ESL 1110 M01: Advanced Listening, Grammar and Reading

ESL 1110 M01: Advanced Listening, Grammar
                 and Reading
                                              Fall 2021
Class Days and Time:               MWF, 10:00-10:50
Classroom:                         PRH 10
Prerequisite:                      TOEFL 520 or equivalent
Credits:                           3
Instructor:                        Hamish Binns
Instructor’s Email:                hamish.binns@slu.edu
Instructor’s Campus Phone:         91 554 58 58, ext. 215
Office:                            PRH 202
Office Hours:                      MTWRF, 11:00-13:30

Course Description:
Intensive TOEFL preparation based on natural spoken discourse in English; effective use of English
grammar and fluent reading comprehension strategies. The course provides students with advanced
literacy for academic study in the U.S. university system.

Course Goals and Student Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the course, students will:
    • Achieve a minimum score of 550 on each part of the TOEFL
    • Be able to understand and follow academic lectures while taking notes
    • Be able to understand and use academic vocabulary and structures
    • Be able to distinguish stated from inferred, and primary from secondary and tertiary information
        in texts

Assessment of Student Learning:
To maintain quality academic offerings and to conform to accreditation requirements, SLU-Madrid
regularly assesses its teaching, services and programs for evidence of student learning. For this purpose,
SLU-Madrid keeps representative examples of student work from all courses and programs on file,
including assignments, papers, exams, portfolios and results from student surveys, focus groups and
reflective exercises. Copies of your work for this course may be kept on file for institutional research,
assessment and accreditation purposes. If you prefer SLU-Madrid not to retain your work for this
purpose, you must communicate this decision in writing to your professor.

Required Texts and Materials:
All class materials will be posted on Canvas or handed out in class

Attendance Policy:
Attendance will be taken during the semester, and will count towards the final class grade. Moreover, a
considerable amount of work will be done in class, and students who miss these grades will have
difficulties in achieving a satisfactory average grade. In cases of excessive absenteeism (over 50%),
students may be directly expelled from the program. Good attendance by itself, however, is no guarantee
of passing the class since the aim of this course is academic improvement.

Course Requirements and Grading Rationale/System:
   • Presentations                        - 20 %
   • TOEFL Score Average                  - 10 %
   • Vocabulary Tests                     - 15 %
   • Course Work and Homework             - 15 %
   • Score on Final TOEFL                 - 40 %

The final grade must be above C (65%) in order to get a S. Students who demonstrate unsatisfactory
performance will be notified by the professor and reminded that continued problems and/or excessive
absences will jeopardize their opportunity to continue their academic studies at Saint Louis University.

To predict the grade you will get in the final official TOEFL, you are advised to calculate 20 points less
than what you score on practice exams. Concentrate on studying what you are getting wrong in the
exams: the TOEFL never surprises, so if you know the material you will pass!

      GPA            Grade           Percentage*             SLUWE/ TWE*                 TOEFL
    Equivalent                                                                       Grade Equivalence
      4.00             A                  95                       5.25                     600
      3.70             A-                 90                       5.00                     590
      3.30             B+                 85                       4.75                     580
      3.00             B                  80                       4.50                     570
      2.70             B-                 75                       4.25                     560
      2.30             C+                 70                       4.00                     550
      2.00             C                  65                       3.75                     540
      1.70             C-                 60                       3.50                     530
      1.00             D                  55                       3.25                     520
      0.00             D                  50                       3.00                     510
                        F                 45                       2.75                     500
                        F                 40                       2.50                     490

E-mail:
Campus and course announcements will often be handled by e-mail. Students should check both their
Canvas inbox and their “@slu.edu” e-mail regularly.

Assessment of Student Learning:
In order to maintain quality academic offerings and to conform to accreditation requirements, SLU-
Madrid regularly assesses its teaching, services and programs for evidence of student learning. For this
purpose, SLU-Madrid keeps representative examples of student work from all courses and programs on
file, including assignments, papers, exams, portfolios and results from student surveys, focus groups and
reflective exercises. Copies of your work for this course may be kept on file for institutional research,
assessment and accreditation purposes.

If you prefer SLU-Madrid not to retain your work for this purpose, you must communicate this decision
in writing to your professor.

Academic Honesty/Integrity:
Academic integrity is honest, truthful and responsible conduct in all academic endeavors. The mission of
Saint Louis University is "the pursuit of truth for the greater glory of God and for the service of
humanity." Accordingly, all acts of falsehood demean and compromise the corporate endeavors of
teaching, research, health care, and community service through which SLU fulfills its mission. The
University strives to prepare students for lives of personal and professional integrity, and therefore
regards all breaches of academic integrity as matters of serious concern.

The full University-level Academic Integrity Policy can be found on the Provost's Office website.
Additionally, SLU-Madrid has posted its academic integrity policy online. As a member of the University
community, you are expected to know and abide by these policies, which detail definitions of violations,
processes for reporting violations, sanctions and appeals.

