傳達技巧工作坊(一)：聽講訓練B組

Spoken English can help you, as global citizens, in all areas of your life: from job interviews to conversations with new friends around the world. In this course, our primary goal is to develop key listening comprehension skills and build up our confidence speaking English. As a broad entry point, we will use the theme of “autobiography” to explore the wide variety of ways that people present themselves in English. We will be listening to different kinds of media, including podcasts, speeches, and interviews, and thinking about the techniques that individuals use to tell stories about themselves, from vocabulary choices to overarching narrative structures. Along the way, we will practice everyday conversational skills with our peers and discuss our interests, the issues that we care about, and our hopes for the future. At the end of the course, students will use their new expertise in personal storytelling to present their own creative oral autobiography.

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Introductory Survey (1%) The introductory survey should be completed no later than September 11. This short survey does not test class content; it’s meant to provide some information about the students to the instructor. Please complete it as soon as possible. Participation & Attendance (24%) Participation: Your participation is the foundation of this course. You won’t be assessed based on whether you already have a good command of English; you’ll be graded according to your attitude towards learning, your willingness to try, and your improvement over the course of the semester. In every session, you will be expected to actively listen and speak in English: both to me and to your peers. Together, we will discuss ideas, ask questions, and explore your ideas and those of your classmates. If I ask you a question, it’s ok if you don’t know the answer, if you make a mistake, or if you need to think about it. It’s completely normal to have some doubts – and maybe even some anxiety – when asked to speak up in class. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, whether in class or during office hours. Good participation also means being respectful to one another, especially in classes dealing with sensitive subject matter. Our theme is autobiography, but questions will always be open-ended and subject to your own interpretation; you will never be asked or expected to share personal information you’d rather keep private. Attendance: Regular in-person attendance will help you get the best experience from this course and help create the best learning environment for everyone involved. However, life happens, and everyone gets one “no questions asked” absence without it affecting your participation mark. If you have an issue that will cause you to be absent for more than one week, please reach out to me as soon as possible. Weekly Journal (15%) As your homework for this class, you will be asked to submit eight short reflections in response to a prompt, video, or audio recording that I provide you. These can be short, perhaps just 5-6 sentences; they must be written by hand and submitted at the beginning of class. These journal entries are intended as a low-stakes opportunity to begin to think about the topic that we will discuss in that week’s class. You will often be asked to orally share what you wrote as a part of your participation grade. Your journal entries do not need to be polished or perfectly organized; however, they should be respectful in tone and reasonably coherent. Everyone gets one “free” week of their own choosing; your journal entries will be graded based on whether you have completed seven in total. If your entries are incomplete, or if they contain an unreasonable number of errors, then you may be awarded partial or no points. Listening Comprehension Assessments (20%) There will be four in-class listening comprehension assessments throughout the course, each valued at 5% of your total grade. In each assessment, you will listen to a short podcast, interview, or speech that you haven’t heard before, and asked some questions about it. Further details will be provided. Presentation Outline (10%) Before your final presentation, you will be expected to submit an outline of your oral autobiography. Further instructions will be provided in class, along with prompts to help you develop your ideas and get started. I will aim to return your outlines to you within a week, so that you have time to incorporate my feedback into your final presentation. Oral Autobiography Presentation (30%) On the final day of class, you will present your ten-minute oral autobiography to the friendly audience of your instructor and classmates. Further instructions and assessment criteria will be provided. How most days will look At the beginning of class, we will discuss our journal entries and the video or audio recording assigned for that day. As our main activity, we will listen to an audio recording or watch a video together – usually via the BBC, NPR, or New York Times – and there will be solo and group activities that will help you think about the content and discuss it with your peers. As an alternative way of participating, you will also occasionally be asked to write reflections in class on the topic that we’ve addressed that day. The homework for the next session will always be announced on E3 and shared at the end of each class. Other Course Policies The students who take this course come from different backgrounds and may have different levels of experience and familiarity with English. Since the participation of all students is such an important component of this kind of course, please be respectful of each other’s abilities. I encourage you to be supportive of each other, get to know your neighbours, form study groups, etc. Know that you are all bringing something valuable and unique to our class dynamic. Names and Pronouns Students of all gender identities and expressions are welcome in this classroom. It is your right to be addressed by the name and pronouns you prefer. You are warmly invited to let the class know how you would like to be addressed and to correct us if someone accidentally gets something wrong. Late and Missed Assessments There will be no make-up sittings for any of the assessments. If a student must miss one of the scheduled assessments for any valid reason, they should notify the instructor by email. The grade weight of the missed assessment may be redistributed to the final oral presentation. Late journal entries will receive a half grade deduction per day; so will the presentation outline. You must attend your final oral presentation; exceptions will only be made on an extraordinary or emergency basis. Office Hours The scheduled office hours are on Tuesdays directly after class and are available on a drop-in basis. Feel free to visit with any questions or comments, or even if you just want some individual time to practice English with me one-on-one. If the time does not work for you, feel free to make an appointment by email. Use of Generative AI The use of AI is discouraged in this class. This is a practical course; it’s intended as a time to develop your own confidence in yourself and your own voice as a writer and speaker of English. The beauty of your expression is in its imperfections and the ways that it’s unique to you. I want to hear your voice: that means not only your physical voice, but your own style, ideas, and creativity.

Introductory Survey: 1% Participation & Attendance: 24% Weekly Journal: 15% Listening Comprehension Assessments: 20% Presentation Outline: 10% Oral Autobiography Presentation: 30%

教師未提供此項資料

All materials will be provided by the instructor.

地點

HC311

時間

Tuesdays 4:30-6:30pm, and by appointment.

聯絡方式

eva.plesnik@mail.utoronto.ca