Upper Intermediate Listening and Speaking for Students of English as a Second Language

Listening

To follow conversations and discussions, informal reports and talks, and instructions

1. Use pre-listening techniques to prepare for a listening task
2. Identify topic, issues and problems, overall key idea, main ideas and key details
3. Use active listening strategies
4. Recognize conversational gambits
5. Refer to pre-listening and reference materials, and use context clues (e.g., definitions, examples, restatements) to determine meanings of unfamiliar words and phrases
6. Take simple notes

To listen for discrete items including from online course materials and selected internet archives

1. Listen for specific information (e.g., place or company names, categories, statistics)
2. Listen for specific pronunciation elements (final sounds, reductions, voice tone and melody)
3. Write from dictation
4. Transcribe speech
5. Complete graphs from listening tasks.

To use MyDouglas for listening assignments and to communicate with instructor and classmates

Speaking

To participate in conversations and discussions

1. Listen and contribute actively
2. Use language functions including  all 100 level functions and the following:
   • introduce a topic; change topic
   • interrupt
   • request/give an opinion
   • agree and disagree
   • clarify/restate
3. Use gambits (short expressions used to open, close and extend conversation)
4. Conduct interviews and surveys on topics comparing cultural beliefs and practices, and complete the following process:
   • prepare questions
   • take notes
   • summarize/report on notes
5. Use pronunciation elements appropriately (final sounds, reductions, voice tone and melody)

To prepare and give informal reports and talks

1. Impromptu talks
• Talks on spontaneous topics and under timed conditions
2. Prepared talks on academic topics/surveys or interview data
• Prepare information
• Prepare outline
• Organize information and ideas according to assignment framework
• Prepare/explain information in simple graphs, charts and tables to class members
• Use effective eye contact, body language, and vocal delivery

Reading and Writing

To prepare for, support, and extend listening and speaking

1. Follow written assignment instructions
2. Use pre-reading techniques
3. Recognize purpose and/or issue, overall key idea, main ideas, and key details
4. Follow sequences of information and ideas
5. Use context clues to determine meanings of unfamiliar words
6. Use readings as background material in speaking tasks
7. Write reflectively
8. Write notes, outlines, interview questions and answers, reports and summaries
9. Use written materials in speaking tasks (e.g., informal reports).

Accuracy

For explicit instruction and evaluation

1. All accuracy items specified for level 100
2. Tenses: all 100 level tenses and past continuous and present perfect
3. Time markers and phrases
4. Modals expressing necessity, advice, obligation and possibility
5. Subject-verb agreement
6. Count/non-count nouns
7. Pronunciation elements
   • All pronunciation elements from 100 level
   • Final sounds, reductions, voice tone and melody
8. Word order

Classroom Skills

Take responsibility for the following:

1. attendance and punctuality
2. class work and assignments
3. participation and teamwork
4. Group work – take turns as leader, reader, recorder and group presenter