Disability Accommodations and Learning Resources:
In recognition that people learn in a variety of ways and that learning is influenced by multiple factors
(e.g., prior experience, study skills, learning disability), resources to support student success are available
on campus. Students who think they might benefit from these resources can find out more by asking their
course instructor, university-level support (e.g., tutoring/writing services, Disability Services), by visiting
the Academic Dean's Office (San Ignacio Hall), or by reviewing the Academic Resources website online.

Students with a documented disability who wish to request academic accommodations must contact an
academic advisor to discuss accommodation requests and eligibility requirements. Once successfully
registered, the student also must notify the course instructor that they wish to access accommodations in
the course. Please email disabilityservices-madrid@slu.edu or +915 54 58 58, ext. 242 or 249. Once
approved, information about the student's eligibility for academic accommodations will be shared with
course instructors. For more information about academic accommodations, see the Disability Services
webpage.

Note: Students who do not have a documented disability but who think they may have one are encouraged
to contact their academic advising staff (advising-madrid@slu.edu).

Diversity and Inclusion:
Saint Louis University is committed to fostering a positive, inclusive and welcoming learning and
working environment. SLU-Madrid's policies prohibit discrimination based on race, color, national origin,
ancestry, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age,
disability, physical appearance, financial or socio-economic status, immigration status, parental or marital
status, veteran status or any other protected classification of identity. Discrimination includes any form of
unequal treatment such as denial of opportunities, harassment, and violence. Sex-based violence includes
rape, sexual assault, unwanted touching, stalking, dating/interpersonal violence, and sexual exploitation.
If you experience or witness any kind of discrimination, you are encouraged (but not required) to report
the incident to the SLU-Madrid's Department of Student Life, whose office is located in Padre Rubio Hall
(marta.maruri@slu.edu; +34 915 54 58 58, ext, 213. You can also report the incident to the University's
Hotline (900-99-0011; then enter 877-525-5669 when asked for the hotline number).

Please know that instructors have a responsibility to inform SLU-Madrid when made aware of incidents
of discrimination, harassment sexual misconduct, and/or related retaliation, to ensure that individuals
impacted receive information about options for reporting and support resources. If you wish to speak with
a confidential resource, the following are available on campus and off campus:

    -   Counselors at SLU-Madrid's Wellness Center, located on the third floor of San Ignacio Hall
        (wellness-madrid@slu.edu; 915 54 58 58, ext. 230).

    -   Counselors at Sinews Multilingual Therapy Institute, SLU-Madrid's off-campus counseling and
        mental health services provider (www.sinews.es; 917 00 19 79).

    -   SLU-Madrid's Campus Minister, Fr. James O'Leary, S.J. (james.oleary@slu.edu; 915 54 58 58,
        ext. 279).

Additional information and resources are posted on our Safety and Security and Community Standards
webpages.

Needs Security Statement:
Students in personal or academic distress and/or who may be specifically experiencing challenges such as
securing food or difficulty navigating campus resources, and who believe this may affect their
performance in the course, are encouraged to contact Marta Maruri, SLU-Madrid's Director of Student
Life (marta.maruri@slu.edu or +34 915 54 58 58, ext. 213) for support. Furthermore, please notify the
instructor if you are comfortable in doing so, as this will enable them to assist you with finding the
resources you may need.

GDPR Norms Concerning Class Recordings:
In accordance with General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), we inform you that as a participant
within an on-line classroom, your image and voice may be recorded by Saint Louis University in Spain,
S.A., CIF A28654879, in 28003 Madrid (Spain), Avenida del Valle 34, for the sole purpose of the

instruction of the said class that you are registered in. This information will be stored for the duration of
the on-line class and erased thereafter by the professor of the course. Should you not want your image or
voice to be a part of this class recording, please contact your professor to indicate that you will be turning
your camera and microphone off and be participating via chat.
In addition, we would like to inform you that all recordings will be available to you in Blackboard and/or
YouTube private class channels and are exclusively for the use of the participants of the said class and
should not be published on any other platform without the prior consent of all participants that may
appear in the recording.

According to the rights conferred by the current GDPR regulation, you may exercise your rights of
access, rectification, limitation of treatment, deletion, portability and opposition to the processing of your
personal data, as well as the consent given for the treatment of it by directing your requests to the address
indicated above or by sending an email to dpo-madrid@slu.edu.

