English Listening/Speaking for Sophomores
Instructor: Mr.
Michael Krigline, MA Xiamen University,
International Economics and Trade
www.krigline.com.cn
Click
here for the final exam preview
(or scroll toward the bottom)
Click here for the oral exam schedule
Oral interview/exam
Each student will get up to 25 points this term for “oral ability,” and
your oral interview (group discussion) will help me decide how many points
you deserve. Your performance and participation during class (role plays,
etc.) will also influence this score.
Interviews will be done in groups of four or five (at a scheduled time, at
dinner or as explained later), talking together about one of the topics
below. Each group will have a leader (as shown on the class list). Your
group will get together to choose two possible topics. When you arrive for
the scheduled time, your leader will tell me your two choices and I will
choose one of them. The leader will also phone (or SMS) each group member
a few hours before your appointment to be sure no one forgets!
When your time comes, I’ll ask questions and try to get short answers from
each person. I may also interrupt to ask for clarification or additional
comments. Group members should also feel free to comment on each other’s
statements (not interrupting, but more like a conversation). You can get
together to practice this before you meet with me. However, a few previous
groups have created a script for their “conversation”—this is NOT what I
want, so they lost points. You can think of questions in advance, but it
better not sound like a rehearsed “role play.”
The oral exam will last 10-15 minutes. Your grade (25% of your term grade)
will reflect your ability and willingness to speak English.
Fall topics
Finding Forrester Discussion:
When you were a child, did you and your
friends dare each other to do things? Tell us about something you learned
from doing (or not doing) a dare. In different contexts, Jamal had to use
Ebonics and “standard English.” Is that fair? Talk about the good and bad
aspects of China’s multiple languages, and the context in which people use
them. The movie talked a lot about the western view of plagiarism. What
questions do you have about this, and do you think Chinese and western
understandings of plagiarism are different or the same? Explain. Also talk
about what this concept means for people who wish to study abroad or work
with people from English-speaking countries. The description of this film
says Jamal’s unlikely friendship with Forrester helped both to “reach
their dreams.” Explain this statement, or say why you don’t agree with it.
Describe the friendships in this movie (Jamal/Claire; Jamal/Forrester;
Jamal/Fly or T or others; etc.), then talk about how an “unusual
friendship” in your own life helped you in some way.
International Holidays in China
In the past few years, more and more
Chinese people have been doing something special during the Christmas
season. Some people/stores put up a tree or decorations, others give
gifts, while many even go to church. Unique Chinese “Christmas traditions”
have even started, such as giving apples on “ping an ye” (which is not
done in any other country). Discuss the positive and negative aspects of
celebrating international holidays like Christmas, Halloween, Thanksgiving
and Valentines’ Day. If your best friend wanted to celebrate one of these
holidays, what would say to him/her? How do people in your parents’ and
grandparents’ generation feel about this topic? If you think “smaller”
Chinese holidays (other than National Day, New Year and Mid-Autumn
Festival) are becoming less important, give practical suggestions for
giving them more attention. Be able to explain your answer, and to ask
"follow up" questions to your classmates.
Sherlock Holmes
Begin by describing Sherlock, his methods and his character/personality.
Why do you think this British character is popular in so many countries?
As a group, tell me about a famous fictional character from Chinese
literature (choose this character in advance). The author, Sir/Doctor
Arthur Conan Doyle, was knighted for his medical work, but he is now
famous for creating Sherlock Holmes. He said he got the idea from a
professor who used similar methods. Comment on these things (the influence
of Doyle’s professor, how you think he felt about these two careers, his
legacy, etc.). Why are some people “remembered” long after they die? Is
this important? Do you think this was their goal or did it just happen on
its own? Talk about the film we saw. What part did you like best/least?
Tell me about a character other than Sherlock. What do you think of the
idea of taking an old fictional character and bringing him back to life in
the 21st century? What do the Holmes stories have to offer the modern
world?
Spring topics
When Studying Abroad
Many people want to study abroad. Why? Describe some of the steps you
would have to take to get there. What are the positive and negative
aspects of studying abroad? Pretend that the person next to you is your
best friend, and he/she wants to study abroad; what would say to him/her?
Pretend that you are elderly and you’ve just found out that your
granddaughter will go to Canada to study; tell us about your feelings and
concerns. If you were studying abroad, what challenges would you have to
face, and how would you overcome them? I would love to hear your comments
about the class we spent talking about this. Be able to explain your
answers, and to ask "follow up" questions to your classmates.
Health Issues
Many things affect our health, including stress, diabetes, obesity and
happiness. Doctors say that stress can be linked to more than half of our
medical problems. What makes you feel stress, and how do you handle it?
According to an article we read, TV viewing habits and regional
differences affect obesity rates—why do you think that is true? The
article called obesity a “modifiable risk factor”; what does that mean,
and give examples of other modifiable risk factors in modern China. What
role should humor and happiness play in the medical community? Explain.
Discuss some of the economic factors that affect medical care in China
(such as health insurance, medical costs, funding for research, and
traffic-related injuries). Be able to explain your answers, and to ask
"follow up" questions to your classmates.
Family Man Discussion (Exam dinner groups only)
Jack says he is successful because “he knows people.” Use examples from
the film to illustrate how Jack treats people (neighbors, people at his
company, friends, customers, children, others). If you could “have a
two-month glimpse” to see how something might have been different, what
would it be? Make a list of the kinds of things that people wish they
could “do over” or “do differently.” How will this list affect your
choices over the next 15 years? As you consider your first job after
college, what factors will be important to you? Explain your top three
factors. The film ends with Jack and Kate talking at the airport. What do
you think will happen next?Be
able to explain your answers, and to ask "follow up" questions to your
classmates.
