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Course Syllabus

ESL 0970 Level 3 Oral Communication

  • Division: Humanities
  • Department: Languages & Linguistics
  • Credit/Time Requirement: Credit: 1; Lecture: 5; Lab: 0
  • Prerequisites: Placement in ESL 0970 through the ESL department placement exam or successful completion of ESL 0470 with a B (85%) or better.
  • Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
  • Semester Approved: Fall 2025
  • Five-Year Review Semester: Summer 2030
  • End Semester: Summer 2031
  • Optimum Class Size: 10
  • Maximum Class Size: 20

Course Description

This course is designed to solidify "Basic interpersonal Communicative Skills" and "Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency" at the intermediate level. The course will strengthen oral language skills by focusing on reasoning, explanations, opinions and planning. Students will be able to acquire CEFR Independent (B1-B2 level) vocabulary. This course is cross-listed with CED 0970 (Level 3 Oral Communication – Continuing Education).

Justification

This course is similar to the courses taught at other Utah ESL programs at the intermediate mid to advanced low levels. Placement for Level 3 is made with a placement test and oral proficiency interview. The course not only develops BICS and CALP but also integrates speech and presentation skills with cross-cultural understanding and non-verbal communication skills. This course is taught at Snow College to move towards academic skills development in the four language skills.

Student Learning Outcomes

  1. Upon successful completion of ESL 0970, students will be able to demonstrate comprehension of descriptions and explanations while sharing future goals and plans.
  2. Students will be able to give speeches and presentations on concrete and abstract topics.
  3. Students will be able to speak fluently and spontaneously with few pauses and share opinions.
  4. Students will be able to interact with native speakers and produce clear, detailed descriptions of experiences, events, and personal interests.

Course Content

In this course, students will understand the main points of clear standard input on topics including work, school, leisure, and travel. Students will also be able to understand the main ideas of complex texts. Students will be able to deal with basic problem solving, introduce topics of conversation, share experiences, events, dreams, ambitions, with explanations of reasons and opinions. Students will practice using future tense with detail and accuracy. They will be able to create detailed plans, make and respond to suggestions, and converse with ease and confidence when dealing with routine tasks and social situations related to work, school, recreation, particular interests, and areas of competence. Students will be able to present speeches and presentations moving towards carrying out lengthy narrations and descriptions.