סילבוס מתקדמים א

Course Goals & Objectives

The main objective of the Mitkadmim A course is to improve students’ reading comprehension of academic texts. To this end, a variety of reading and language skills are taught and practiced throughout the course (see below). The texts range from 1500-2400 words, increasing in difficulty and length throughout the course. In addition, speaking, listening, and writing are integrated into the class sessions and assignments. To support students’ ability to read texts efficiently and fluently, vocabulary acquisition and intensive reading are emphasized.

Learning Outcomes (CEFR/CV-based):

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to do the following:

Reception

Listening

  • Can generally follow the main points of extended discussion around him/her, provided speech is clearly articulated in standard speech.
  • Can distinguish between main ideas and supporting details in standard lectures on familiar subjects, provided these are delivered in clearly articulated standard speech.
  • Can follow in outline straightforward short talks on familiar topics, provided these are delivered in clearly articulated standard speech.

 

Reading

  • Can scan longer texts in order to locate desired information, and gather information from different parts of a text, or from different texts in order to fulfil a specific task.
  • Can recognize the line of argument in the treatment of the issue presented, though not necessarily in detail.
  • Can identify the main conclusions in clearly signaled argumentative texts.
  • Can exploit different types of connectors (numerical, temporal, logical) and the role of key paragraphs in the overall organization, in order to better understand the argumentation in a text.
  • Can extrapolate the meaning of occasional unknown words from the context and deduce sentence meaning provided the topic discussed is familiar.
  • Can deduce the probable meaning of unknown words in a written text by identifying their constituent part (e.g. identifying word roots, lexical elements, suffixes and prefixes).
  • Can read and comprehend basic authentic academic English texts of approximately 2400 words
  • Can locate and understand the main idea, purpose and conclusion of an academic text
  • Can understand the structure of an academic text

 

Interaction

Spoken

  • Can maintain a conversation or discussion but may sometimes be difficult to follow when trying to say exactly what he/she would like to.
  • Can generally follow what is said and, when necessary, can repeat back part of what someone has said to confirm mutual understanding.
  • Utilize oral and aural skills to effectively participate in class sessions and activities

 

Written

  • Can convey information and ideas on abstract as well as concrete topics, check information and ask about or explain problems with reasonable precision.
  • Can interact online with a group that is working on a project, following straightforward instructions, seeking clarification and helping to accomplish the shared tasks

 

 

Production

Spoken

  • Can explain the main points in an idea or problem with reasonable precision.
  • Can give simple reasons to justify a viewpoint on a familiar topic.
  • Can give a prepared straightforward presentation on a familiar topic within his/her field which is clear enough to be followed without difficulty most of the time, and in which the main points are explained with reasonable precision.

Written

  • Can write a text on a topical subject of personal interest, using simple language to list advantages and disadvantages, give and justify his/her opinion.
  • Can summarize, report and give his/her opinion about accumulated factual information on familiar routine and non-routine matters within his/her field with some confidence.
  • Can present a topic in a short report or poster, using photographs and short blocks of text.
  • Can write short answers and responses in English to demonstrate text comprehension

 

Mediation

  • Can collaborate with people from other backgrounds, showing interest and empathy by asking and answering simple questions, formulating and responding to suggestions, asking whether people agree, and proposing alternative approaches.
  • Can relay in writing specific, relevant information contained in straightforward informational texts on familiar subjects.
  • Can relay in writing specific information given in a straightforward recorded message, provided that the topics concerned are familiar and the delivery is slow and clear.
  • Can summarize in writing the information and arguments contained in texts on subjects of general or personal interest.
  • Can demonstrate his/her understanding of the key issues in a disagreement on a topic familiar to him/her and make simple requests for confirmation and/or clarification.

 

Linguistic, vocabulary, grammar and orthographic control

  • Has a sufficient range of language to describe unpredictable situations, explain the main points in an idea or problem with reasonable precision and express thoughts on abstract or cultural topics such as music and films.
  • Communicates with reasonable accuracy in familiar contexts; generally good control though with noticeable mother tongue influence. Errors occur, but it is clear what he/she is trying to express.
  • Can produce continuous writing which is generally intelligible throughout.
  • Spelling, punctuation and layout are accurate enough to be followed most of the time.
  • Shows good control of elementary vocabulary but major errors still occur when expressing more complex thoughts or handling unfamiliar topics and situations.

 

Course Description, Course Overview

Teaching techniques, technology use, guest speakers:

  • Frontal lectures
  • Pair/group work
  • Class discussions
  • Moodle assignments (e.g. forum discussions, recordings, online quizzes, videos)
  • Internet use: videos, supplementary material (in class/homework)
  • Interactive class activities using mobile technologies

 

Reading strategies, language components, and related reading selections:

 

Below is a list of the reading and language skills and strategies practiced and taught in the course. The various components are taught and applied alone and in combination as needed (i.e. a skill/strategy may be taught in a focused lesson by itself, and then applied to various readings as appropriate).

 

  • Academic vocabulary
  • Vocabulary skills (e.g. guessing meanings from context, affixes)
  • Sentence structure (nominal phrases, simple, compound, and complex sentences)
  • References and ellipsis
  • Pre-reading / Surveying / Predicting
  • Extracting main idea, purpose, and/or question of texts
  • Paragraph structure (identifying main ideas and supporting details)
  • Transitions and organizational markers
  • Meta-cognitive awareness of reading strategies and processes
  • Reading fluency and speed
  • Speaking and listening practice
  • Writing answers and responses

 

 

Prerequisites

Course Requirements/Assignments

  • Attendance and active participation in class sessions
  • Successful completion of class assignments, quizzes and homework
  • In class speaking assignments
  • Writing exam
  • Final exam

 

Components of the course grade

 

The course grade is composed of a class grade (60%) and a final exam grade (40%).

 

Class Grade: The class grade is based on a variety of assignments. The assignments include tests and quizzes, classwork, homework, and online assignments.

 

The class grade includes:

  • Reading comprehension: quizzes on vocabulary and reading strategies, sample "unseen" tests, homework, online assignments
  • Listening and speaking: answering questions based on a video, recording short oral responses to reading
  • Writing: writing short paragraphs

 

 

Class Assessment

READING 65% 

1) 

Various strategy-based reading assignments (4-6 assignments) 

Vocabulary quizzes (at least 10-15%). 

 

50%

2)

One sample unseen

15%

SPEAKING and LISTENING (2-3 assignments) 20% 

  

1)

Oral presentation (obligatory)  (10-15%)

  

2)

Other speaking and listening assignments (5-10%)

  

WRITING 15% 

1)

Paragraph of 120-150 words written in class (10%).

 

15%

2)

Other writing assignments (5%).

 

 

Final Exam: The final exam consists of an “unseen” text of about 2200-2400 words. The text is accompanied by reading comprehension questions of various types (including open-ended, completion, and multiple-choice questions). Students are allowed to use a dictionary during the test. Duration: 2 hours

 

Bibliography; Reading Selections 

Authentic academic articles compiled by each lecturer in a course booklet posted on the Moodle System