iBT  TOEFL  Preparation 

Winter Quarter 2010

Bellevue College

Days:               Monday-Thursday R106A                  Office: C-235

                        Friday A134

Time/Place:      10:30am – 11:20am                             Phone: (425) 564-3147

Instructor:       Ivan Breen                                          Office hours by appointment

E-mail:             ibreen@bellevuecollege.edu                                                                          

Textbook:  Longman Preparation Course for the TOEFL iBT with CD, by Deborah Phillips

Course Objectives:  This course prepares students to take the iBT TOEFL by

· developing speaking and writing skills,

· improving reading and listening skills,

· familiarizing students with the iBT TOEFL format and directions,

· studying exam explanations,

· and learning test-taking strategies.

Class Format:  Class will consist of lectures, exercises in the book, explanations of exercises, practice quizzes and tests, and the use of the computer lab in A134.   You will also do homework on the CD and in the book almost every day.  You will send your results of skills assessments and minitests via email to your instructor.  Read the overview section on your CD to learn how to do this.

Student Absence:  Students who miss class 12 times will receive a grade of “F.”  Students who miss class 10 or 11 times will receive a grade of “D.”  Three (3) tardies of 5 minutes or more will equal 1 absence.  DURING SUMMER QUARTER:  Students who miss class 10 times will receive a grade of “F.”  Students who miss class 8 or 9 times will receive a grade of “D.”  Three (3) tardies of 5 minutes or more will equal 1 absence.

Plagiarism and cheating: Students are in ELI classes to learn English and ELI teachers are here to help them. Cheating makes that harder for both the students and the teachers. There are different kinds of cheating: plagiarism, “borrowing” a classmate’s homework (partially or wholly), using an essay or a presentation from a previous quarter, using “cheat notes”, and copying answers from classmates’ papers during tests.

Plagiarism is using someone else’s words or ideas as your own in both writing and oral presentations.  It is cheating and is not acceptable in American classes.

Special Needs:  If you require accommodation based on a documented disability, have emergency medical information to share, or need special arrangements in case of emergency evacuation; please make an appointment with DRC (Disability Resource Center.)   If you would like to inquire about becoming a DRC student, you may call 564-2498 or go in person to the DRC program office in B132.

Homework:  We will discuss homework in class, but I won’t usually collect it.  Please check the answers in the book, and bring your questions to the next class.

Quizzes and Exams:  We’ll have frequent short quizzes to assess your abilities. 

Grades:  I’ll add scores in these areas to calculate your grade.

                                                Participation                 50%

                                                Projects                         20%

                                                Improvement                30%

BC Grading Scale:                   A = 93-100 (You went way beyond what was expected.  Extraordinary effort and high skill)

                                                B = 84-92 (You did what you were expected to do and more.  High effort or high skill)

                                                C = 75-83 (You did what you were expected to do.  Average effort and average skill)

                                                D = 0-74 (repeat level; good effort)

                                                F = 0-74 (repeat level; unsatisfactory effort)

Classroom Conduct:  Please turn off cell phones in class.  Behave appropriately for a college class.  Speak English.  Respect other students and the teacher by paying attention when someone else is talking.

Participation:  Your questions are what make the class interesting and informative.  Students often learn more from discussing each other’s questions than from practicing in the book, so I hope you will bring lots of questions to class each day.  If everyone asks and thinks and shares ideas, the class will be not only educational, but also fun. Participation means that you ask questions, volunteer answers (not only when I call on you), and share your ideas with me and with your classmates.  Don’t be shy about asking questions.  If you have a question, your classmates probably don’t understand either, but they are afraid to show it.  If you don’t ask questions, I assume you understand.