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Semester Abroad on Maui (SAM) Curriculum

Skill-Based Courses

The Reading and Vocabulary curriculum at MLI focuses primarily on reading tasks for ESL learners. Overall, the goal of the reading and vocabulary curriculum is to help students achieve success with reading in terms of comprehension, vocabulary, and enjoyment. Vocabulary is addressed for students both through the reading texts as well as through several vocabulary-oriented textbooks. The reading tasks range in length and depth according to the level of the class.

Total Contact Hours: 24
Textbooks: Various

MLI Beginner Reading & Vocabulary
The Beginner Reading and Vocabulary class at MLI focuses on short stories and the comprehension of those short stories. Main ideas and general comprehension are some of the main focuses of the beginning level course. Some attention is paid to understanding specific details in the short-stories. Some small-group discussion of the stories is expected of students. The vocabulary addressed in the beginning level comes directly from the short stories or is related to the content of the short stories and drawn from supplemental texts.

MLI Intermediate Reading & Vocabulary
The Intermediate Reading and Vocabulary class at MLI focuses on short or graded novels. Understanding main ideas as well as specific details are some of the main focuses of the intermediate level reading course. Critical thinking questions are introduced to students at the intermediate level and students are expected to be able to begin to use inference and speculation to answer and discuss the readings. Expanded small-group discussions and other communicative tasks based on the content of the story are expected of students. The vocabulary addressed in the intermediate level comes directly from the text or is related to the content of the novel and drawn from supplement texts.

MLI Advanced Reading & Vocabulary
The advanced reading and vocabulary class at MLI focuses on novels or other authentic reading material similar in nature and length. Understanding main ideas and specific details is expected of advanced reading students as a foundation for critical thinking discussion and writing. Critical thinking questions are derived from the text and students use multiple skills, including inference and speculation, to discuss the central themes and characters of the text. Small-group discussions are part of the regular curriculum of the course and occasional presentations are made by students related to different aspects of the text. Academic reading skills and reading exam preparation are also a component of the Advanced Reading & Vocabulary course at MLI. The vocabulary addressed in the intermediate level comes directly from the text or is related to the content of the novel and drawn from supplemental texts.

MLI Speaking & Listening

The Speaking and Listening curriculum at MLI focuses on having students use English for spoken discourse. Overall, the goal of the Speaking and Listening curriculum is to help students to become more fluent, comfortable, and confident when using English for spoken communicative tasks. Speaking is addressed in a multitude of tasks, ranging from short conversations to elaborate presentations. Listening is assessed in various ways, ranging from short-response question/answer tasks to complex listening exercises.

Total Contact Hours: 24
Textbooks: Various

MLI Beginner Speaking & Listening
The Beginner Speaking and Listening class at MLI focuses on short-response question/answer tasks designed to provide learners with a foundation for real, purposeful communication. Appropriate question forming and response to questions are some of the main focuses of the beginning level Speaking and Listening course. An introduction to storytelling and short narratives are also included at the beginning level. Confidence building, language use, and meaningful communication are the emphasis of the beginning Speaking and Listening course.

MLI Intermediate Speaking & Listening
The Intermediate Speaking and Listening class at MLI focuses on short group discussions, small presentations, and storytelling. Short group discussion topics vary and students are expected to be able to demonstrate an ability to elaborate on ideas, speculate about unfamiliar topics, and support their opinions with factual information. Small presentations are conducted in either small group settings or in front of the class and students are expected to provide handouts and/or some visual aids to assist with the presentations. Storytelling involves either stories from the students' own experiences or stories introduced to the student by the instructor. Speaking and listening will be assessed by the instructor through both observation and various methods of testing. Fluency building is an important part of the intermediate level Speaking & Listening class.

