UMEI 006 Spring 2021

UMEI 006-0101
English Pronunciation
Spring 2021

Instructor name: Mr. Charles Duquette Campus email: cduquett@umd.edu

Campus phone: 301-405-5187 Office Hours: by appointment
Cell phone: 240-277-3990 Office Location: Zoom meeting

COURSE TIMES AND LOCATIONS

Monday, Wednesday 1:00 pm – 2:50 pm

COURSE DESCRIPTION AND GOALS

UMEI 006 is a one-semester course designed specifically for International Teaching Assistants (ITAs) whose
spoken language has not yet met the standards established by the university for intelligibility, fluency and
accuracy in an undergraduate classroom setting. These standards align reasonably well with the B2 level of
spoken language proficiency published as part of the Common European Framework of Reference for
Languages (CEFR).
The CEFR makes positioning the learning goals for this course straightforward. The shaded cells in the table
below show the range of proficiencies that you should aim for in each of the six CEFR categories. Green
shading indicates the primary emphases of this course. The full CEFR ratings table is online in ELMS.

CEFR Features of Spoken Language

Category A1 A2 A2+ B1 B1+ B2 B2+ C1 C2
Range
Accuracy
Fluency
Interaction
Coherence
Phonology

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COURSE LOAD IN YOUR MAJOR

A full-time graduate student at the University of Maryland takes 48-52 graduate units per semester; UMEI
006 counts for 12 of those, so as a full-time student, you can take another 36-40 graduate units. That typically
means two classes (6-7 credit hours) at the 600+ level. To calculate your graduate unit load, use this table:

Courses in the Graduate Units

Series Per Credit Hour
400-499 4
500-599 5
600-897 6

Graduate unit limits are set to ensure you have enough time during the semester to (a) successfully complete
your courses – including UMEI 006 and (b) maintain your health and well-being.

In addition to the three (3) hours per week this course has you in class, you should plan for another 6-7 hours
per week in work outside of class. That work will be distributed over regular assignments that provide a
progression of practice activities throughout the weeks of the semester.

MATERIALS FOR THE COURSE

The following materials are needed for this course:

• Toobaloo – an auditory feedback phone to help you hear the details of your speech
• Kazoo – a musical device to help you hear the placement of stress in your speech
• Hand Mirror – a visual device to help you correctly position your articulators

You should also have access to a recording device for your speech. A smartphone will work fine.

TUTORIALS

As part of this class, you will meet with your instructor over the course of the semester in private or semi-
private tutorial sessions to get feedback and develop practice strategies for improvement. These tutorials will
be held outside of normal class meeting times, but will be offered at times that fit into your schedule.

CLASS ASSIGNMENTS

The sequence of assignments for the semester is found on the next page.

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The progress you make here will depend on how effectively you make use of your practice time outside of
class. The assignments for this class have been designed to help you structure that practice time. The design
anticipates roughly six (6) to seven (7) hours of time per week spent outside of class.

Your assignments for this semester are organized in ELMS under the following categories:

Here, you gather the materials you’ll need,

make initial speech recordings, and start
tuning your ear to English.

Select a speech analysis tool, learn about

the physics behind the vocal production
of speech.

Assemble lists of terms you need to be

proficient with; start covert rehearsal;
learn skills from Hans Rosling.

Presentations are recorded and peer-

reviewed; assignments can be used to
support later microteachings.

You’ll make extended speech samples at

the beginning, middle, and near the end
of the semester.

These assignments are to help you

develop your suprasegmental skills in
speaking English.

These assignments are to help you control

the most challenging consonant sounds of
English.

These assignments are to help you

develop a wider and more accurate
English vowel spectrum.

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POLICIES

Attendance
Attendance is required; participation during in-class peer reviews is counted as part of your grade. If you miss
a class or know you are going to be absent, please contact me as soon as possible. If you are late or absent, it
is your responsibility to contact me to find out what you missed and to make up the missed assignments.

English Only
To help increase your opportunities to practice English and as a demonstration of respect for your
classmates, I ask that you speak only English in the classroom.

