HOLY SPIRIT UNIVERSITY OF KASLIK

Syllabus (Students)
2023-2024

I. Course Information

Academic unit Faculty of Arts and Sciences

Department Language Center

Code ENG240

English Title English Communication

French or Arabic Title
(when applicable)

Type ✘C CTP TP P TD S TH

Pre-requisites ENG140

Co-requisites None

Number of credits 3

Contact hours per week 3

Delivery Language: French ✘ English Arabic Other (specify):

Offered ✘ Fall ✘ Spring ✘ Summer

Current Semester Fall 2023 - 2024

CRN

Class Schedule

II. Course prerequisite knowledge and skills

Students should have learned and acquired the four basic language skills (reading, writing, speaking, and
listening). They should know the basics of skimming and scanning before they venture into more advanced
texts. They have the correct sentence structure to build well-developed paragraphs in order to write essays.
Basic listening skills should have been acquired, and speaking fluency, not necessarily accuracy, should have
been approached.

III. Instructor

Name and Title

Category Full-time Part-time

Office

Email / Teams Replies are to be expected within the following 2 working days

Office hours

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 HOLY SPIRIT UNIVERSITY OF KASLIK

Syllabus (Students)
2023-2024

IV. Course Core Information

Course Description
English 240 is designed to help upper-intermediate learners reach an advanced level of Academic English. At
this stage, students are expected to apply four basic language skills (listening, speaking, reading & writing) and
pave the way for a fully autonomous command of English. Productive skills are sharpened through clear
models and guidelines that guarantee an ultimate assimilation of effective reading and writing strategies. The
additional integration of listening and speaking allows a better conversational English in formal and informal
situations. It also enhances the speech techniques targeted throughout the course. ENG 240 will enable
students to write different types of writing genre and perform well-organized oral speech while improving their
language awareness, fluency, and accuracy.

Course Goals
One main goal of the course is to prepare students for life with authentic materials and topics.
Another main goal is to train learners to naturally use the language skills, especially the productive ones
(speaking and writing), whenever needed.

Delivery Mode
The course is delivered on-site. The course will be a combination of lecture, discussions, group work, flipped
classroom, presentations, among other strategies depending on the group of learners in the classroom.

V. Course Learning Outcomes (LOs)

Enter all learning outcomes for the course (minimum 3, maximum 6). These may be mandated by the
department. All learning outcomes should be measurable. Use “Action Words” as per the institutional
guidelines: Writing Learning Outcomes.

After a successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

1. critically analyze different types of texts, such as arguments, fiction, newspapers, and magazines.
2. create different pieces of writing, such as essays, letters/emails, proposals, reports, and reviews.
3. follow and understand a range of spoken materials, such as interviews, radio broadcasts, presentations,
talks and everyday conversations.
4. communicate effectively in formal settings (interviews, presentations) and in everyday real-life
situations.

VI. Course General Requirements

Writing Requirements
Students must be able to write precisely and coherently on the course topics in a manner that is
comprehensible for the reader. Examples of such writing can be found in published papers, manuals,
textbooks, and expository articles aimed at non-expert audiences.

Students are required to structure sentences correctly while using the right lexicons, grammar, and mechanics when writing to result in
meaningful composition.

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 HOLY SPIRIT UNIVERSITY OF KASLIK

Syllabus (Students)
2023-2024

Oral Requirements
Students must be able to express their thoughts clearly, pronounce correctly, listen actively, and participate
effectively in discussions. Presentation skills, such as organization, confident delivery, and engaging the
audience, are also important. Students should be adaptable in their communication style, open to different
viewpoints, and demonstrate critical thinking skills.

Students are required to utilize the right lexicons to build correct structures to deliver clear meaningful messages.

Technical Requirements
Students should have basic computer literacy, including proficiency in word processing, internet research, and
email communication. Additionally, depending on the field, students may need specific technical skills like
programming, data analysis, laboratory techniques, or software proficiency.

Students should have basic computer skills, such as word processing, internet research, and email communication.

VII. Course Timetable and detailed schedule

Timetable

Wee LO(s Assessment

Topic Learning Activities
k ) Activities
• Introduction to the Course
- Introduce course and
syllabus
- The nature of the
course: from slight Lecture
exposure (reading and • Sample emails/letters (reading)
Test/
1 listening) into more 2 • General structure of emails/letters
observation
production (writing and • Specific expressions and phrases used
speaking) in emails/letters.