MLI Advanced Speaking & Listening
The Advanced Speaking and Listening class at MLI focuses on short group discussions, elaborate presentations, and extended storytelling. Short group discussion topics vary and students are expected to be able to demonstrate critical thinking skills based on a foundation of factual and/or speculative information. Presentations are conducted in small group settings or in front of the class and students are expected to provide handouts and use PowerPoint. Storytelling involves extended durations of time where students are expected to be able to capture and retain the listening focus of an audience. Speaking and listening are assessed by the instructor through both observation and various methods of testing. All areas of effective communication are evaluated at the advanced level. Both fluency and accuracy are assessed at the advanced level Speaking and Listening class.

MLI Writing & Grammar

The Writing and Grammar curriculum at MLI focuses primarily on the writing process for ESL learners. Overall, the goal of the Writing and Grammar curriculum is to help students become effective, clear, and organized writers of English. Grammar is addressed in the curriculum both through focused feedback on individual writings as well as through several grammar-oriented textbooks. The writing tasks range in length and depth according to the level of the class.

Total Contact Hours: 24
Textbooks: Various

MLI Beginner Writing & Grammar
The Beginner Writing and Grammar class at MLI focuses on sentence structures and constructing clear and organized paragraphs. Topic sentences, supporting information and transition are some of the main focuses of the beginning level writing course. The grammar addressed in the beginning level course often includes, but is not limited to, verb tenses, subject and verb agreement, basic punctuation, and the use of descriptive parts of speech, such as adverbs and adjectives.

MLI Intermediate Writing & Grammar
The Intermediate Writing and Grammar class at MLI focuses on fluency building and expansion of ideas for writers. The main goal of the intermediate level is to assist students in writing more, both in terms of length and depth. Ideas are expanded to include specific examples and multiple paragraphs are expected for each assignment. Topics range and students are expected to be able to write for extended periods of time. Transition and continuity of writing are studied in the intermediate level course. The grammar addressed in the intermediate level course often includes, but is not limited to, conjunctions, connectives, modals, clauses, and conditionals. The grammar topics for the beginning level course are also reviewed.

MLI Advanced Writing & Grammar
The Advanced Writing and Grammar class at MLI focuses on the process of writing, from first draft to final draft, and the multiple drafts in between. Editing is a main focus in the advanced level course. The main goal of the class is to assist students in producing a well-polished essay that would be comparable and acceptable in a university English credit department. Topics range and students are expected to be able to write extended pieces, both in terms of length and depth. The grammar addressed in the advanced level course often includes, but is not limited to, advanced verb tenses, articles, and advanced punctuation. The grammar topics for the intermediate level course are also reviewed. Both accuracy and fluency are equally assessed in the advanced level. The quality of the ideas expressed in the writings, the demonstration of critical thinking skills, and the presentation of the writings are the ways students are evaluated in the advanced level.

Content-Based Courses

The content-based Film Studies curriculum at MLI focuses on a variety of language skills, but primarily on listening and speaking. Using popular American films as the centerpiece for the content of the course, students discuss and write about the many themes, characters, and aspects of the movie. Vocabulary, idioms, and other authentic language from the film are also examined in class. Total Contact Hours: 24
Textbooks: Various

MLI Beginner Film Studies (Listening Emphasis)
The Beginner Film Studies class at MLI focuses on easier to understand movies, with an emphasis on comprehension and general understanding of the movie's themes. Students are expected to complete comprehension and vocabulary worksheets from the film. Short question and response tests are used to check the comprehension of students. Some discussion of the film is conducted in class by students. Writing assignments are based on the content of the film and brief summaries of the film are expected of students.

MLI Intermediate Film Studies (Listening Emphasis)
The Intermediate Film Studies class at MLI focuses on intermediate level movies, with a continued emphasis on comprehension and an introduction to critical thinking activities based on the movie's content. Students are expected to complete comprehension and vocabulary worksheets from the film. Short essay tests will be used to check the comprehension of students as well as their critical thinking skills. Discussion of the film is conducted in class by students. Writing assignments are based on the content of the film and critical thinking essays are assigned to students both for homework and in class.

