Bellevue
College
English for Transitions
ESL 076 and ABE 064
Winter Quarter 2013
Instructor
Information: Nancy E. McEachran
Class Meetings: R308
1/2 to 3/20 No classes on 1/21
or 2/18
Class Days and Times: Monday-Friday 12:30-1:20
Office Hours: 10:30 to 12:20 T/Th; 1:30 to 3:30 W; and by appt.
Office Location:
R130U
Contact Information: (425) 564-2747 nmceachr@bellevuecollege.edu
Course Description The purpose of this class is to prepare students to
transition into academic coursework. The
emphasis for Winter Quarter 2013 is on speaking and writing skills. However, students will also practice
listening, reading, and leadership skills that support successful transitions
and student self-confidence. Students
will also learn how to navigate and access campus resources.
Overview of Course Topics (tentative
schedule/guest speakers throughout the course TBA)
Week 1 Introductions
to English for Transitions course
Week 2 Understanding and Acting on Your
Strengths
Week 3 Understanding and Acting on Your
Strengths
Week 4 Review of Learning
Week 5 Communication
Strategies for College Success
Week 6 Credit Classes and College Success
Week 7 Credit
Classes and College Success
Week 8 Review
of Learning
Week 9 Connections on Campus
Week 10 Connections on Campus
Week 11 Review of Learning/Group Presentations
Week 12 Student Conferences and Finals Week
For the course topics (as listed
above) at the end of the quarter students should be able to:
Convey Ideas in Writing
· Determine the purpose for
communicating.
· Organize and present information for
the writing purpose.
· Pay attention to grammar, spelling,
and sentence structure, to help readers understand your meaning.
· Seek feedback and review to help the
effectiveness of the communication.
Speak So Others Can Understand
· Determine the purpose for
communicating.
· Effectively organize your speaking
and speak clearly to the listener.
· Pay attention to grammar, vocabulary,
pace, and gesture when speaking.
· Use different strategies to help you
to speak better.
(Information
above based on the Washington State Learning Standards 2009).
Course Assignments
1. Weekly Monday Journals summarizing
your learning of the previous week (guidelines will be provided);
2. Planned quizzes to be sure that you
understand the course material;
3. Homework assignments related to each
class speaker and to course material;
4. Planned speeches about course topics;
5. Final group presentation;
6. CASAS tests as needed.
Course Guidelines
Students in ESL classes at Bellevue
College should make progress in their level. If you miss more than 20% of the classes you
may receive a No Progress evaluation. The teacher looks at your attendance record,
in-class work, homework assignments, quizzes, and tests to determine your
progress. The teacher will tell you both
during and at the end of the quarter if you need to make more progress. If you
don’t make progress, you might not be able to register for classes in the
future. Students may only repeat a course three times.
Your progress and learning in this
course depend on your daily attendance and active participation. If you are
sick or have a family emergency, contact the instructor by phone or email. All students registered for classes at
Bellevue College can get an e-mail account. To create your account, go to: http://bellevuecollege.edu/sam
There is not a textbook for this course.
The class content will be shared through lecture, printed and online
materials, and guest speakers. You are required to keep a notebook of
materials which will become your text for the course. Bring to class your notebook, paper,
pencil, and pens.
Complete all classwork and homework
on time. Students will work individually
and in groups. Be prepared to complete
both individual and group work assignments. Ask questions or request
clarification about topics, activities, assignments in class and homework.
Each student
has a folder. The folder will have class
information, some of your work, and teacher feedback. At times I will mark your work with these
symbols and/or numbers:
4 or
+………………...Excellent
3
or √ +……………...Good
2 or √ ………………..Needs more
work
1
or √-………………..Beginning
The
students in this program often like to do nice things for their teachers at the
end of the quarter. Cards, flowers, and
food are good ways to thank your teacher. You do not need to buy your teacher a gift or
give money.
