aids, such as maps, simple tables and charts 6.     understand and follow simple written directions 7.     answer simple questions to demonstrate reading comprehension; 8.     relate readings to one’s own experience   C.   Writing   1.     write simple 3-5 sentences in a supported context about familiar topics; be able to do this in about 20 minutes with 70% grammatical accuracy 2.     write simple statements and questions with S + V, S + V + DO, S + to be + complement 3.     use capital letters, periods, and question marks 4.     write clearly and on the lines 5.     fill out simple forms 6.     use ordering with alphabet and cardinal numbers   D.   Speaking and Pronunciation   1.     express needs and describe events within a familiar context in pairs and small groups 2.     introduce self and/or a classmate 3.     clarify by requesting feedback or repeating information 4.     read aloud to practice forming English sounds, words, and sentences 5.     use common verbs in the present and present continuous tenses in affirmative and negative statements and questions 6.     name letters of the alphabet 7.     pronounce consonants, vowels, and targeted consonant blends 8.     pronounce ­–s endings   E.   Listening   1.     listen for main ideas and relevant details in information exchanges about familiar topics 2.     use knowledge of context and make predictions based on prompts and/or common knowledge 3.     check comprehension by using listening strategies, such as clarifying 4.     answer yes/no and basic wh- questions 5.     write dictated letters, numbers, common sight words and phrases, and simple sentences 6.     understand and follow instructor directions 7.     recognize simple present tense, present continuous tense, and the imperative 8.     understand common contractions 9.     understand ordinal and cardinal numbers   F.   Grammar

1.Phrases and Clauses   

a.use simple sentences, questions, and short answers

  2.     Verbs and Related Structures a.     use the verb  to be in the present b.     use there is/there are c.     use the simple present tense, present continuous tense, and the imperative d.     form yes/no and basic (do and be) wh- questions with short and long answers e.     form negative sentences f.      apply spelling rules for suffixes -ing and -s g.     use the modals can  and should   3.     Other Parts of Speech a.     use plural forms of regular and irregular nouns b.     use subject pronouns and possessive adjectives c.     use adverbs of frequency (always, sometimes and never) d.     use common prepositions of place and time e.     use demonstratives (this, that, these, those) f.      be able to identify and name basic parts of speech (noun, pronoun, verb, adjective) and sentence structure (subject and verb)   G.   Vocabulary   1.     develop vocabulary appropriate to topic, e.g. health, transportation, family 2.     understand and use classroom vocabulary 3.     understand and use common terms related to technology 4.     spell and pronounce common vocabulary correctly   H.   Study Skills   1.     bring appropriate materials to each class 2.     use accompanying multimedia materials (e.g. audio CD, CD-ROM) for class texts 3.     record and complete homework assignments correctly and on time 4.     arrive in class on time 5.     notify instructor of an absence 6.     exhibit appropriate classroom behavior 7.     ask for help and advocate for oneself 8.     use a variety of learning strategies, e.g. flashcards, online resources 9.     work together effectively in small groups and pairs 10.  begin to recognize and avoid cheating   I.   Technology   1.     use keyboard and mouse 2.     use language lab software to practice English language skills 3.     use the internet to practice English language skills 4.     use voice-mail to leave messages