1. Advanced Reading and Discussion
Mondays and Wednesdays, 8:30-10 pm, Room 1120
Instructor-Suzanne Bardasz

2. Introductions
Getting to know you…
About Me
About You
About the class

3. What’s the truth? I have a twin sister.
I can speak eight languages, including Swahili and Hungarian.
I just moved to South Korea last week. I have never been to Asia before.
My parents were immigrants from Eastern Europe (Poland and Hungary).
I actually like eating Kimchi.

4. My Contact Information
Office: Room 1118
Office Phone Number:
Office Hours: M, T, W, TH 1-4 pm, and by appointment
Website:

5. About the Course
Reinforce your reading and discussion skills, as well as increase your fluency.
Read and discuss news articles on current events and controversial topics.
Prepare discussion materials and lead discussions.
Focus on vocabulary, as well as review reading skills.

6. Teamwork! Pair and small group work
Interaction will help reinforce your English skills.

7. Course Expectations Attend classes Be prepared
Participate (in class and on class website: )
Language
HAVE FUN!!!

8. Review Reading Skills Skimming vs. scanning Previewing vs. predicting
Vocabulary- identifying meaning from context
Making inferences from context

9. Student Led Discussions
You will be in charge of leading at least one discussion in this class.
Topic of your choice and interest.
Responsible to find a news article on the topic, prepare a vocabulary list, and prepare 5-6 discussion questions.
Powerpoint presentation (more information later)
your topic and article to me the class before your scheduled discussion.

10. Examples of Topics Can men and women just be friends?
Should voting be required of all citizens?
Should smoking or drinking be banned?
Is war ever justifiable?
Can money bring happiness?
Would you genetically modify your baby?

11. Why is this important?
Prepare you to be well-informed, educated citizens
Contribute to society
Informed opinion about topics, issues, and events

12. What are people saying about your generation?
According to Marc Bauerlin, an American English professor, your generation is …
THE DUMBEST GENERATION!!!!!!!!

13. Why? Predict and Preview
Bauerlin recently wrote a book called The Dumbest Generation: How the Digital Age Stupefies Young Americans and Jeopardizes Our Future.
Proposes 8 reasons why this generation is the “dumbest”.
Why people are calling this generation the dumbest?
With a partner, predict 2 of his reasons.

14. “Plugging In, Tuning Out” article
Read this article and circle/underline vocabulary words you don’t know/understand.
Vocabulary matching worksheet.

15. “Plugging In, Tuning Out” Discussion/Comprehension Questions
Who is Don Campbell? What happened in one of his journalism classes? How did he react to it and why wasn’t he surprised?
Thinking about your own experience, do you believe the Internet and other digital devices are increasing our knowledge and civic awareness or decreasing it? Why?
How should parents and teachers react to this “tuning out”? What solutions (if any) should be proposed?

16. Refute Marc Bauerlin’s claims
In small groups, work together and challenge Marc Bauerlin’s 8 points.
Propose 8 points that argue your generation is not the dumbest generation.
Make sure you come up with examples and be able to explain why.
When you are finished, have one person write your 8 points on the board.
Appoint one person to share your list with the class.

17. One Minute Essays What did you learn today?
Is there anything that you don’t understand? Confused about?
What would you like to learn?