• Writing an email/letter
(formal and informal)

• Writing an email/letter • Assignment: Write an email

(continue) /letter on a given task/topic.
• Recap and continue
• Watch the following video
• Speaking: Giving 3 https://www.youtube.
Test/oral
2 presentations com/watch?v=fzIxD1jXn44
presentation
4 • Useful English Phrases for a
Presentation

Discussion of video

3 • Giving Presentations 4 Presentation Assignment: Prepare a five-minute

(continue) PowerPoint presentation (topic:

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 HOLY SPIRIT UNIVERSITY OF KASLIK

Syllabus (Students)
2023-2024

• Recap and continue

optional)
Oral Assessment 1 (5%)

Writing a Report Flipped classroom

• What is a report? Assignment: Write a report on a given
• Sample reports (reading) task/topic.
• General structure of reports
• Specific expressions and
phrases used in reports. Read the following magazine article by
Tom Junod, “The Falling Man.” Esquire,
2 September 2003
Speaking Activity 1 http://web.archive.org/web/20140
Test/
4 1 902023544/http://
observation
www.esquire.com:
80/features/ESQ0903-
SEP_
FALLINGMAN
(Read only the first five
paragraphs till “was not
identified”).

Oral discussion of article

Catch-up Oral
• Continue first 4 weeks or Presentation
continue “Speaking Activity” or
continue “five-minute Writing
5 PowerPoint presentation” Assessment
(10%)
Writing Assessment (10%) Writing an email
or report (50
minutes)
Writing an Argumentative Flipped classroom/group
Essay work/Lecture/exercises
• Four Bases for revising
Essays: Unity, Support, Test/ • Sample Professional Essay: Read Ban
6 1
Coherence, and Sentence Skills observation the Things. Ban Them All (reading)
• Discuss unity, support, coherence, and
sentence skills
• Introduce Ethos, Pathos, and Logos
7 Writing an Argumentative 2 Test/classwork- Lecture/discussion/Reading
Essay (continue) performance comprehension
observation • Sample Student Essay: Read Teenagers
and Jobs (reading)
• Discuss unity, support, coherence, and
sentence skills
• Discuss argument and counter
argument
• Discuss examples of Ethos, Pathos, and

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Syllabus (Students)
2023-2024

Logos
• Essay Structure (five paragraphs)
• Catch-up: Argumentative Reading and
Essay Writing
• Midterm Exam (30%) Assessments
(30%)
• Reading
analysis of
8 argumentative
essay (30
minutes: 10%)
• Writing an
argumentative
essay (50
minutes: 20%)
Speaking: A Job Interview (Tell • Watch the following video:
me about yourself) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyfOH3ZOx6Y
(listening)
Oral Assessment • Useful English Phrases for a job
2 (5%) interview
A job interview: • Watch the mock interview:
3 tell me about https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncuCMZRG1wo
9
4 yourself +
further Assignment: Prepare and practice a two-
interview minute “tell me about yourself” part of
questions
interview and be ready for further
questions by the teacher (a mock
interview)
Oral Assessment 2 (continue) Oral Assessment
10
2 (continue)
Writing a Review Flipped classroom
• What is a review? • Sample reviews (reading)
• General structure of reviews
• Specific expressions and phrases used
11 2 Test
in reviews.

Assignment: Write a review on a given

task/topic.
Speaking Activity 2: Everyday • Watch the video:
Situations https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgfdqVmVjfk

(At the restaurant) • Write down your own conversation

12 4 using some expressions/phrases from
the video
• Role-play your conversation (you can
pose as several characters)
13 Writing a Proposal 2 Test • Sample proposals (reading)

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Syllabus (Students)
2023-2024

• What is a proposal? • General structure of proposals

• Specific expressions and phrases used
in proposals.

Assignment: Write a proposal on a given

task/topic.
Speaking Activity 3: Everyday • Watch the video:
situations https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AA7Vcajvgwo
(At the airport) and practice the conversation following
the presenter’s instructions.
14 4 • Write down your own conversation
using some expressions/phrases from
the video.
• Role-play your conversation (you can
pose as two characters).
Final Exam Critical reading (15%)
15
Writing a review/proposal (25%)

Schedule of Holidays, Make-up Sessions, Evaluations dates and Deadlines for Assignments.
USEK Academic calendar can be found at www.usek.edu.lb.
Week Month Date Day Specific Announcement
1 September 4 Monday Start of Classes
2
September 18 Monday Oral Presentation (5%)
3
September 22 Friday Oral Presentation (5%)
4
September 29 Friday Assignment due (Report)
5 October 6 Friday Evaluation/Test 1 (10%)
6
7
8 October 23 or 27 Monday or Friday Midterm exam (30%)
9
November 6 Monday Oral assessment (5%)
10
November 10 Friday Oral assessment (5%)
11
12 November 24 Friday Assignment due (Review)
13
14 December 4 Monday Assignment due (Proposal)
15 Final Exams (40%)

VIII. Course Material

Objective Advanced Student's Book with Answers with CD-ROM. Fourth edition. By
Required Texts
Felicity O'Dell; Annie Broadhead.

