HIEC

Intermediate Conversation 2 (High Intermediate)

• Pukyong National University (Daeyeon Campus)
• Fall 2020
• Course #109819
• Room: C25 #531 (allotted rooms, but not likely used)
• Instructional medium: This course will be conducted with a blend of live Zoom sessions and some uploaded, pre-recorded videos in the LMS. It is unlikely that we will hold live classes in our classroom.

Prof. Kent Lee

• Office: C25-1103
• Office hours: By appointment

1 Course description

This course deals with academic English for your college studies, including (1) better English learning strategies, and (2) basic academic English speaking skills for college life. This course is what we call English for academic purposes (EAP), and so this course will be quite different from your past high school and 학원 courses (at least in normal times, it would be quite different; the online format will affect this).

We are assuming that there will be no live in-person classes this semester. Thus, this course will be conducted with a blend of live Zoom sessions and pre-recorded lecture videos via the LMS.

2 Assignments

2.1 SV#1

This is the first of several short video assignments. For these assignments, you will record a video of yourself and upload it to this LMS assignment space. You can record it in any normal video format or program (Zoom recording, Kakao recording, smartphone, webcam / laptop, video camera, mp4, Quicktime, mkv, flash video / flv, etc.). This first video is an informal self-introduction video, in which you talk about any of the following points that you would like to discuss.

• About yourself
• Where you are from (and anything interesting to see in or near your hometown)
• Your travel experiences (in your country and/or in other countries)
• Your experiences with learning English or other languages
• Your academic motivation or motivation toward learning English or other languages
• Your study habits
• Your personality (e.g., introvert / extrovert, and how that influences your study habits, travel habits, or anything else)
• Your current or future plans

This video should be about 2-2.5 minutes long, and is due before the holiday break.

You can record this by yourself (solo, individually), or with 1-3 other persons. If you record it with other persons, it can be done in a conversational or question-answer style, as long as each person speaks for a total of 2-2.5 minutes.

Grading criteria:

1. Clear explanations
2. Sufficient detail & contents
3. Clear speaking & vocal delivery
4. Contents that are informative, thoughtful, or interesting

2.2 Readings and materials

The textbook for this course is a course packet, which will be made available in a PDF file in the LMS. Other materials will be available in the LMS and at the course website

3 Genres

See also the page on genres.

3.1 Introduction: Visual arts genres

In your group, choose one particular visual arts genre (TV/film) or literary genre to discuss. For your genre, what are common genre elements? Discuss this, and write some notes or answers to these questions below.

• Defining features or typical features (“ingredients”)
• Typical elements (plot / plot elements, setting / scene, characters / actors, protagonists, antagonists, contents, film techniques)
• Audience: target audience, audience expectations
• Appeal: reasons for its appeal
• Important subgenres
• Social value - what is the social value or utility of this?
• Vocabulary - important terms that you need to know to discuss this genre

3.2 Music genres

Discuss the following genres and subgenres. What are their typical or defining characteristics? Where did they come from? What are some typical examples of each subgenre? Which are your favorites – and why? Feel free to add other genres or subgenres to this list.

Classical Renaissance Baroque Classical (classical proper, of the 18th/19th century classical period) Romanticism Modern classical (e.g., experimental styles, twelve-tone)

Jazz Jazz: Ragtime, Big Band, smooth / lounge jazz, progressive jazz, fusion, acid jazz, vocal jazz, experimental jazz Blues

Rock (rock & roll) / pop Folk rock Rock / pop Punk, new wave, alternative Hip-hop / rap R&B (rhythm & blues) Urban Metal (heavy metal, thrash metal) K-pop, J-pop... Others:

Folk music Celtic Bluegrass (western) Bluegrass (Cajun – French Louisiana) Country (country & western)

4 Humor and humor genres

Humor can be classified into different genres based on the source or topic of humor, how it is delivered, or the context, i.e., when, where, or how it is delivered. Discuss the different genres or types of humor that you can think of. What are some typical examples? Which ones do you like or not like, and why? See the page on humor genres.

5 Assignments

• Google Form #1

5.1 Video assignments

For these videos, you may be required to answer these as a solo (individual) presentation, and/or as a group. For group videos, you will meet your group members in Zoom, record your conversation, and upload it here. Arrange a Zoom meeting, and discuss the questions above. At least one person should record it (it's better if two or more people record it, in case of technical problems). Each person should say his/her name before starting to talk, and each person should speak for a total of at least 1.5 minutes throughout the video. You can do a discussion style, where people go back and forth and share their thoughts, or some other format. You should turn on your video (unless you have network connection problems). Then at least one person should upload the video in the assignment space below. The other group members do not have to upload the same video; instead, you can enter comments below (like "I am in __'s group").

I will grade you based on your effort (so you don't have to speak eloquent English).

Video #1

Self-intro video

For this video, you can talk about one of the following topics.

1. Why you chose your major, and your future plans.
2. Tell me about your English learning. What things have you find to be actually helpful and useful in learning English (habits, practices, experiences, reading materials, media materials, etc.)? What things have been unhelpful or adverse? How do you feel toward English? Do you personally like it or find it useful, or do you feel negative about it? What experiences have made you feel that way? How important is English for your future?

Video #2

L2 media / materials

For this video, you can talk about one of the following topics.

1. To help me learn the Korean language and culture, perhaps you could recommend some Korean pop/rock bands or singers – something not to hard to understand, or too cheesy1 (like typical boy bands or girl bands). Be sure to tell me about the band/singer, the time period, the genre / type of work, and why you recommend it. I like many types of music (e.g., jazz, jazz vocalists, alternative / punk, hard rock, metal, soft pop, and many other styles) from different time periods. You can tell me the band/singer names in Korean (Hangul) if you have to.
2. To help me learn the Korean language and culture, perhaps you could recommend some TV shows, movies, books, or other materials that would be helpful for me. Be sure to tell me about the background, setting, genre / style, and other helpful information. I like media from different genres and time periods. You can tell or explain to me the titles in Korean (Hangul) and in English.
3. If you are not Korean, you can tell me about: (1) materials (like in the above options) that you have found helpful for learning Korean; or (2) materials that might be useful for learning another language or culture (like in the above options), e.g., for a different language that you have learned; or (3) materials that would be helpful for learning your native language or culture, if you come from another country.

Video #3

Favorite genre

• What is your favorite video genre, that is, your favorite genre of TV or film? Why? (It can be a type of TV show and/or movie, since these are generally the same.)
• Why do you like it?
• What is your favorite example of this genre, and why do you like it?

Video #4

For your fourth video assignment, yyou will discuss the following.

• If you were to produce your own film or TV show (or write your own book), which genre would you do?
• Why do you like that genre?
• What are the typical elements of that genre (in film, TV or books)?
• What kinds of tropes, plot and characters would you use? Are there some tropes that you would not want to use? (And why not?)