ESL 1110 M01 Fall 2021 Course Schedule:
           SEPTEMBER
Week 1     Wednesday 1        Introductions and syllabus
                              Organizing time, the US system and setting goals
                              How to study for the TOEFL and TOEFL topics
                              Finding Materials and supplementing studies
           Friday 3           Preliminary Questions
                              Vocabulary for Monday
Week 2     Monday 6           Vocabulary Test
                              Part II – Basic Grammar and Parts of Speech
           Wednesday 8        Part II – The TOEFL Structure Section
           Friday 10          Part II – Analyzing a Structure Section
           Sunday 12          Last day to drop a class without a grade of W and/or add a class
                              Last day to choose Audit (AU) or Pass/No Pass (P/NP) options
Week 3     Monday 13          Vocabulary Test
                              Part II – Presentations
           Wednesday 15       Part II – Presentations
           Friday 17          Part II – Presentations
Week 4     Monday 20          Vocabulary Test
                              1st TOEFL Midterm – Part I
           Wednesday 22       1st TOEFL Midterm – Part II
           Friday 24          1st TOEFL Midterm – Part III
Week 5     Monday 27          Vocabulary Test
                              TOEFL Revision
           Wednesday 29       TOEFL Revision
           OCTOBER
           Friday 1           TOEFL Revision
Week 6     Monday 4           Vocabulary Test
                              Part II – Presentations
           Wednesday 6        Part II – Presentations
           Friday 8           Part II – Presentations

Week 7     Monday 11      Vocabulary Test
                          Part III – How to read
           Wednesday 13   Part III – Strategies and questions
           Friday 15      Part III – Text Mapping
Week 8     Monday 18      Vocabulary Test
                          2nd TOEFL Midterm – Part I
           Wednesday 20   2nd TOEFL Midterm – Part II
           Friday 22      2nd TOEFL Midterm – Part III
           Sunday 24      Professors’ Deadline to Submit Midterm Grades
                          Clocks change…
Week 9     Monday 25      Vocabulary Test
                          TOEFL Revision
           Wednesday 27   TOEFL Revision
           Friday 29      Vocabulary Test
                          TOEFL Revision
           November
Week 10    Monday 1       Holiday - No Classes
           Wednesday 3    Part III – Presentations
                          Registration for Spring 2022 Begins
           Friday 5       Part III – Presentations
           Sunday 7       Last Day to Drop a Class and Receive a Grade of W
Week 11    Monday 8       Vocabulary Test
                          Part III – Presentations
           Wednesday 10   Part III – Presentations
           Friday 12      Part III – Presentations
Week 12    Monday 15      Vocabulary Test
                          Part I – Section A questions
           Wednesday 17   Part I – Predicting answers
           Friday 19      Part I – Listening and Taking notes
Week 13    Monday 22      Vocabulary Test
                          3rd TOEFL Midterm – Part I
           Wednesday 24   3rd TOEFL Midterm – Part II
                          Students must pay 50 Euros for the TOEFL
           Friday 26      3rd TOEFL Midterm – Part III
Week 14    Monday 29      Vocabulary Test
                          TOEFL Revision
           DECEMBER
           Wednesday 1    TOEFL Revision
           Friday 3       Vocabulary Test
                          TOEFL Revision
Week 15    Monday 6       Holiday - No Classes
           Wednesday 8    Holiday - No Classes
           Friday 10      MONDAY CLASSES MEET
                          Practice Tests
Week 16    Monday 13      Practice Tests
           Tuesday 14     Fall 2021 Final Day of Classes
           Wednesday 15   TOEFL at 8.30 am
           Friday 17      SLUWE at 9.30 am
           Sunday 23      Professors' deadline to submit fall 2021 final grades
Sp. 2022   JANUARY
           Thursday 13    Spring 2022 semester begins

Fall 2021 – Final Exam Schedule
                   W 15                 R 16                F 17               M 20                 T 21

8:30 -        Tuesday classes     Monday classes      Monday classes      Monday classes      Tuesday classes
              starting at 9:30    starting at 8:30,   starting at 10:00   starting at 11:00   starting at 8:00
11:30
              and 10:00 a.m.      9:00 and 9:30       a.m.                and 11:30 a.m.      a.m.
                                  a.m.

12:00 -       Monday classes      Tuesday classes     Monday classes      Tuesday classes     Tuesday classes
              starting at 12:00   starting at 11:00   starting at 1:00    starting at 2:00    starting at 12:30
3:00
              and 12:30 p.m.      a.m.                p.m.                p.m.                p.m.

3:30 - 6:30   Tuesday classes     Monday classes      Tuesday classes     Monday classes      Monday classes
              starting at 3:30    starting at 2:00    starting at 5:00    starting at 3:30    starting at 5:00
              and 4:00 p.m.       p.m.                and 5:30 p.m.       p.m.                p.m.

7:00 -                                                Monday classes      Tuesday classes
                                                      starting at 6:30    starting at 6:30
10:00
                                                      and 7:00 p.m.       p.m.

For courses meeting only on Wednesdays or Fridays, follow the Monday schedule. For courses
meeting only on Thursdays, follow the Tuesday schedule.