English & the Media Ⅰ with Janelle McNeill
Semester ONE,  2012, 4th Period Tuesday

Welcome to class everybody. Welcome to you all.

Using a gentle media literacy framework to guide my teaching, this class will try to develop your critical thinking skills in how you view and participate with various forms of media. 　
　
This class will be a student centred, task based learning environment with activities and challenges demanding communicative input and collaboration. 　

>>CLASS vision
Be aware of things you see in magazines, on TV, in commercials, and on giant billboards in the city. What is the subliminal message they are trying to persuade you with? What are they really trying to sell you? Take cell phone photos of interesting ones, and bring them to class. Notice any funny use of English out and about? Take a photo! Let's discuss it in class. Take a note of any famous foreign people you see in advertisements. What are they trying to sell? Does it work?

>>IMPORTANT attitudes FOR CLASS
*A curiousity and passion for self expression, making mistakes and asking questions
*An open, friendly and respectful energy toward your fellow classmates and teacher
*A positive and motivated inner drive to complete all tasks well　
*A deeper awareness of how the Japanese media uses English 
　
>>CLASS outcomes
Students may become more aware of   >stereotypes and social clichés  >facts and propaganda  >fact from opinion >analysis from banter  >advertising tricks >consumer vulnerabilities >social value systems 　

>>CLASS abilities
Students may >learn to analyze advertising hype >express opinions passionately >gain the ability to interpret and create personal meaning from the various media styles  >become more aware of how the media operates and become a less passive consumer  >develop stronger teamwork skills through group work participation
 
　
>>ASSESSMENT and EVALUATION
You may earn the following points for your efforts in this class.

*Attendance and Participation  100 points

*Mini presentations (4 in total)  150 points

*End of Semester Portfolio  200 points

*Pinterest  web board  online  100 points

*Visual  Scrapbook of Inspirational Advertising and Imagery  
(to use as a base for mini presentations)  150 points

*End of Semester Test  300 points

>>GRADING 

[A] 900-1000 points,  [B] 800-899 points,  
[C] 700-799,  [D] 600-699,  [F] 599 and below

Which grade are you going to achieve? Why not decide NOW?

>>ATTENDANCE and PUNCTUALITY
We only have 15 classes together, so it is vital you are in every class participating with your complete powers switched on!
Penalties will apply for late arrivals, and unexplained absences. If you have reasons for missing a class, email me before the lesson to explain.

20 minutes late = LATE
3 x LATE arrivals = 1 ABSENCE
5 x absences = FAIL

>>CLASS projects
Students are required to compile a portfolio of FIVE advertising images (or more), that each relate to the five topics we cover in this class. These images are to be analyzed for their authenticity, wow factor, originality of design, and language appropriateness. Share your own personal opinions, and what this advertisement says to you. There is no right or wrong answer. It is all about interpretation. More discussion in class.　

Students are also encouraged into online media representation by the social networking website Pinterest. Although all in English, the concept is easy, and the execution is fun, creative and extremely stimulating. See the two websites below for more information. Deeper discussions to be had in class.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinterest

http://pinterest.com/

>>TEXTBOOK
There is no set textbook for this class. All materials are teacher created, but collaboration with students will be necessary to collect various forms of media.　

>>OTHER important TOOLS to make study FLOW more easily 
*Bilingual dictionary (paper or electronic) or I Pad style devices for in class research 
*Desired stationery items for each class (Scrap paper, pens, (Coloured) pencils, highlighter pens, post it notes, etc.)
*Class notebook and file for each lesson 
*Access to a computer and printer