Use of English Spring 2022

 Use of English 1

Spring 2022

Course Description

The aim of this course is to provide practice in various fields of the English language: to practice grammar phenomena especially difficult for a Hungarian speaker, to practice the areas of language competence needed in the academic environment, to help students perform better at language competence tests, to familiarize the students with the various types of tests and tasks used for the assessment of English competence, to initialize and/or enhance systematic vocabulary building, and to make students aware of different options made possible by the economy of the language.

Course Outcomes

Students will be able to identify and accurately solve question types on the Academic English Exam: keyword transformation, phrasal verb, proofreading, open cloze, and word form

Students will be able to recognize and apply rules regarding English grammar and syntax.

Students will be able to define and use words related to grammar and linguistics: noun, verb, article, determiner, parse, syntax, modifier, causal verb, phrasal verb, modal, conjunction, preposition, transitive/intransitive verbs, pronoun, inversion, suffix, affix, prefix, inflection, open/close class, clause, phrase, preposition, nominative/ objective case, content/function word, interjection, possessive

Resources

Evans, V. (2008). FCE Use of English I. Express Publishing.

Hill, J. (2021) Web Resources about Grammar [blog]. https://uszegedenglishgrammar.blogspot.com/2021/09/web-resources-about-grammar.html

Khan Academy (nd). UE Class Spring 2022. https://www.khanacademy.org/join/3J8PSSMW

Memrise (nd) Three courses: Grammar Patterns, Phrasal Verbs, IELTS Phrasal Verbs. https://www.memrise.com/ 

Nesbitt, M. L. (1885). Grammar-Land or Grammar in fun for the children of Schoolroomshire. New York: Holt. https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/66712/pg66712-images.html

Vince, M. & Emerson, P.(2003). First Certificate Language Practice. Oxford: McMillan.

Grading and Evaluation 

Graded Tasks

Class Participation: 5%

Quizzes: 15%

Homework: 10%

Midterm Exam: 35% 

Final Exam: 35% 

Class Participation (5%)

Students are expected to come to class.. Participation in class is demonstrated by body language that shows engagement, asking questions or making comments regarding the material that advances the student’s and his or her classmates’ understanding of grammatical concepts, and remaining on-topic while interacting in group activities with peers. In accordance with university policy, a student who missed more than three classes will fail the class.

Homework (10%)

Students will have 10 homework assignments throughout the semester as well as web activities such as Khan Academy and Memrise. Homework will be marked according to the percentage of assignments submitted and the quality of the work. 

Quizzes (15%)

Each week, students will take a quiz based on a part of the AEL exam. The Google Form will be open at the time of the quiz. At times, they will participate in contributing questions to the exam which will be piloted with their peers in the other class. The final quiz score will be calculated according to the number of questions taken (up to 10 points) and the quality of performance (up to 5 points)

Mid-term (35%) and Final (35%)

Twice during the semester, students will have the opportunity to take a mock AE exam under exam conditions. If health regulations permit, the exams will be on paper, administered in person. The mid-term is tentatively scheduled for the 7th week of the semester. The final is scheduled for the 13th week of the semester so that students will have an opportunity to receive feedback on their performance and ask questions during the last session.

Tentative Schedule and Assignments

Week 1  Pretest, Introductions

         Homework 1: Nesbit 1,  Khan Academy Nouns

Week 2  Nouns 

          Homework 2: Nesbitt 2, Khan Academy Nouns, Memrise Grammar Patterns

Week 3  Determiners 

  Homework 3: Nesbitt 3 & 4,, Khan Academy Pronoun, Memrise

Week 4  Pronouns

Homework 4: Nesbitt 5 & 6, Khan Academy Modifiers, Memrise

Week 5  Adjectives 

Review Nesbitt 1-7

Week 6  Mid-term 

Homework: Khan Academy, Memrise

Week 7  Feedback and Reflection

Homework 5: Nesbitt 8 & 9, Khan Academy Verbs, Memrise Phrasal verbs

Week 8  Causal and Phrasal Verbs 

Homework 6: Nesbitt 10-11, Khan Academy Syntax, Memrise

Week 9 Syntax

Homework 7: Nesbitt 12, Khan Academy, Memrise

Week 10  Adverbs

Homework 8: Nesbitt 13 & 14, Khan Academy Preposition & Conjunction, Memrise

Week 11 Prepositions

Homework 9: Nesbitt 15,  Khan Academy Preposition & Conjunction, Memrise

Week 12 Conjunctions

Homework 10: Practice Test, Nesbitt 16 & 17, Khan Academy Usage & Style, Memrise

Week 13 Final Exam

Week 14 Feedback and Reflection

Class Policies

Attendance Policy

Students are expected to come to class every week unless there is a national holiday. If, for some unforeseen emergency (e.g. sickness or death in the family) the student cannot come to class, he or she should get the links for homework and quizzes. Quizzes completed after class will not receive full credit. 

Policy regarding Online Learning

This class will primarily meet in person. Class size will be limited to the number of students who can safely sit in the classroom while observing social distancing. Homework assignments and quizzes will be conducted online.  Students are encouraged to bring their smartphones or laptops to class in order to fully participate. 

Whereas the quizzes will be online, barring any lockdowns, the midterm and final exams will be conducted in person. Students should not bring smartphones or laptops into the exam room.

Policy on Academic Integrity

Students should submit their own work. When collaborating on assignments, the names of all contributors should be on the assignment.