Welcome to JCSC[Staff College]

2007 Prospectus – English Preparation Course

CURRICULUM RENOVATION

Prepared by: R.D. Hobbs, Academic Supervisor in charge of curriculum and professional

development

Email: dr.rdhobbs@gmail.com

An Overview• Scheduling• Course Components• Objectives• Scoring• Accountability• Assessments• Quantitative & Qualitative Aspects of Reflective Analysis

Vision StatementSelected high-ranking military officers completing the English Preparation Course at the Joint Command and Staff College will demonstrate fluent capabilities of receptive and productive communicative skills sufficient for participating in international diplomatic meetings to discuss options for peaceful deployment, military action, or disaster rescue assistance.

Mission Statement: Officers will• Listen and

comprehend broadcasts at authentic speed delivered with a range of accents

• Read and comprehend military texts, news media publications, diplomatic meetings, and subtitles to ascertain multiple perceptions

• Understand new vocabulary in context, syntax variations, complex sentence structures, idiomatic and verb phraseologies in both spoken and written modalities

• Write grammatically correct memos, succinct briefs, and thorough reports

• Participate in discussions over a wide array of topics

• Present reports and give briefings to audiences on a regular basis

• Conceptualize and use military terminology accurately

• Produce collaborative projects and present them to class

• Construct a portfolio body of work that offers alternative action readiness and diplomatic solutions

Daily English ScheduleModule 1: Listening & Vocabulary

Module 2: Reading & VocabularyModule 3: Writing & GrammarModule 4: Speaking & Reflection

Insert: daily computer course between the English classes

Listening & Vocabulary, mod 1• Audio or video• Subtitled• No subtitles• Question sheet• Fill-in-the-

blank• List new words• Outline • Summary• Compare Answers• Discussions

• Slow speed• Authentic speed• Briefing before• No briefing

before• New Words

before• New Words

between presentations

• Repetition• Assess ZPD

ZPD = Zone of Proximal Development

• Pre-Assessment of knowledge• The ZONE• Post-Assessment of knowledge after class or at the end of the day

• The difference between the level of knowledge or skill level at the starting point of a lesson compared to the completion point = ZPD

Reading & Vocabulary, mod 2• Transcript from audio

• Transcript from video

• Silent film with subtitles

• Texts• Workbook• Magazines

• New word reinforcement

• Synonyms• Antonyms• Homonyms• Word Puzzles• Semantic trees

• Syntax puzzles

• Group work

Writing & Grammar, mod 3• One grammar

worksheet per day• Spelling quizzes• Dictation• Rewrite

Transcript in summary form

• Propose military strategies

• Write alternative endings

• Only rewrites will be evaluated

• Write a group paper

• Write an outline

• Write a resume to apply for the main course

• Cooperative proofreading

• Submit for correction

• Rewrite & Evaluate

Speaking & Reflection, mod 4• Discuss

Listening Class

• Discuss Reading Class

• Discuss new vocabulary

• Pronounce new words

• Discuss Writing Class

• Group Project• Organize

presentations• Use CHART paper

for presentations

• PowerPoint• Book Report• Article summary• Present an

argument

OBJECTIVES• STATING objectives establishes GOALS

• Research shows that students do better if they know what they are expected to do

• WRITING objectives fosters commitment

• Teachers should write and state objectives each module

SCORING• Quantitative

scoring• On time?• Duration of

class?• Participate?• Submit

assignment?• No cell phone

usage?

• Qualitative scoring

• Rubric made?• Criteria list?• Objectives

met?• Quality

collaboration?• Project

completed?• Consensus?

Accountability• Self-reported assessment• Group leader agreement• Class leader agreement• Teacher approval• Supervisor approval• Friendly RE-assessment if discrepancy

• Portfolio compilation

HONOR CODE• Students and

teachers respectfully request that ALL students accurately SELF-evaluate, then

• SET GOALS

• Students must take responsibility for their own learning

• Group & Class leaders assume responsibility

• Teachers LISTEN to student concerns

Assessment Schedule, Days 1-5Listening pre-assess

Group Project assigned

Vocabulary Quiz & Activity

Rough draft

Grammar Quiz

Reading Compre-hension

Final draft

Group Project

Listening summative assessment

Military Terminology

Portfolio assessed

Groups present

Quarter Cycle English Schedule

Mod 1 Mod 2 Mod 3 Mod 4

Day 1 Listen

Transcript Reading

Writing & Grammar

Project Assigned

Day 2 Listen

Vocabulary Quiz Rough

draftReflection

Day 3 Listen

Reading

Grammar Quiz

Reflection

Day 4 Listen

Compre-hension

Final draft

Project Assessed

Day 5 Assess

Military Termin-ology

Assess Portfolio

Groups present

Computer Classes IncorporatedListeni

ng Syndicates 1 & 2

Computer Reading Writing Speaking

Listening

Syndicates 3 & 4

Reading Computer Writing Speaking

Listening

Syndicates 5 & 6

Reading Writing Computer Speaking

QN = Weekly Quantitative Scoring

Mod 1

Mod 2

Mod 3

Mod 4

Mod 5

Cumulative

Score

Day 1

10 10 10 10 10 50

Day 2

10 10 10 10 10 100

Day 3

10 10 10 10 10 150

Day 4

10 10 10 10 10 200

Day 5

10 10 10 10 10 250

Quantitative Cycle ScoringPossible Points

Week Total

Cumulative Cycle Score

Week 1 250 250

Week 2 250 500

Week 3 250 750

Week 4 250 1,000

QL = Weekly Qualitative ScoresListening 25 Cumulativ

eVocabulary

25 50

Military Terms

25 75Reading Comprehension 25 100Grammar 25 125Writing 25 150Speaking 25 175Project 25 200Portfolio 25 225Presentation

25 250

Cycle Qualitative ScoringWeek 1 250 Cumulativ

eWeek 2 250 500

Week 3 250 750

Week 4 250 1,000

Cumulative Cycle Score

Previous Cycle Score

New Total

Questions?• What problems do you anticipate?

• How do you suggest we solve the problems you anticipate?

• How can we facilitate students solving their own problems?

• How can we implement a democratic classroom?

• How do we further CREATE a learning environment?

• What is ZPD?

Procedural Questions• How do we collaborate to develop common objectives for each cycle, section, or lesson?

• Do we collaborate on each book and set of materials or negotiate to delegate?

• Should we make individual or small group presentation proposals to present our ideas ?