Advanced ESL Reading and Writings

Course: Advanced ESL Reading and Writing
Course #. 9711101 Section #7065
Location: Madison Campus- Rm. 117
Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays 11-2PM
Instructor: Eric H. Roth

Textbook: Timely Topics by Patrick Aquilina (1993)
Supplemental Materials: Newsweek magazines, LA Times, and handouts
Topics: Autobiography, American Culture, Movies, Travel, Healthy Living, Cars,
Family Relationships, Smoking, Advertising, Pets, Pet Peeves, Money Matters,
Favorite Places, Business Culture, Test Tips, Good Decisions, A Good Life

Advanced ESL Reading and Writing provides a safe, yet rigorous, environment to improve reading and writing skills in English. We read and discuss a wide range of article on both practical and complicated topics. We expand our vocabulary, write short compositions, and review basic grammar rules. Students share their essays with fellow students, revise essays, and can get the instructor’s feedback on their compositions. (You don’t have to turn in your compositions; you do have to create them.)

The theme-based course also includes a conversation component. Generally, the Tuesday class session begins with an interview exercise to evoke students’ experiences. Students proceed to read the assigned text and answer comprehension questions in small groups. The class comes back together to discuss the assigned article. Perspectives and insights are shared among classmates.

Good mistakes play a critical role in the class. A common “good mistake”, in structure or grammar, might be analyzed. Students complete a related assignment to overcome the “good mistake.” Some general writing principles are presented and explained. Finally, students organize their thoughts and write an in-class composition.

The Thursday class begins with students sharing their essays, filling out the self-editing checklist, and turning in compositions. Students read a second reading assignment, often from Newsweek and Advanced Word Power II. Again, the text is analyzed and discussed in small groups. Thursday class sessions conclude with a preview of the next week’s topic. Students are asked to find a related article from an English language publication. Students bring a completed homework form summarizing the article for their classmates on the following Tuesday.

Advanced Reading and Writing aspires to provide students with stimulating readings, lively conversations, and compelling writing topics. We explore several “hot” topics. We share experiences and insights. Sometimes we agree and sometimes we disagree with each other in a polite, civil manner. All students participate in all classroom activities. We learn together about that crazy English language and the world around us.

Please feel free to email me at roth_eric@smc.edu. Some previous class lessons are posted on my personal website www.howdouno.com. More will go on my SMC site.
 

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