Unstoppable Discussion
First, describe one of the characters and say why you chose this person.
What are the positive and negative aspects of making rookies stand out
(such as by wearing a “yellow vest”)? Choose one of the “little” factors
in the story, and tell how this contributed to the problems and/or
solutions in the film. Do you think employees should be able to use
phones/ipods/personal devices while at work? Explain your answer. Compare
Connie’s English with the English of Jamal’s friends (in Finding
Forrester). What do you think the script writers were trying to tell
us, by the actors’ use of English? Discuss the way the news media covered
this event, and how it would have been different in China. Is “live
coverage” a good or bad thing?
The Internet
What are the
good things about the Internet? What are the bad things? Which side has
more, the good side or the bad side? Do you ever use the Internet to help
improve your English? If so, tell us what you do and talk about how
effective/helpful it is. If not, why not? What did you think about the
article on Internet addiction in Shanghai? Do you think this is a serious
problem? Why or why not? When your children are old enough to use a
computer (age 4? 6? 10?), what will you do to protect them from the bad
things on line? How do you think the Internet (and computers in general)
will change over the next 10 years? What can be done to strengthen the
good things and reduce the negative aspects of the Internet?
Here is
the grading scale I intend to use:
“Average”
means that I can normally understand them, and so can the others present,
and they seem to be able to understand me most of the time. Higher scores
go to those with “better than average” pronunciation, those who volunteer
to answer first, or even like to talk a lot, those who ask questions to
their classmates, etc.
Oral interview (oral exam) schedule,
Spring 2012
The oral exams at the end of the term will last 10-15 minutes; we
will meet in our regular classroom. Each student will get up to 25 points
(25% of your term grade) this term for “oral ability,” and this oral exam
will help me decide how many points you deserve. Your performance and
participation during class (role plays, etc.) will also influence this
score. Your grade will reflect your ability and willingness to speak
English.
Interviews will be done in groups of four (normally), talking
together about one of the topics below. Each group will have a leader (as
shown on the class list). Your group will get together to choose two
possible topics. When you arrive for the scheduled time, your leader will
tell me your two choices and I will choose one of them. The leader will
also phone (or SMS) each group member before your appointment to be sure
no one forgets! If one of you is too late, your whole group will be
moved to the end of the schedule.
When your time comes, I’ll ask questions and try to get short
answers from each person. I may also interrupt to ask for clarification or
additional comments. Group members should also feel free to comment on
each other’s statements (not interrupting, but more like a conversation).
You can get together to practice this before you meet with me. However, a
few previous groups have created a script for their “conversation”—this is
NOT what I want, so they lost points. You can think of questions in
advance, but it better not sound like a rehearsed “role play.”
Be patient if the group before you is running late. This often
happens, because it is difficult to give a fair grade to everyone in such
a short interview. I may also need a moment between groups to record the
grades, but I’ll do my best to stay on schedule. Do not talk outside the
classroom where I’m giving an oral exam. I am counting on group leaders
to keep the hallway quiet while your group waits. If you wish to meet more
than 10 minutes before your time, please meet in a different place (like
the public tables in other parts of the building).
Wednesday, May 23
10:10-10:25am, class 3, group 22, in room 308
10:25-10:40am, class 3, group 23, in room 308
10:45-11:00am, class 3, group 24, in room 308
11:00-11:15am, class 3, group 25, in room 308
11:20-11:35am, class 3, group 26, in room 308
11:35-11:50am, class 3, group 27, in room 308
Wednesday, May 23
7:00-7:15pm, class 1, group 10, in room 510
7:15-7:30pm, class 1, group 11, in room 510
7:35-7:50pm, class 1, group 12, in room 510
7:50-8:05pm, class 1, group 13, in room 510
8:05-8:20pm, class 1, group 14, in room 510
Thursday, May 24
7:00-7:15pm, class 2, group 15, in room 510
7:15-7:30pm, class 2, group 16, in room 510
7:35-7:50pm, class 2, group 17, in room 510
7:50-8:05pm, class 2, group 18, in room 510
8:05-8:20pm, class 2, group 19, in room 510
8:25-8:40pm, class 2, group 20, in room 510
8:40-8:55pm, class 2, group 21, in room 510
Final Exam Preview,
Spring 2012: English Listening and Speaking
As I said in class, you need to be
familiar with the ENGLISH instructions that will be on your quizzes. If
you don't understand something, please ask BEFORE the test starts.
Otherwise, concentrate on the vocabulary we have studied this
term.
The final exam will include a lot of
vocabulary and synonyms (you’ll need to be able to spell both words).
Discussion/content questions may have to do with: advertising, giving
advice, the article about “waste/landfills”, Unstoppable discussion
questions (see website), the “web addicts” article (esp the vocabulary).
You will not have to repeat the “Science of Happiness” material on the
final exam, but just about everything else that was on the midterm will be
on the final exam again.
The final exam (5-6 pages) will have
these sections (though this is subject to change):
Dictation (22 blanks?)
If…then… sentences (7 points?)
Synonyms (12 terms?)
Matching (verbs and phrases) (11
items?)
Use the Correct Verb Form (11 sentences?)
True/False (about content) (7 items?)
Matching (about content) (4 items?)
Short Answer; you can choose between two
topics to write 1-3 sentences about.
Fill the Blanks—using vocabulary in a
paragraph (16 blanks?)
Choose the Correct Response (6 items?)
Matching
(vocabulary) (25 terms?)
This resource was created for our students under my
understanding of "fair use" for educational resources.
© 2011 Michael Krigline, all
rights reserved. As far as I am concerned, people are allowed to print/copy
it for personal or classroom use.
(see Website Standards and Use Policy)
