Lauren Wyner's eFolio
Advanced Studies Fall Syllabus
The Community English Program (CEP) is a unique and integral part of the TESOL and Applied Linguistics Programs at Teachers College, Columbia University. It provides English as a second language and foreign language instruction to adult learners of diverse nationalities and backgrounds. In addition, the CEP serves as an on- site language education lab in which TESOL and Applied Linguistics faculty and students enrolled in the programs teach the courses and use the CEP as a setting for empirical inquiry. Here at Teachers College we believe that observation and classroom research are the best way to learn about how we teach and gain insights into how teaching might take place. Thus, we encourage observation and classroom research and want people to use it as a tool for learning. Ongoing assessment and program evaluation allow us to make the CEP a better program.
​Community English Program
Teachers College, Columbia University​
Level: Advanced Studies

Instructors: Lauren Wyner
Email: ljw2139@tc.columbia.edu
Class Days: Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays
Class Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Classroom: 9559 Thorndike Hall
Class Description/Objectives:
This is an advanced English as a Second Language (ESL) course for international students and adults living and working in the New York City area. The literacy goal for this calss is to develop your reading comprehension skills and srategies using a range of materials, including fiction, current events articles, opinion pieces, academic texts, and online resources. Our literacy studies are supplemented by rich in-class discussions and debates, as well as written homework assignments. By successfully completing this class, you will be able to:
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skim and scan texts for informationread efficiently (i.e. fluently and accurately) for global comprehension and specific details
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read texts critically and interpret them in multiple ways
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derive meaning of new vocabulary items and grammatical structures from context
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evaluate and expand your current vocabulary knowledge and grammatical skills
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use print and online dictionaries effectively
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engage in both informal and formal conversations with your peers
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analyze and evaluate your own progress throughout the course.
There is no textbook for this course. All the materials will be photocopied and given to you in class. If you are unable to attend class, please ask a colleague for the material and photocopy it for yourselves. I will only bring photocopies we are using on the day we usethem. In other words, you are responsible for securing any photocopies you are missing.
Course Requirements:
You will have three short exams, and one final exam. You will have bi-weekly written assignments which must be handed in on the day they are due. No late assignments will be accepted.
Three short exams: each 15% (total 45%)
Final exam: 30%
Participation: 10%
Homework assignments: 15%
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​Important Dates:
First day of class: Monday, September 23, 2013
Thanksgiving (no class): Thursday, November 28, 2013
Final exam: Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Last day of class: Thursday, December 5, 2013
Last day for refunds: Friday, September 27, 2013
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|
Week |
Theme |
Skills & Purpose |
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1 |
War and Intervention |
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2 |
War and Intervention (continued)
Paper 1 Due (Wednesday)
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3 |
The Environmental Crisis
Test 1 |
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4 |
The Environmental Crisis (continued)
Paper 2 Due (Wednesday) |
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5 |
Globalization |
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6 |
Globalization (continued)
Paper 3 Due (Wednesday)
Test 2 |
|
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7 |
Globalization (continued)
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8 |
Healthcare
Paper 4 Due (Wednesday) |
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9 |
Healthcare (continued)
Test 3
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10 |
Final Exam and Paper 5 due
Party! |
Review/ Mixed Bag |
Classroom Policies:
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Attendance is mandatory and will be taken every class period. Many of the class activities will take more than one class period so attendance is important if we are to maintain a sense of continuity. Missing 5 or more classes means you cannot pass the course.
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Participation in class discussions and on homework assignments is expected of all students.
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Word processing is required for most graded assignments. Please do not hand-write your papers.
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Late work is not acceptable, except under extenuating circumstances (i.e. illness, personal emergencies, etc.).
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Mobile phones and all electronic devices must be turned off prior to the start of each class session. Electronic dictionaries may only be used in class at the teacher’s discretion.
Please feel free to speak to me whenever a problem or question arises concerning our plan of study, attendance, course materials and homework assignments. You can reach me via email.