Cell Phones, Pads and Laptops

Please limit your device use to language purposes. During certain in-class assignments, you will be encouraged
to use online resources to answer the questions you may have as a writer. We will spend time in class to
review high-quality online tools that can help your academic writing in English. These do NOT include
translation engines. Please recognize that translation engines can produce comically inaccurate English that
makes you lose credibility in the mind of a reader.

Student’s Rights and Responsibilities

You are expected to understand both your rights and responsibilities and to take full responsibility for your
academic work and progress: https://academiccatalog.umd.edu/graduate/policies/school-policies/#text.

Academic H onesty
The University has approved a Code of Academic Integrity. This code sets rules about student academic
conduct. Specifically, it prohibits students from cheating, plagiarizing, fabrication, and facilitation of academic
dishonesty. Violations of the Code of Academic Integrity have serious consequences. As a student you are
responsible for upholding these standards for this course. The Code of Academic Integrity can be found here:
https://www.president.umd.edu/sites/president.umd.edu/files/documents/policies/III-100A.pdf.

Respecting Diversity
Students at the University of Maryland come from around the world, and all students deserve to learn in a
safe and comfortable environment. As a global citizen, you should not have to be reminded to treat your
classmates and instructor with respect and courtesy. The UMD Code of Student Conduct can be found here:
https://www.president.umd.edu/sites/president.umd.edu/files/documents/policies/V-100B.pdf

Religious observances
The University of Maryland policy states that students should not be penalized because of observance of their
religious beliefs. No quizzes or exams will take place on religious holidays. If you participate in religious
observances, you will be given the opportunity to make up, within a reasonable amount of time, any work
that you miss. It is your responsibility to let the instructor know in advance of any planned absences for
religious observances.

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Accommodations For Students With Disabilities

If you need accommodations for a disability, please inform me of your needs at the beginning of the
semester, so you can receive the support you need from UMD’s Accessibility & Disability Service. They can
be consulted here: https://www.counseling.umd.edu/ads/.

IF YOU NEED HELP

International Student & Scholar Services can answer questions about your visa and I-20. They are located
at 1126 H. J. Patterson (HJP), which is building #73 on the campus maps. Visit their website at
http://globalmaryland.umd.edu/offices/international-students-scholar-services.

The Counseling Center offers assistance in dealing with personal and social issues, such as stress,
relationship issues, family problems, and loneliness. You may see a counselor for individual counseling, or
join one of the many counselor-led support groups. You can call 301-314-7651 for an appointment or visit
the Counseling Center in 1101 Shoemaker Building. Browse http://www.counseling.umd.edu/ for more
information.

The University H ealth Center offers many services to protect and promote physical and mental health.
Information about services and making appointments is here: http://www.health.umd.edu/.

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GRADING AND FINAL PLACEMENT

UMEI 006 is graded on a Satisfactory (S) / Fail (F) basis. (UMEI 006 grades are not calculated into your
Grade Point Average.) You need a “Satisfactory” to be cleared to teach all levels at the university. To get this,
you need to do two things. First, you need to achieve an overall grade of 75% on the course assignments.
These assignments will be provided on ELMS throughout the semester. Assignments are mostly graded, and
you need to attain an overall average grade of 75% as the first step toward a grade of Satisfactory.

The second step is to obtain a score of 5 on your end-of-semester microteaching presentation. This follows
the same format as the presentation you gave during your intake testing, but it must be a different lecture.
Three raters will independently score your presentation; at least two of them must give you a 5 for you to
pass. Final scores are interpreted so:
• with a score of 5 (Pass) on the final microteaching, you are cleared to teach at any level;
• with a score of 4 (Conditional Pass), you may teach upper-level (300 and 400 level) classes and, if
eligible, must repeat the course;
• with a score below 4, you may not teach and, if eligible, must repeat the course.
If you can reach the proficiency levels presented above in the CEFR, you should be able to pass.

Eligible in the above cases means you are taking 006 for the first time. In that case, you may receive a course
grade of S if your work in the class has been satisfactory, whether or not your microteaching score clears you
to teach.

However, if you are repeating the course, you will be given a grade of F if your final microteaching score is
lower than 5. In this case, the course may not be taken for a third time and you will not be cleared to teach.