Course Overview
This course allows students to practice academic listening and speaking skills, with a focus on refining comprehension and comprehensibility in multiple paragraph-length speaking/listening passages about academic topics and some topics outside their personal experience. An important aspect of this course is practicing skills and strategies to train students to compete successfully in a North American university by participating actively in class discussions and in group work. The course will also focus on academic presentation skills (creating PPT, incorporating academic sources, APA citation).
All students who successfully complete the course will receive a Certificate of Completion and have the opportunity to request a Syracuse University noncredit transcript.
Learning Objectives
- Prepare and deliver brief prepared speeches (with follow-up Q & A) about basic academic topics, using some outside research. These brief talks should employ unity and transitional phrases and clauses for cohesion.
- Use simple academic vocabulary correctly in prepared and unprepared speech and vocabulary, pronunciation and grammar (that is understandable to native English speakers) in prepared and unprepared speech.
- Produce and respond to correctly formed questions to clarify topics that are familiar to people of their age and education level.
- Synthesize information from different sources and compare it to previous knowledge, then contribute a comment or a question.
- Recognize and interpret the gist of most carefully delivered standard native speaker speech about familiar topics oral instructions related to most academic topics.
- Employ note taking strategies, identifying main ideas and subpoints.
- Demonstrate intercultural competence appropriate to their level, specifically the ability to shift perspective and adapt behavior to accommodate more than one worldview. (Intercultural Knowledge and Competence Value Rubric at the end of this course syllabus will be used).
Course Information
Course Prefix and Number: SCN 182
Format: Online
Eligibility: Students must be of rising high school sophomore, junior, or senior status – or a 2024 high school graduate.
For International Students: TOEFL 42-71, B1, IELTS 5.5-6.5, intermediate level.
Credit: Noncredit
Grading: Pass/Fail
Cost: $1,995
Program rates are subject to change and will be approved by the board of trustees. Discounts and scholarships are also available.
Program Information
Summer College – Online: Explore college life before stepping foot on campus! High school students can enroll in a college-level course, pursue their academic interests, and meet likeminded students in daily virtual events and activities.
Course Dates and Details
| Program | Course Dates | Synchronous Class Time (Eastern Time) | Credit/Noncredit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer College – Online | 6-Week Session: Monday, July 8 – Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024 | Tuesdays; 6 – 8 p.m. | Noncredit | Closed |
Course Requirements
Technology Requirements
Students need a laptop with a working microphone and camera, and Zoom.
Typical Day
Tentative Schedule
1st hour of the session will be devoted to listening practice and instruction; 2nd hour of the session will be presentations and group discussions.
When class is over, and on weekends, students can look forward to various Summer College virtual activities to meet and connect with other students across the world. Check out our Virtual Campus Experience page for more information!
Faculty Bios
Olga Oganesyan
Olga has almost 20 years of experience teaching English as a second language at the English Language Institute, Syracuse University. She graduated from Syracuse University in 2005 with MA in Linguistic Studies with TESOL concentration. In 2022, Olga obtained CAS in Designing Digital Instruction from Syracuse University. She is also a certified Legal Assistant (Syracuse University, UC, ABA approved). In collaboration with Syracuse University College of Law, Olga designed English for Lawyers program in 2013 and has been its supervisor and Oral Communication instructor. Olga has also been an active CNY Fulbright Chapter Board Member. Olga is bilingual and bicultural.