Foreign Language
Course Policies
General Outline
Foreign Languages Program at Lewis University offers instruction on a tutorial
basis. Because the program is a tutorial one, you and your tutor are under
supervision of the Coordinator of the Foreign Language program, Dr. Serafima
Gettys gettysse@lewisu.edu
The Foreign Language Program will provide you with the opportunity to
study the language of your choice with a native or near-native speaker of
the target
language. The skills to be developed will include listening,
speaking, writing, and reading with special emphasis on listening and speaking
skills. During
the tutorial, speaking English is to be kept at a minimum level. Note that
you will be learning not so much about the language but rather how to use
the language i.e. practical conversation skills that can be put to use immediately.
Course Organization
You are expected to work with the tutor, under the guidance of the
coordinator. At the beginning of the semester the coordinator,
the tutor and the students will discuss the semester’s work plan (i.e. requirements
and objectives, weekly classroom activities, a week by week list of topics
and the grading policy that the course will cover during the semester).
You will sign Student’s Contract indicating that you have thoroughly
read, understood, and accepted the terms. The tutor will keep the
coordinator updated on a weekly basis on these objectives and advise of
any deviations
from the original work plan.
You will meet with your tutor three times every week at the times that will
be determined by you, your classmates, and your tutor at the first meeting
of the group according to everyone’s availability. At the end of each
week, i.e. after your last class of the week, you are expected to submit
a Weekly Progress Survey of the Student to the Coordinator,
which details which objectives were covered in a week, and what you did in
class and at
home to accomplish these objectives. You are also expected to report
weekly on what is working particularly well in the sessions along with what
is not
working well, so that coordinator can work with you and tutor to create
the most effective learning activities. You are responsible for your progress
and should maintain high level of self-discipline and self-direction.
Grading
Because language comes easier to some people than the others, and
also because certain languages are more difficult for English speakers
to learn than the others, your effort will determine the lion’s share
of your grade.
Your grade will be determined as follows:
15% Attendance
Attend all tutorial sessions. All tutorials meet three or two hours
per week. The meeting times will be decided by the tutor, students
and the coordinator according to everyone’s availability. You and your tutor
must consistently meet according to the schedule. Any deviations from the
schedule should be discussed with the coordinator before they take place.
If you are unable to attend class because of illness or an emergency you
must notify (better by email) the tutor, the coordinator and other students
in advance to schedule a make-up session. Your tutor is required to keep
record of student absences along with a record of student papers, tests,
and assignments. If you fail to do it, your final grade will be negatively
affected. 8 missed classes will signify F.
25% Preparation for the tutorial session
Your time will be best used if the tutorial hour is spent practicing
what you already know rather than going through explanations of new
material. After each class, the language tutor evaluates your preparation
for class
by filling out the weekly Record of Attendance, Assignments, and
Tests form.
25% Evaluation and self-observation of your own progress
Each week you will have to fill out a Weekly Progress Survey letting
the Coordinator of the program know what you did in your tutorial session,
what work you did outside the class and how you feel you are progressing.
This report not only provides important information on student progress,
but also provides the coordinator with information on how well the tutorial
class is working. Put your weekly progress survey in the coordinator’s
mailbox or slide it under the door, room 165 in LARC after your last
tutorial of the week.
25% Participation
It is extremely important that all
student s actively participate in a tutorial
10% final evaluation
The final exam format is an oral interview, and the content will
be based on materials assigned in the semester. This brief 15 minutes
interview is arranged individually with each student at the time
that is convenient
both for the tutor and the student. Each student will have access
to a grading
rubric and to the examiner's notes about the individual exam.
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