MLI Advanced Film Studies (Listening Emphasis)
The Advanced Film Studies class at MLI focuses on advanced level movies, with a heavy emphasis on critical thinking activities based on a foundation of comprehension and language understanding. Students are expected to be able to understand nearly all of the movie's content, and to be able to discuss, through conversation and/or writing, the various levels of themes, characters, and aspects of the movie. Extended writing assignments and in-class essays may accompany in-depth discussions of the movie. Vocabulary and idioms are derived from the movie, and students are expected to be able to use them in meaningful, purposeful communication.

MLI Hawaiian Studies

The content-based Hawaiian Studies curriculum at MLI focuses on the history and culture of Hawai‘i, as well as other topics involving the Hawaiian Islands. Through the academic classroom, students at MLI have an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the Hawaiian Islands and its unique history and culture. The classes are specifically designed for ESL students and allow for students to use and improve their English abilities to learn about in greater depth the place where they are studying.

Total Contact Hours: 24
Textbooks: Various

MLI Hawaiian Studies
The Hawaiian Studies course at MLI focuses on all the language skill areas, and is specifically designed for ESL students. Through readings, lectures, videos, and small-group discussions, students will learn about the history and culture of Hawai‘i, as well as other topics involving the Hawaiian Islands. Students complete worksheets, write papers, and do presentations as they learn about the content of Hawaiian Studies. Topic areas for the Hawaiian Studies course include: Geography and Geology of the Hawaiian Islands, Traditional Hawaiian Culture and Society, History of the Hawaiian Kingdom, History of Modern Hawai‘i, Marine Life of the Hawaiian Islands, and Surfing.

MLI Hula and Chant (optional, extra-curricular)
The Hula course at MLI focuses on the traditional dance of the Hawaiian Islands. Students are given the opportunity to be immersed into the Hawaiian culture through traditional learning techniques and protocol. Students learn traditional and contemporary Hawaiian chants and dances. Through hula, students gain a greater appreciation and understanding of the Hawaiian culture. The hula course is designed for all level of learners to be able to enjoy the traditional culture of Hawai‘i.

MLI Performing Arts (Speaking Emphasis)

The content-based Performing Arts curriculum at MLI focuses on a variety of language skills, but primarily on speaking and listening. Using Performing Arts as a medium for communicative tasks, the curriculum draws on all aspects of communication, including, but not limited to, non-verbal communication, intonation, pronunciation, pace, delivery, volume, and language framing. The overall goal of this curriculum is to assist students to become successful speakers of English, in terms of confidence, fluency, and effective communication.

Total Contact Hours: 24
Textbooks: Various

Beginner Performing Arts (Speaking Emphasis)
The Beginner Performing Arts course at MLI focuses on reading for an audience. Students assume varying roles from a reader's theater script and practice reading for an audience. Through reading aloud, students are able to work on language use for meaningful, purposeful communication. Clear speech, pace, volume, and pronunciation are focuses for the beginning level course. Students are assessed through a collection of tasks and their overall performance in the class's final production.

Intermediate Performing Arts (Speaking Emphasis)
The Intermediate Performing Arts course at MLI focuses on performing for an audience. Small scenes, with specific lines are rehearsed in this course. Students are expected to be able become believable in their characters and to be able to speak without memorization. Through varying activities, students will be building fluency and expanding their communicative comfort zones. Clear speech, delivery, intonation, volume, pace, pronunciation, and non-verbal communication will be emphasized at this level. Students are assessed through a collection of tasks and overall performance in the class's final production.

Advanced Performing Arts (Speaking Emphasis)
The Advanced Performing Arts course at MLI focuses on both performing for an audience and creating a production for an audience. Students are expected to be able to perform a collection of communicative activities in class as well as to be able to put together a video production around a central theme. Through the different aspects of the video production, students will be using English for real, purposeful communication. Self-assessment plays a major role for students at this level. Clear speech, delivery, intonation, volume, pronunciation, non-verbal communication, and language framing are focuses for the advanced level course. Students are assessed through a collection of tasks and overall performance in the class's final production.