INDEPENDENT UNIVERSITY, BANGLADESH

ENG 101: ENGLISH SPEAKING & LISTENING SKILLS

COURSE OUTLINE
Description of the course: English 101 is a foundation-level 3 credit course at IUB. The basic
purpose of the course is to teach and refine freshmen students ability to communicate effectively
in English. The course provides a student-centered learning environment to meet the basic
language needs of the IUB student community. It is an integrated course like the other foundation
English courses of IUB. This means that although the course focuses on the listening and
speaking skills of students, they are exposed to a holistic communicative environment in the
classes where all the four skills of language teaching/learning listening, speaking, reading and
writing are simultaneously taught to promote inductive listening and speaking. Therefore, this
course will enable students feel comfortable in taking all other courses at IUB as the medium of
instruction in IUB is English.
Learning Outcomes:
Upon the successful completion of the course, students should be able to:
Understand and use a variety of English expressions
Infer word meanings from context
Interpret speakers tone and attitude
Relate listening to personal experience
Report personal experience
Ask and answer conversational questions
Participate in routine conversation
Fulfill a variety of speaking functions
Apply appropriate pronunciation skills in speaking
Text & Hand outs: Students are required to buy a text. This semester, there are two versions of
the book. Both versions are same in terms of topics and aims but one version contains some extra
activities. If a student purchases the older version, her/his teacher will ensure that the extra
activities are also covered from the other book. These extra activities will be available to all
teachers of the course through the Course Coordinator. Teachers may decide to either do the
activities on the whiteboard or request their students to buy a copy as a handout.
Additional hand outs will be given by the instructor.
Audio-Visual Resources: Various audio cassettes and DVDs are used in the class room as
listening resources.
Other Requirements: Students are required to watch English movies (list given) and T.V.
programs regularly. Class participation is often based on movie reviews. Speaking in English in
class is mandatory. Students should are also encouraged to maintain a diary and keep a record of
daily affairs of their university life. This diary will be often discussed as a reference in the
classroom.
Methods of Instruction:
Overall, inductive teaching methods are used in this course. These may include, but are not
limited to:
1. Whole class discussions to determine students comprehension of class material, develop
speaking strategies, and promote listening.
2. Pair/small group activities to understand class content, synthesize ideas, apply class
content to student knowledge and promote analysis of studied material.

3. Cooperative problem solving to promote understanding of point of view, brainstorm ideas

related to class content, express cross-cultural comparisons, and find examples related to
key course contents.
4. Individual listening practice to develop listening skills.
5. Videos related to course content and current events to develop listening skills and
promote awareness of culture as it relates to effective communication.
6. Newspapers/magazines to model summaries of information.
Course Contents: Activities may change depending on the requirements
of the class.
Class

Textbook

Focus Areas

1/2

Module 1

Introducing oneself and others

3/4

Module 2

Discussing Habits/Activities/Debating Ideas

5/6

Module 2

Describing Past Events

Module 3

Making Appointments/Attending Phone

Calls/Taking Messages

8/9

Module 4

Asking and Answering Questions

10

Module 5

Listening to Songs and Understanding

Lyrics

11

Module 6

12/13

Module 7

Discussing and Describing Social Life/

Events & Festivals/Presenting Interesting
Information

Class Test 2

Mid Term

15/16

Module 8

Using Modal Verbs for Various Functions

17

Module 9

Talking About Holidays/Vacations

18

Module 10

Story Telling

19

Module 11

Describing People: Appearances

20

Module 12

Describing Personality

21

Module 13

Describing Similarities and Differences

22

Module 14

Dialogues

24

Class Test 1

Describing Neighbourhoods/Giving and

Asking for Directions

14

23

Tests
There are
no make-up tests.

Revision
Final Speaking Test

Class Test 3

Class Test 4

* It is an integrated course which means all four skills of language learning i.e. listening,
speaking, reading & writing are taught here with special focus on listening and speaking.
Attendance: As class participation is very important in this course, students need to attend all the
classes for their own benefit. Class participation and group works are graded. Students
missing out more than seven classes in a semester will automatically receive a W(withdraw) in
the course.
Make up classes and tests: If a regular class is not held for some unavoidable reasons like
hartal, ijtema, undeclared holiday etc, the university announces a make up day for the same.
Students, therefore, need to be in touch with the notice board and IUB website regularly. But if
the instructor is unable to teach a class for some personal reason, s/he will let the students know
through the Office Manager of the Department of English who will post a notice on the
classroom door with make up schedule.
Teachers may also arrange one or two advance make up classes during the semester if s/he
forecasts a class being missed in the future.
Evaluation Your final grade will be based on the following.
1) Regular Class Attendance
A student who is absent for 7 classes is subject to failure.
2) Coming to Class on Time
Class Participation If you come late, arrival time is recorded & counted in the grade.
& Attendance 3) Voluntary Participation in Class Discussion
This is a class for improving speaking ability. A student who does not
= 10%
participate in class discussion, and/or does not answer questions from the
[7 absences = F] teacher will fail the course. As much as 2 points per class will be deducted
if student does not participate voluntarily in class discussion.
4) Improvement in Pronunciation
5) Speaking & Listening Assignments
Submit written homework at the beginning of class.
Home Assignments No credit for work handed in late.
If you are absent, you are still responsible for the work you missed.
= 10 %
Bring the homework the next class and put it into the envelope.
Tests/Exams
= 80 %

1) Course Tests 10
Class tests and pop quizzes may be taken randomly and will not be made
up if you miss them. You will be tested on one or more of the skills. At least
4 tests will take place preferably 2 before the midterm exam and 2 after.
2) Mid Term Exam 30
= Reading/Writing 20 + Listening/Speaking 10
3) Final Exam 40
= Reading/Writing 20 + Listening/Speaking 20

There may be a centralized, uniform final speaking test at the end of the
semester. Two teachers will interview you your own course teacher and
an external.
No make-up exam will be held if you are absent on the major exams.
Cheating = 0 on test
[answer sheets, dictionary, notes, books, writing on desk, copying,
speaking to a classmate, etc.]
Grading Scale
80-100 A
78-79
A75-77
B+
70-74
B
68-69
B65-67
C+
60-64
C
58-59
C55-57
D+
50-54
D
Below 50 F

Module One

Talk Over: In the last class you were introduced to your classmates. Of them who
( could be in plural too) left a mark of impression in you mind? Why?
Now, can you describe the person sitting next to you? Opposite you? Near the window? Near the
door?

Pair Work: Talk to your partner to know about his/her likes and dislikes. Now, in the
following space, note down a few points. Complete it in 20 minutes. Share your notes with
others in complete sentences.
My partners name:
His/her Likings:
Color: food: ..place: ..

TV shows.

Actors/actresses:

Films: .

Music: Songs..

Restaurants: ..

Sports..players

Hobbies .

Best friend

His/her Dislikings:
Color: food: ..place: ..
TV Shows.
Actors/actresses:
Films: .
Music: Songs..
Restaurants: ..
Sports..players
Habits:

Role- Play : Venue : IUB Cafeteria

Situation: Meeting other freshmen on the first day at IUB.
Write a dialogue in a piece of paper and perform it with your partner in the class. Duration : 30
minutes