High Intermediate Conversation

Spring 2011 (March 2nd-May 3rd)

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:30-10pm

*No classes March 28th-April 1st due to midterm exams at KAIST*

Instructor: Suzanne M. Bardasz

Office: Room 1118
Office Phone Number: 350-8786
Office Hours: M, W, F 2-5pm and by appointment
E-mail: suzanne.bardasz@gmail.com
Website: http://suzannesclassroom.com/moodle

There is no required textbook for this class. The instructor will supply all of the
necessary materials.

Course Description and Objectives:

While primarily a conversation course, this course will also focus on the other three skills:
listening, reading, and writing. This course will also help the student improve speaking skills by
exploring various contemporary topics of interest in depth. The course offers extensive
conversation and speaking practice through the use of a variety of learning techniques, including
group and pair exercises. Throughout the class, we will also work on several projects and tasks
that will help you develop and organize your ideas, which will increase your confidence and, in
turn, will help with your speaking. At the same time, there will be times where the instructor will
show clips from various American sitcoms, such as “Friends” and “The Big Bang Theory”,
where we will watch and discuss vocabulary and themes from the show.

Course Requirements
1) Attend classes
 You must attend class regularly. Except emergencies or valid excuses, you must attend
70% of the classes to pass.
 You must come to class on time.
 If you know you will miss a class because of an emergency and/or illness, business
trip, or an unexpected change in plans, you must notify me by e-mail before class. It
is your responsibility to find out what you missed in class.

2) Be on time
 You are expected to show up to class on time. As I am in class and ready to teach on
time, I expect you to be in the classroom ready to learn on time.
 Unless you tell me before that you will be late for class, anybody who shows up to
class after 15 minutes will be considered absent.

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  If no one shows up to class in the first 20 minutes of class, class will be automatically
cancelled.

3) Be prepared
 You must attend class regularly and complete all assignments, including weekly
postings to the class website.
 Bring all the things you need for the class: textbook, pens, pencils, dictionary, notebook,
homework, questions, etc.
 Turn off your cell phones (including vibrator tone) before coming to class and cell
phones must not visibly be seen (no text messaging in class).
 If you must accept a cell phone call in class, please step outside of the classroom so
you will not disturb the class.

4) Participate
 You must actively participate in class and be cooperative and supportive of your
classmates, as well as be respectful to me.
 Everybody can participate and enjoy themselves during this course. If you do not
participate, then you cannot improve. The best way to learn English is to participate.
Share your ideas and beliefs, have an opinion, agree and disagree.
 Ask questions if you don’t understand something or need repetition. There are NO dumb
questions!
 In other words, just participate!

5) Language
 Use English. This course is a course in English conversation. The use of Korean in class
will not help you improve your English abilities, so using and speaking Korean is highly
discouraged during class.

I am looking forward to getting to know each and every one of you. I invite each of you to
come to my office if you have any questions, concerns, or if you would just like to chat.

Tentative Daily Schedule

Week/Date Topic
Week 1
Day 1 Placement Test
Week 2
Day 2
Introductions/Class syllabus
That’s what friends are for! Personality types
and qualities; relationships; turn ons and turn
offs
Day 3 Task 1-Interviewing and describing a
classmate and their personality
characteristics
*Clips from “The Big Bang Theory”*

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Week 3 Career Moves: Jobs; unusual careers; job
Day 4 skills; summer jobs

Day 5 Task 2-Job Interviews (preparing for the job

interview process)
Week 4 What a story! The media; news stories;
Day 5 exceptional events

Day 6 Task 3- Creating a “mock” news broadcast

Week 5 *No classes March 28th-April 1st due to
Day 7 midterm exams at KAIST*
Day 8

Week 6 Crossing Cultures: Cultural comparisons and

Day 9 culture shock; moving abroad; emotions;
customs; tourism and travel abroad
Day 10
Task 4- Writing a “How to” guide on getting
over “culture shock”
Week 7 The World We Live In/There should be a
Day 11 law! The environment; world problems; current
issues; recommendations; opinions.

Task 5- Take a Stand! (Debating various

Day 12
issues and coming up with solutions)
Week 8 Life’s Little Lessons: Milestones and turning
Day 13 points; behavior and personality; regrets.

Day 14 Task 6- “If things were different”-Describing

and imagining different possibilities for the
way things should turn out
*Clips from “The Big Bang Theory”*
Week 9 The right stuff: Qualities for success;
Day 15 successful businesses; advertising
Day 16 Task 7- Coming up with a business plan and
business campaign for a product
*Clips from popular American Reality Show-
“The Apprentice”*
Day 17 Last Day of Class