ESL 856: Reading II
College of San Mateo • Spring 2006 • MWF 10:10 -11 a.m. • 14-104
KRISTI RIDGWAY, INSTRUCTOR
650-574-6686 • kridg@hotmail.com • Office 17-128

Recommended Preparation
You should have completed ESL 855 (previously called READ 841) with a grade of C or higher or possess the equivalent skill level (SLEP score: 31-41) as indicated by placement test. Concurrent enrollment in ESL 825 or higher, ESL 845 or higher or READ 807 is recommended.

Course Description
ESL 856, Reading for Non-native Speakers II, is designed to improve vocabulary, general reading, outlining and dictionary skills.

Course Objectives
Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:
• read and identify main ideas and details in appropriate skill-level readings,
• identify general vs. detailed information,
• recognize an extensive range of function words and vocabulary in context,
• infer meaning of unknown words from a variety of cues,
• relate reading materials to personal experience,
• predict outcomes, and
• utilize a dictionary.

Required Materials/Resources
• Zukowski/Faust, Jean, Johnston, Susan S. and Elizabeth E. Templin. Steps to Academic Reading: In Context. 3rd ed. Boston: Heinle, 2002.
• E-mail account/Internet access (i.e. - hotmail.com or yahoo.com)
• Reading Center folder

Recommended Texts
• Monolingual English dictionary (such as Longman Dictionary of American English)

Course Requirements
• Speak English.
• Attend and be on time (no more than two unexcused absences permitted).
• Come to class prepared (bring your book, homework, writing/reading materials).
• Participate and ask questions when you do not understand something.
• Complete and hand in your assignments on time.
• Successfully complete the lab requirement (~1 hour/week).
• Take all quizzes, the midterm and the final (NO DICTIONARIES!).
• Do your own work; copying from another person or cheating could result in an ‘F.’
• Turn off all pagers, cell phones and other noise-making electronic devices during class.

Assignments
You will have homework every week, and it is due at the beginning of class even if you are absent. Late homework will receive a lower grade and will not be accepted if it is more than one week late. Please tell, e-mail or phone me ahead of time if you know you will be absent. You may e-mail your homework to me, leave it in my mailbox (give to Bldg. 17 Language Arts secretary) or have a classmate turn in your homework for you if you are absent. Get the names and phone numbers of classmates now to help you if you miss class. I do not give make-up quizzes, but I will drop your lowest quiz grade.

Lab Requirement
All students are required to work independently on their own time in the Reading Center one hour each week for a minimum of 16 hours during the semester. ESL 856 lab materials include What a Life! (High Beginning), Comprehension Connection F/G (on the computer), Vocabulary and Vocabulary (on the computer). We will attend a lab introduction the second week of class. The lab’s location: 19-10 (downstairs).
Reading Center hours:

HOURS
M-Th 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
Friday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Saturday 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

If you do not successfully complete this requirement, you will not receive credit for this class.

Grades
This is a credit/non-credit (C/NC) course. Therefore, you will not receive a letter grade on your record at the end of the semester for ESL 856. To receive credit, you must complete your lab requirement and earn at least 70% of the total class points:

Class Activities, Homework 20%
Quizzes/Tests 30%
Midterm, Final 50%
100%

You are responsible for checking your grade in the class and telling me if you believe there is an error. Keep all of your graded assignments! If you disagree with your semester grade in the class, this is the only way to defend yourself. Once a week I will update grades; check them online at:

www.smccd.net/accounts/ridgwayk