CRN: 34145 Section: 882 ESL 184 - High Intermediate Academic ESL

Required Zoom Meetings: Wednesdays 6:10-9:00 PM

Course Information

This six-unit course is designed to help you:

improve your academic reading and writing skills
review and practice grammatical structures used in academic English
expand your vocabulary through reading and writing.

We will read a variety of materials and practice academic writing.

Here are the Student Learning Outcomes for ESL 184:

Use a variety of high-intermediate reading and critical thinking skills and strategies to analyze and interpret a range of authentic multi-paragraph English texts of limited complexity.
Compose and develop multi-paragraph written texts at a high-intermediate level of English.
Use a variety of high- intermediate academic English vocabulary, sentence structure, and grammar to complete academic work.
Identify and apply a variety of strategies to support high-intermediate-level academic written work.

Textbooks

You must buy or rent three textbooks for this class, either new or used. You don't have to buy new books unless you want to do extra online practice.

Understanding and Using English Grammar, Edition: Fifth. Publisher: Pearson Authors: Azar and Hagen, ISBN: 9780133994599
Q Skills for Success Reading and Writing Level 4, Edition: Third Authors: Daise and Norloff Publisher: Oxford University Press ISBN: 978-0-19-490431-5
The Omnivore’s Dilemma: Young Reader’s Edition Author: Michael Pollan Publisher: Penguin Random House ISBN: 978-1-101-99383-5

It is also highly recommended that you use an English-English dictionary such as Longman Advanced American Dictionary. Oxford, Cambridge, and Pearson-Longman advanced ESL learners’ dictionaries are all good. If you want a paper dictionary, the Longman Advanced American dictionary (any edition) is the one the ESL Department recommends for ESL classes.

Important note: Please buy the textbooks before the semester begins. You will need these books starting in Week 1.

Add-Drop Policy

Adding the Class

To add the class before the start date:

Use Web4 to enroll in the class if space is available.
If no space is available, you can use Web4 to add yourself to a waitlist. If space becomes available before the semester, you will be notified via email and provided an add code.

To add the class after the start date:

Use the Class Request option on the class schedule using the CRN to request an add.
To add students, I prioritize the waitlist and then the request list.

Dropping the Class:

Students are responsible for dropping the class on their own.
If you decide to drop the class, please do it as soon as possible to allow other students to add.
Students who do not contribute to class meetings and assignments such as discussions or quizzes within the first week of the course will be dropped.
If students do not login and contribute to assignments at least once every week during the semester, they may be dropped..

Course Technology

Students will use the Canvas Learning Management system for assignment instructions, submitting assignments, viewing classmates' work, sharing resources, and viewing grades. I can help with the course material and with some Canvas issues. However, if you need help uploading an assignment or with the mechanics of Canvas, please use the Student Canvas GuidesLinks to an external site. or live support available through Canvas Chat.

For 24/7 help with Canvas, use Canvas Chat SupportLinks to an external site..

Although there is a mobile Canvas app, it has limited capability; you will need a desktop computer, laptop, or tablet to do the work. If you don't have one and can't afford one right now, you can borrow a Chromebook from CCSF for the semester. Follow the instructions to borrow one: Chromebook/Technology Loan for studentsLinks to an external site.

You'll also need video capability. We will use Zoom for our classes, and I will hold office hours by appointment in Zoom. So you need either a webcam on a computer or video on your phone.

Required Software

Adobe Reader (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
Update your browser (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

Start and End Dates

1/13/25-5/21/25

Important Dates

Last day for 100% refund: 1/24/2025

Last day to add: 1/31/2025

Last day to drop without W: 1/31/2025

Last day to drop with W: 4/17/2025

Last day to elect pass/no pass: Not available for this course

Final Exams: Writing: Wednesday, 5/7 6:10 PM; Grammar and Reading: 5/14, 6:10 pm