** English Listening 2 **

Professor: Glen Thomas Poupore

Website: www.oocities.org/gpsilver2001

Office: Room 410 (Phone:450-3373)

Textbook: -Glen's Photocopy Booklet (available at the phocopy center)
-Stories of Hope cassette tape(available from Glen in week 4 of the semester)

*I will also give you many photocopy hand-outs so get a special folder for my class,
such as a clear file.

**You will also have to get a special notebook for the story journals. See below.

***In addition, you should try and get a portable voice recorder(such as on a walkman).

Content and Activities: *Real listening for the real world.

- Investigative News Reports from ABC News(Prime Time Live / 20/20).

- CNN Headline News

- TV Talkshow Interviews : Jay Leno / David Letterman / Larry King

- Audio Books: Stories of Hope and Inspiration / Great Expectations(Charles Dickens)

- American Sitcoms

- Telephoning in English

- Pop Songs: Group Music Tournament

Grade:

*Glen's Website Bonus Points(up to a maximum of 3% points) - see below

Attendance Policy: Attendance is very important(It's worth 20%!). Remember that this English class could be your only chance to speak and practice your English. So come to class and have fun using your English. Also, don't be late. Attendance will be graded as follows:

1 absent = -3
2 late = 1 absent(-3)
4 absent = F

Participation Policy: Participation in class is also very important, not only for your grade but also for your English learning. The most important aspect of your participation grade is your use of English in the class. It's very simple, try to speak as much English as you can.

These things will help you get a good participation grade:

- Use of English in the classroom.

- Listens carefully when the teacher or another student is speaking. Do not speak at the same time when the teacher is speaking or when another student is making a presentation

- Makes an effort during class to listen to the teacher and to their classmates. Does not listen absent-mindedly.

- Tries hard to learn and speak English and is not afraid to make mistakes(remember that mistakes are good and that they function as a sign that you are learning).

- Participates well and actively in pair work and group work.

- Encourages and helps other students when they are having difficulty or when they make mistakes.

- Has a positive attitude.

- Uses their creativity.

- Extends(to make longer) conversation during speaking activities.

** Cell Phones: Turn off your cell phones before coming to class. If I hear a cell phone you will lose -2 points to your participation grade.

Stories of Hope Notebook Journals: In week 4 of the semester(September 18th), you will receive an audio book(cassette tape) called 'Stories of Hope and Inspiration'. These stories are real stories about real people who have demonstrated incredible courage in changing their lives for the better. During the semester, you will listen to 8 of these stories as homework(each story is about 2 minutes long). Here are the dates for the homework:

-Week 5(September 18th): Stories 1 and 2
-Week 7(October 9th): Stories 3 and 4
-Week 10(October 30th): Stories 5 and 6
-Week 12(November 13th): Stories 7 and 8

For your homework, you will listen to the two stories and then you will choose one of the stories you find more interesting. You will listen carefully to your chosen story a few times and then you will write the following things in your notebook journal:

- A short summary of the story in your own words.(1/2 page - ¾ page)
- The key sentence from the story and why you think so.(1/4 page)
- Your favorite sentence from the story and an explanation of why.(1/4 page)
- Any questions you have about the story.

The journal will not be graded according to accuracy.
It will be graded according to honest effort and according to length(at least 1 full page).

The journals will be graded as follows: Excellent(*) Very Good(+) So-So(?) Poor(??)

Late journal = 0

After writing in your journal, you will bring it to class and we will discuss the stories together.

Voice of the People Pair Project: Due Week 11(November 5th-9th)

-You will work with a partner(you chose your partner) and you will chose a topic that you find interesting or is currently very popular(Korea-Japan relations, sex before marriage, Ha Ri-Soo).

-You will then design a short questionnaire of 2 or 3 questions such as 'Do you think it's ok to have sex before marriage? / 'Why do you think so?'.

-Then, you will go to places where English native speakers are and you will record on a portable voice recorder 10-15 interviews with them.(I will tell you some good places later.)

-After making your recordings, you will listen to them and prepare an oral presentation of your findings. You will make your presentations in Glen's office. After your presentation, you will give Glen a copy of your recordings and a written outline of your findings.

-I will explain this project more clearly later in the semester.

Interview Group Project: Due Week 15(December 7th)

In groups of 4 or 5, you will interview a person in English and then write an article about it. You will choose a person from a list that I will give you(this list includes some of my co-workers and friends).

First, you have to think of questions that you will ask the person and make a list.

Second, you will interview the person and record it on your voice recorder.

Third, you will listen to the interview recording carefully and transcribe the most important parts of the interview.

Fourth, you will write an article about your interview.

**I will explain this project more clearly later in the semester.

Excellent(*)    Very Good(+)    So-So(?)

Final Comments:

-Listening to English, especially real English, is often said by students to be very difficult and stressful. In my class, I will try to build your confidence, provide motivation, and make listening to real English easier and less stressful for you.

-When listening to English, remember to focus only on what you do understand and not worry about what you missed. Everybody misses something, including native speakers. Listening is not only difficult for learners but also for native speakers.

-Also remember that listening is connected to speaking. When speaking with someone it's important to be a good listener and an active participant such as asking for clarification when you don't understand.

**Finally, I hope that my class will help you to become a better listener of real English. I
also hope that you will enjoy my class. I will try to make this class fun and interesting for
you. Always remember that learning is power.

Office Hours: Please come to my office(room 410) if you ever have any English questions or if you just want to have a pleasant conversation. Don't be shy! You are always welcome. Just make an appointment.

~ If you are a senior and think that you will get a job and will be absent for many classes, do not take my class. Remember that 4 absences equals F.

~ This class is designed for English majors at intermediate to advanced levels of English. Students from other majors are welcome but remember that you must be quite good in your English ability.

~ The university has a special grading system.
   A Grade = 30 % of class
   B Grade = 35 % of class
   C Grade = 25 % of class