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Syllabus (Students)
2023-2024

Objective Advanced workbook with Answers. Fourth edition. By Felicity O'Dell;

Annie Broadhead.
Supplemental References Handouts/Online material/YouTube videos

Required Materials Computer/ LCD projector/ Notebook/Moodle/Teams

IX. Course Grading System

Attendance/Participation (group work, discussion, pair work, …)/Homework: 10%

Test 1: 10%
Oral presentation 1: 5%
Oral presentation 2: 5%
Midterm Exam: 30%
Final Exam: 40%

All course grades will be regularly shared with students, preferably on the e-learning platform.
The course final examinations date will be published by the Registrar Office in due time. No test or examination
shall be given during the last two weeks before the regular examination period.

Passing grade
A minimum grade of 60 is required for this course.
The Grading policy can be found in the Academic Rules and Regulations published on the website.

Grading criteria

Grading Criteria (Total = 100%)

10% Attendance/active participation/Homework

20% Tests, presentations/projects
30% Midterm
40% End of semester evaluation

X. Course Policies and Support to students

The USEK Academic Rules and Regulations is the official document of record concerning academic programs
and regulations. It can be found at www.usek.edu.lb .

Class attendance policy

Students can, for valid and justified reasons, be absent for a number of teaching hours equal to three teaching
weeks (20% of the course’s number of hours, i.e., 9 hours = 6 sessions of an hour and 15 minutes each).
However, they are responsible for learning material covered in class and will fail all graded class activities
(quizzes, tests, presentations, discussions, etc.) organized during these absences.

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Syllabus (Students)
2023-2024

Students who exceed the authorized limit of absences will not be allowed to sit for their final exam. They
must officially withdraw from the course before the official deadline, otherwise, they will be given the grade
FW (Fail to Withdraw).
Students with an excused absence will be permitted to make up coursework or complete an equivalent
assignment agreed upon with the instructor.

Absence to Mid-term and final exam

A student who does not show up for the Mid-term and final exams, for any reason, is given, by the teacher, a
failing grade of zero. If this absence is due to special justifiable circumstances, such as:
 Death of a family member or relative.
 Hospitalization, attested by a medical report from the hospital.
 Tested positive to COVID‐19, attested by a PCR test with a QR code.
 Serious accident, attested by an official report from a sworn expert.
Then the student can present a petition with supporting documents at the Student Affairs Office within the 24
hours following the missed exam. The request will be accepted for a valid justification or in case of a
recurrence. A student who has shown up for the exam cannot, in any case, present a petition for a make-up
exam.
The Mid-term and final exams policy can be found at www.usek.edu.lb .

Late Submission
Assignments are expected to be submitted by the designated deadlines. Late submissions may result in grade
penalties unless prior arrangements have been made with the instructor.

Academic Integrity
Plagiarism and any form of academic dishonesty are strictly prohibited. All work submitted must be your own,
unless otherwise specified.
Students are expected to practice the highest possible standards of academic integrity. Any deviation from
this expectation will result in an academic penalty of the student failing the assignment and may result in
additional disciplinary measures. This includes, but not limited to, improper citation of sources, using another
student's work, and any other form of academic misrepresentation. Suspicions of use of artificial intelligence
aids will be considered as alleged violations of Cheating.
The Academic Integrity policy can be found at www.usek.edu.lb .

Netiquette
Students are expected to communicate with each other and with the instructor in a learning community. They
are expected to be respectful, polite, and knowledgeable during oral and written communication and when
posting to the class discussion forums.

Course Evaluation Survey

Completion of the online course evaluation survey is required. Students will not be able to access their course
grade until they have completed the course evaluation.

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Syllabus (Students)
2023-2024

Arrangements for Students with Special Needs

USEK empowers students to manage challenges and limitations imposed by special needs. Students with
disabilities are encouraged to contact the Access Office by sending an email to [email protected], for
any accommodation needed to fulfill course requirements (within the first week of the semester).

Writing Center
The USEK Writing Center offers writing assistance to students. Its main mission is to develop their writing skills
and provide free writing support for students of all levels and at any stage of the writing process by offering
in-person consultations during which writers can brainstorm ideas, adopt different writing approaches and
strategies, and receive feedback from a well-trained tutor. For assistance student are encouraged to contact
the center by sending an email to [email protected].

Technical Support
The Enterprise and Information Technology Services (EITS) at USEK provides essential assistance to students
for resolving technical issues and ensuring smooth access to digital resources. It offers guidance and
troubleshooting for hardware and software problems, assists with network connectivity, and helps students
navigate learning management systems and online platforms.

Latest Update on Signature

July 2023