I-BEST Office Assistant Certificate Program

ABE/ESL Academic Support Class

Syllabus

ESL 055 & 056, ABE 063 & 064 - Summer 2012

ITEM NUMBERS: 7247, 7266, 7642, 7652

 

Instructor

Class Information

Name: Eric Nacke

Phone: Office - (425) 564-2145

Cell: (206) 272-0988 (Please do not call before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m.)

E-mail: e.nacke@bellevuecollege.edu

Office: R130

Office Hours: By appointment

Time: M, W, Th, 10:00 - 11:50 a.m.

Classroom: A133

Dates: June 25 to August 23, 2012

(No class on Wednesday, July 4)

Shared Texts: Texts from BTS 147, 163, 165

 

 

Course Purpose

I-BEST stands for Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training. I-BEST classes are unique classes that combine basic education and skill building with academic credit classes in specific content areas. These classes help students make language skill gains. At the same time, students work through classes and earn certificates that increase employment opportunities and education options.

This academic support class is a place to focus on building the communication and academic skills necessary to successfully complete the BC Office Assistant Certificate Program. We will work together as a learning community to determine what language and study skills to focus on in support of your success in the BTS classes.

Instructor’s Goal: To provide guidance, assistance, and instruction for I-BEST students in their efforts to successfully complete the Office Assistant Certificate Program.

We will work together to achieve the learning objectives listed below. These objectives apply to this ESL/ABE support class as well as to the required BTS courses. In this class, we will focus primarily on communication skills, organization and study skills, and critical-thinking skills.

My main goal is to provide you with the instruction and guidance that you need. Feel free to speak with me about any questions, concerns, ideas, or suggestions that you have. I am here to support you, and I am open to discussing any ideas regarding this class.

 

 

Learning Objectives

At the end of the I-BEST Office Assistant Certificate Program, graduates will be able to display competency in the following areas:

Organizational/Study Skills

·        Organize and manage electronic files to make storage and retrieval convenient and reliable.

·        Apply time-management strategies to complete assignments consistently and on time.

 

Communication Skills

·        Use professional language to communicate clearly in writing and speaking based on topic, audience, and situation.

·        Read and comprehend a variety of texts (including email messages, business communications, Web pages, and financial or numeric data), and interpret icons and onscreen commands.

·        Listen actively to understand and assess main ideas and details in relatively complex instructions, lectures, presentations, and extended explanations.

 

Technical Skills

·        Input text accurately and swiftly using efficient keyboarding techniques.

·        Use Microsoft Office computer software to complete a variety of tasks, including designing, creating, and editing documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.

·        Use Microsoft Outlook to send, receive, and manage email messages and create and maintain calendars, contact lists, and task lists.

Critical-Thinking Skills

·        Assess information and select appropriate software applications to solve real-world problems and complete projects and tasks.

 

To achieve the objectives for communication and critical-thinking skills, we will aim to:

Read with Understanding

·        Determine the reading purpose.

·        Select reading strategies appropriate to the purpose.

·        Monitor comprehension and adjust reading strategies.

Convey Ideas in Writing

·        Determine the purpose for writing.

·        Organize and present information to serve the purpose, context, and audience.

·        Pay close attention to the rules of English language usage, including grammar, spelling, punctuation, and sentence structure, so that the reader can understand your meaning.

 

Listen Actively

·        Understand English conversations, lectures, and instructions that are at or near normal speed.

·        Learn and use strategies to improve listening comprehension.

Speak So Others Can Understand

·        Use appropriate vocabulary and grammar to express your ideas and needs.

·        Learn and use strategies to improve speaking.

 

Materials

·        Computer flash drive

·        Pens, pencils, paper

·        Textbooks for BTS 147, 163, and 165.

 

Evaluation

·        We will not have grades in this class.

·        We will not have tests in this class (except the CASAS test).

·        There is no final exam for this class.

·        I will not to give you much extra homework.

·        Assessment is based on attendance and class participation.

