The aim of this course is to introduce the concepts utilized in standardized testing. Students will learn about test making and test taking strategies by creating and discussing different types of standardized test questions. These strategies can be used to help students maximize their test score on standardized tests. Students will practice speaking, listening, reading, writing, discussion, and critical thinking skills throughout this course.
Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:
For more detailed information, check the Can-do Goals for this course.
Grades will be based on the following:
14 In-class Activities (7 Practice Sections) |
In-class tasks are graded on a 4-3-2-1-0 scale. If all requirements of the task are completed at an exceptional level, you will receive 4 points; if they are fully met, you will receive 3 points; if they are adequately met, 2 points; if they are only partially met, 1 point; if you do not participate in the task or are absent, 0 points. | 56 points |
7 Assessment Modules | 5 points | 35 points |
1 Quiz | 9 points | 9 points |
Late to class, using your cell phone, chattering in Japanese, sleeping in class, no handouts, no dictionary | minus 1 point |
All materials are available for download from this syllabus. You are required to bring a copy of each meeting's materials to the classroom. Please bring an A4 clear folder to class to organize and keep the materials.
You are required to bring an English-English dictionary to class every day. See the list of recommended dictionaries below for more information.
Meeting | Weekly Topics | In-class Activities | Practice Sections Assessment Modules |
Quiz | Materials Links |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Orientation | Course Orientation Guidelines for Question Making Language and Style of Distractors |
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2 | Section 1 | Describing a Scene | Practice Section 1 | ||
3 | Section 1 | Describing a Scene | Assessment Module 1 | ||
4 | Section 2 | Question/Statement and Response | Practice Section 2 | ||
5 | Section 2 | Question/Statement and Response | Assessment Module 2 | ||
6 | Section 3 | Short Conversations | Practice Section 3 | ||
7 | Section 3 | Short Conversations | Assessment Module 3 | ||
8 | Section 4 | Short Talks | Practice Section 4 | ||
9 | Section 4 | Short Talks | Assessment Module 4 | ||
10 | Section 5 | Fill-in-the-Blank (vocabulary/grammar) |
Practice Section 5 | ||
11 | Section 5 | Fill-in-the-Blank (vocabulary/grammar) |
Assessment Module 5 | ||
12 | Section 6 | Missing Words or Phrases | Practice Section 6 | ||
13 | Section 6 | Missing Words or Phrases | Assessment Module 6 | ||
14 | Section 7 | Reading Comprehension | Practice Section 7 | ||
15 | Section 7 | Reading Comprehension | Assessment Module 7 | Quiz |
97% or more, A+; 87-96%, A; 77-86%, B; 60-76%, C; below 60%, F
NOTE: At the end of the third year, you will be taking a TOEIC-IP exam. You will then be re-streamed for your fourth-year courses based on the results of this TOEIC-IP and the numerical average of your third-year English courses. Therefore, it is important to strive for not only a high letter grade, but also for the highest numerical grade that you are capable of.
Students are expected to attend class regularly. Failure to attend class regularly may result in a reduction of the student's overall grade. Students will be penalized 3 'demerits' for each absence and 1 'demerit' for each 30-minute period they're late. Students who accumulate more than 15 'demerits' (the equivalent of 5 absences) will receive an unsatisfactory grade ('F') for the course. As a rule, no make-up work will be given for unexcused absences.
You are required to bring an English-English dictionary to class every day. The following is a list of quality paper dictionaries for English language learners. You may use any other dictionary or you may elect to use an electronic dictionary.
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary, Oxford University Press.The English Expeditions extra-credit system is tied into the TOEIC exercises, in order to encourage all students to practice their TOEIC test-taking skills in preparation for the TOEIC examination. For more information on the TOEIC examination, see the TOEIC Exercises section of your Online Education text. The extra-credit point system is as follows:
Semester One | Semester Two | Semester Three | Semester Four |
---|---|---|---|
Correctly complete the following cycles of TOEIC exercises BEFORE their deadlines. Cycle 1 (1 point): April 30 Cycle 2 (2 points): May 30 Cycle 3 (3 points): June 30 |
Correctly complete the following cycles of TOEIC exercises BEFORE their deadlines. Cycle 1 (1 point): October 20 Cycle 2 (2 points): November 15 Cycle 3 (3 points): November 30 |
Correctly complete the following cycles of TOEIC exercises BEFORE their deadlines. Cycle 1 (1 point): April 30 Cycle 2 (2 points): May 30 Cycle 3 (3 points): June 30 |
Correctly complete the following cycles of TOEIC exercises BEFORE their deadlines. Cycle 1 (1 point): October 20 Cycle 2 (2 points): November 15 Cycle 3 (3 points): November 30 |
NOTE: Students who have failed to score higher than 0 on any Homework Assignments or have been found in violation of our academic honesty policy are ineligible for extra-credit points.
The Extra-Credit points available for each course are outlined in the chart below. Blue cells only apply to Fall classes.
Note: TOEIC Bridge-IP scores will be converted to TOEIC-IP scores for all calculations.
No Academic Honesty Violations |
TOEIC Exercises Cycle Completed by Deadline |
Took TOEIC-IP Exam |
Extra- Credit Points |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | |||
6 | |||||
5 | |||||
4 | |||||
3 | |||||
3 | |||||
2 | |||||
1 | |||||
0 | |||||
0 | |||||
0 |
The following guidelines are designed to make your English classes run a bit more smoothly. Please take the time to read each of them carefully and ask questions if any of the points are unclear.
The following will be considered violations of our academic honesty policy:
Any of the above violations will result in a score of 0 for ALL exercises on that day, as well as forfeiting your chance for extra-credit.
不正行為は、いかなる理由があれ一切認められません。以下のような行為は、不正行為とみなします。
上記、および上記に類する「不正行為」があった場合は、当該学生の当該科目における、その日の得点を0点にするとともに、Extra-credit pointsはすべて無効になります。