Oral
English Final Assignments
Presentation:
For your first assignment, you will make a short, unprepared speech on a given topic using all of the skills that we have learned this year. This speech will be similar to the short speeches that we did earlier this semester, with some differences. You will be presented with a bag full of topics, from which you will choose three. Out of these three topics, you will choose one to speak about for two minutes. You will have around three minutes to prepare before you give your speech. It is best for you to use this time thinking about your topic and planning how to structure your information rather than thinking about which words you will say.
You will be graded according to the following criteria, worth 1-10 points each, for a maximum total of 50 points:
Voice: Does your voice project confidence? Students who use weak, quiet, or shy voices during their presentations will receive lower marks. Those using the powerful, confident public speaking voices that we have discussed this semester will do well in this area.
Poise: Do you appear to be confident? Students who are unable to control their bodies, especially those who make more serious shows of their discomfort such as face touching, dancing, or standing still like a statue will get lower scores, while students who appear calm and relaxed, maintain good eye contact, have natural movement in their bodies, and smile will get full marks.
Fluency: Does your English sound like English? Those students who sound like they are speaking a language they understand, making appropriate use of tone and register, and pausing when appropriate will get better scores, while those who sound as if they are struggling to speak and remember the language, fill empty spaces in their speech with noises like “uhhhh” or those who use Chinese patterns of speaking will get lower scores.
Pronunciation: How clear is your speech? Students who make many pronunciation errors, especially critical ones such as th, ʒ, or v/w will have points deducted. Perfect pronunciation will receive a perfect score.
Length: Does your speech fill the full two minutes? It’s harder to speak well for two minutes than it is to speak for thirty seconds, so students will receive a grade for the length of their speeches.
Interviews:
For your final assignment, you will be participating with me in a mock job interview. I want you to treat this exercise as if it were an actual interview. This means that you should show up on time and dress professionally. If you have a suit, wear it. If not, wear the best, most professional clothes that you have. You can choose from the following jobs to apply for:
1. Translator/interpreter: You are interviewing with an American company for a position as a staff interpreter. Your main responsibilities will include translating for employees visiting China from the United States and helping the American staff conduct business with Chinese companies.
2. International Trader: In this job, you will be working for a Chinese company as an international trader. Your company supplies paper products to businesses around the world. This job will require you to speak on the phone in English on a daily basis.
3. English Tour Guide: You will be working for the Chinese government as an interpreter and English language guide at a famous Chinese landmark. You will need to give interesting speeches to large groups of people and answer questions about the site.
4. Receptionist in an international hotel: You are applying for a job as a receptionist in a famous international hotel in Shanghai. Your job will require you to provide courteous, professional service in English to the Hotel’s international guests.
5. Teacher in an English prep school: You are applying for a job as a teacher in an English training school such as New Oriental or WEB International. You will have classes with students of varying abilities, and will be expected to help them all improve.
As before, your final grade will be based on five criteria worth up to ten points each. Voice, poise, and pronunciation will be a part of this grade and will have the same criteria. Additionally, you will be graded on two new elements:
Preparation: How well prepared do you seem for this interview? Students who seem to have thought about the job interview ahead of time and who have prepared reasonable answers for the questions they should expect will do well, while those who seem confused or uncertain about the process will get lower grades. Additionally, students will receive lower marks if their responses sound rehearsed or mechanical.
Professionalism: Do you project a businesslike attitude? Students that receive high grades will be dressed in clean, well worn, appropriate clothing. Their hair and bodies will be neat and clean, and any facial hair will be shaven. Accessories such as watches, hair pieces, or jewelry will be tasteful. Language will be appropriately formal. Students who are unkempt, dirty, or inappropriately dressed will receive lower marks, as will those who use inappropriate language.
Presentation:
For your first assignment, you will make a short, unprepared speech on a given topic using all of the skills that we have learned this year. This speech will be similar to the short speeches that we did earlier this semester, with some differences. You will be presented with a bag full of topics, from which you will choose three. Out of these three topics, you will choose one to speak about for two minutes. You will have around three minutes to prepare before you give your speech. It is best for you to use this time thinking about your topic and planning how to structure your information rather than thinking about which words you will say.
You will be graded according to the following criteria, worth 1-10 points each, for a maximum total of 50 points:
Voice: Does your voice project confidence? Students who use weak, quiet, or shy voices during their presentations will receive lower marks. Those using the powerful, confident public speaking voices that we have discussed this semester will do well in this area.
Poise: Do you appear to be confident? Students who are unable to control their bodies, especially those who make more serious shows of their discomfort such as face touching, dancing, or standing still like a statue will get lower scores, while students who appear calm and relaxed, maintain good eye contact, have natural movement in their bodies, and smile will get full marks.
Fluency: Does your English sound like English? Those students who sound like they are speaking a language they understand, making appropriate use of tone and register, and pausing when appropriate will get better scores, while those who sound as if they are struggling to speak and remember the language, fill empty spaces in their speech with noises like “uhhhh” or those who use Chinese patterns of speaking will get lower scores.
Pronunciation: How clear is your speech? Students who make many pronunciation errors, especially critical ones such as th, ʒ, or v/w will have points deducted. Perfect pronunciation will receive a perfect score.
Length: Does your speech fill the full two minutes? It’s harder to speak well for two minutes than it is to speak for thirty seconds, so students will receive a grade for the length of their speeches.
Interviews:
For your final assignment, you will be participating with me in a mock job interview. I want you to treat this exercise as if it were an actual interview. This means that you should show up on time and dress professionally. If you have a suit, wear it. If not, wear the best, most professional clothes that you have. You can choose from the following jobs to apply for:
1. Translator/interpreter: You are interviewing with an American company for a position as a staff interpreter. Your main responsibilities will include translating for employees visiting China from the United States and helping the American staff conduct business with Chinese companies.
2. International Trader: In this job, you will be working for a Chinese company as an international trader. Your company supplies paper products to businesses around the world. This job will require you to speak on the phone in English on a daily basis.
3. English Tour Guide: You will be working for the Chinese government as an interpreter and English language guide at a famous Chinese landmark. You will need to give interesting speeches to large groups of people and answer questions about the site.
4. Receptionist in an international hotel: You are applying for a job as a receptionist in a famous international hotel in Shanghai. Your job will require you to provide courteous, professional service in English to the Hotel’s international guests.
5. Teacher in an English prep school: You are applying for a job as a teacher in an English training school such as New Oriental or WEB International. You will have classes with students of varying abilities, and will be expected to help them all improve.
As before, your final grade will be based on five criteria worth up to ten points each. Voice, poise, and pronunciation will be a part of this grade and will have the same criteria. Additionally, you will be graded on two new elements:
Preparation: How well prepared do you seem for this interview? Students who seem to have thought about the job interview ahead of time and who have prepared reasonable answers for the questions they should expect will do well, while those who seem confused or uncertain about the process will get lower grades. Additionally, students will receive lower marks if their responses sound rehearsed or mechanical.
Professionalism: Do you project a businesslike attitude? Students that receive high grades will be dressed in clean, well worn, appropriate clothing. Their hair and bodies will be neat and clean, and any facial hair will be shaven. Accessories such as watches, hair pieces, or jewelry will be tasteful. Language will be appropriately formal. Students who are unkempt, dirty, or inappropriately dressed will receive lower marks, as will those who use inappropriate language.