·        You must take the pre- and post-CASAS tests. Without them, you may not be able to continue in the ABE/ESL program.

·        If you are planning to take college credit English and math classes, the ESL COMPASS placement test will determine which level of English and math is suitable for you.

·        During finals week, we will have student-teacher conferences to discuss your progress and achievements.

 

Attendance

Class attendance is important! If you miss 20% of the total class time, you will receive a grade of “No Progress for the quarter,” which may prevent re-enrollment in the next quarter’s class.

Please be on time. If you come to class more than 30 minutes late or leave more than 30 minutes early, the time you miss will be part of the 20%.

If you need to miss class because of an illness or emergency, please contact me. You can speak to me personally or leave a voice mail and/or an email.

CLASSROOM LEARNING ATMOSPHERE

Class Guidelines

·        Turn off all cell phones during class. 

·        Come to class prepared with a flash drive and relevant textbooks.

·        Complete all classwork and homework on time.

·        Participate in class. Contribute to class discussions and group work; ask questions.

·        Be polite and respect each other. We will learn from each other. We will help each other. We will treat each other with respect, even when we have different ideas or progress at different speeds. We will use professional student behavior that does not disrupt others.

 

Classroom Environment

The college's "Affirmation of Inclusion” is posted in each classroom and sets forth the expectation that we will all treat one another with respect and dignity regardless of whether or not we agree philosophically. This expectation is in line 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 reasonable people who might believe otherwise.

Part of this respect involves professional behavior toward the instructor, colleagues, and the class itself.  Disruptive behavior is disrespectful behavior. The Arts and Humanities Division honors the right of its faculty to define "disruptive behavior," which often involves such things as arriving late, leaving early, leaving class and then returning, talking while others are trying to hear the instructor or their group members, doing other homework in class, wearing earphones in class, bringing activated beepers, alarm watches, or cellular phones into class, inappropriate comments or gestures, cheating during quizzes or tests, etc. Such behavior interrupts the educational process.  When you are in doubt about any behavior, consult your instructor during office hours. The Division of Arts and Humanities recognizes the judgment of the instructor as the final authority in these matters.

When disruptive behavior occurs, instructors will speak to the students concerned. Those students are then responsible for ending the disruptions at once.  Failure to do so may result in removal of the students from class.

Public Safety

The Bellevue College (BC) Public Safety Department’s well trained and courteous non-commissioned staff provides personal safety, security, crime prevention, preliminary investigations, and other services to the campus community, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Their phone number is 425.564.2400.  The Public Safety website is your one-stop resource for campus emergency preparedness information, campus closure announcements and critical information in the event of an emergency. Public Safety is located in K100 and on the web at: http://bellevuecollege.edu/publicsafety/

During inclement weather, call Bellevue College at 425-401-6680 to check if classes have been canceled or not. Also, you can visit the college website for information on emergency closures: http://bellevuecollege.edu/status/ .

Disability Resource Center

The Disability Resource Center serves students with a wide array of learning challenges and disabilities. If you are a student who has a disability or 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 us as soon as possible.

 

If you are a person who requires assistance in case of an emergency situation, such as a fire, earthquake, etc., please meet with me to develop a safety plan within the first week of the quarter.

 

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/drc

 

Text Box: Bellevue College does not wish other people (parents, spouses, and friends of students) to speak for students about school performance because this can slow student growth and progress. We do this because we would like students to speak for themselves and be independent. We also do it because federal law (the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) says that we must protect the privacy of student education records. It is BC policy to keep school performance between the school and the student. If a student asks for a parent, spouse, or friend to be at any instructor-student discussion of academic performance, instructors will look at each situation and make the final decision. You can see all of this policy, Arts and Humanities Commitment to Student Growth and Development, at www.bcc.ctc.edu/artshum.

 

I am very much looking forward to working with you this quarter. I think we will all learn a great deal and have a good time doing it.

Remember; please contact me if you have any questions or concerns. Your success is important to me. I am here for you and will do whatever I can to address any issues that arise.