Classroom Environment
Bellevue
College’s Affirmation of Inclusion statement is posted in each classroom and
states that we will all treat one another with respect and dignity regardless
of whether or not we agree in our opinions and ideas. This expectation of respecting differences is
linked with the principle of free speech in a free society: We have the right to express unpopular ideas
as long as we don’t show disrespect for people who might believe differently. The Affirmation of Inclusion is also included
in this syllabus.
Professional
student behavior includes respect toward the instructor, classmates, and the
class itself. Disruptive behavior is
disrespectful behavior. The Arts and
Humanities Division honors the right of its faculty to define “disruptive
behavior.” Some examples of disruptive
behavior are arriving late and leaving early with no explanation, talking while
others are trying to hear the instructor or class members, doing homework in
class, talking on cell phones and texting in class, or making inappropriate and
impolite comments. This behavior
interrupts the educational process. If
you are not sure about a behavior, make an appointment to talk with your
instructor.
Important Information
The Disability Resource Center serves students with a wide array of learning
challenges and disabilities. Please visit the DRC if you have any questions
about classroom accommodations whether you are a student or a faculty member.
If you are a student who has a disability or a learning challenge for
which you have documentation or have seen someone for treatment and if you feel
you may need accommodations in order to be successful in college, please
contact the DRC staff as soon as possible.
The DRC office is located in B132 or you can call our reception desk at
425-564-2498. Deaf students can reach us by video phone at 425-440-2025 or by
TTY at 425-564-4110. Please visit our website for application information into
our program and other helpful links at www.bellevuecollege.edu/.
Remember if you are someone who has either an apparent or non-apparent
disability and requires assistance in case of an emergency situation, such as a
fire, earthquake, etc, please meet with your
individual instructors to develop a safety plan within the first week of the
quarter.
The staff of the Bellevue
College Public Safety Department provides personal safety, security, crime
prevention, and other services to the campus community, 24 hours per day, 7
days per week. Their phone number is (425)
564-2400. Public Safety is located in
K100 and on the web at http://bellevuecollege.edu/publicsafety/
We do not wish other people (parents, spouses, relatives, and friends
of students) to speak for students about school performance because this can
slow student growth and progress. We believe this because we would like
students to speak for themselves and be independent. We also follow the guidelines because federal
law, the Family Educational Rights and
Privacy Act, says that we must protect the privacy of student education
records. It is Bellevue College policy
to keep school performance information between the school and the student.
You can read more about student procedures and expectations at http://bellevuecollege.edu/artshum/policy.html.
You can read more about college policies of the Arts & Humanities
Division website at http://bellevuecollege.edu/artshum/
Instructor’s Welcome
“Community College is a gift.
Your classes are a gift. The new
faces sitting around you on day one are also gifts. But they will stay wrapped up if you don’t
take the initiative to unpack them . . . Only you have lived your
life. Only you have the skill, talent,
and personality to make your contribution to the world.”
(Isa Adney Community College Graduate Author of Community College Success 2012)
Welcome to
the English for Transitions class! Through your enrollment at Bellevue College
and by your participation in this class you have unwrapped some of the gifts
along your academic pathway. Perhaps,
you don’t know where the path will lead!
However, an important first step is to have confidence in your skills
and talents, and in your ability to succeed in your classes at Bellevue
College.
The purpose
of the English for Transitions class
is to prepare Developmental Education students to transition into academic
coursework. In this class you will: (a) identify and talk about your personal strengths with connection to
college work, (c) practice communication
strategies that support college success, (d) practice academic strategies that support college success, (e) understand the purposes of college resources that support college
success. You will also learn about college
culture and build your confidence as a learner.
You will learn to use your gifts to make your contributions to the world
around you.
In this
class you will also learn about the gifts of teamwork. My
responsibility is to be well-prepared and to present information that will
help you to successfully complete your assignments. I will also introduce you to college faculty
and staff who will assist you along your academic pathway. Your
responsibility is to complete your class assignments to the best of your
ability. You will work individually and
in small groups with your classmates.
Together we will share your gifts and create a successful learning
journey!
I look
forward to a great quarter!
Nancy E.
McEachran