C+ (Advanced & upper Advanced English)
Please note that some classes may not be offered due to insufficient demand or teacher availability.
For currently offered classes, please refer to the SPIN Change form.
For currently offered classes, please refer to the SPIN Change form.
Business English 3
Business English works to improve Business ethics and etiquette while establishing a realistic professional setting for students.
Aims: By the end of this course, students will be better able to practice and naturally produce relevant vocabulary, phrases and idioms associated with specific business situations; finer points of business etiquette and business communication
Topics: Effective Sales Letters and Knowledge Management, Reference Letters and Creativity and Innovation, Letters of Congratulation, Writing a Press Release, and Business Ethics, Releasing Bad News and Competitive Positioning, Managing Change and The Art of Saying Yes or No, Preparing & Reviewing Proposals and Restructuring and Downsizing, Executive Summary Reports and Project Management, Reading & Writing Financial Reports and Proposals and Reports, Reading Share Reviews, Reading Annual Reports, and Green Business, Holding Individual & Group Meetings and CEOs,
To Meet, Write or Phone and Being a Good Listener,
Responding to Questions, Communicating with Difficult People, and Effective Sales Presentations
Business English works to improve Business ethics and etiquette while establishing a realistic professional setting for students.
Aims: By the end of this course, students will be better able to practice and naturally produce relevant vocabulary, phrases and idioms associated with specific business situations; finer points of business etiquette and business communication
Topics: Effective Sales Letters and Knowledge Management, Reference Letters and Creativity and Innovation, Letters of Congratulation, Writing a Press Release, and Business Ethics, Releasing Bad News and Competitive Positioning, Managing Change and The Art of Saying Yes or No, Preparing & Reviewing Proposals and Restructuring and Downsizing, Executive Summary Reports and Project Management, Reading & Writing Financial Reports and Proposals and Reports, Reading Share Reviews, Reading Annual Reports, and Green Business, Holding Individual & Group Meetings and CEOs,
To Meet, Write or Phone and Being a Good Listener,
Responding to Questions, Communicating with Difficult People, and Effective Sales Presentations
Presentations 2
This course will focus on appropriate systems of language (vocabulary and grammar) with an emphasis on bettering listening and speaking skills. Main goals will include better holistic presentation skills based on the highlighted target language points.
Aims: By the end of this course, students will be able to
listen more effectively via exercises of prediction, gist, and inference; infer word meaning from context; speak more effectively in regards to group projects and presentations
Topics: Communication Studies: Slang and Language Change, Child Psychology: The Genius Within, Sociology: Online Communities, Business: Core Business Skills,
Cognitive Psychology: Memory, Anthropology & Biology: The Science of Love, Technology: Artificial Intelligence,
Political Science: Big Brother and Surveillance, Linguistics: Animal Communication, Economics: The Evolution of Money, Biology: The Fountain of Youth, Sociology: Marriage
This course will focus on appropriate systems of language (vocabulary and grammar) with an emphasis on bettering listening and speaking skills. Main goals will include better holistic presentation skills based on the highlighted target language points.
Aims: By the end of this course, students will be able to
listen more effectively via exercises of prediction, gist, and inference; infer word meaning from context; speak more effectively in regards to group projects and presentations
Topics: Communication Studies: Slang and Language Change, Child Psychology: The Genius Within, Sociology: Online Communities, Business: Core Business Skills,
Cognitive Psychology: Memory, Anthropology & Biology: The Science of Love, Technology: Artificial Intelligence,
Political Science: Big Brother and Surveillance, Linguistics: Animal Communication, Economics: The Evolution of Money, Biology: The Fountain of Youth, Sociology: Marriage
Writing 5 (Career Development)
This course is designed to improve student writing for business and office environments.
Aims: By the end of this course, students will be better able to practice necessary grammatical forms, functions and mechanics to improve writing quality suitable for office communication.
Topics: E-mails, Summaries, Business letters, Describing opinions; Solutions, Lists
This course is designed to improve student writing for business and office environments.
Aims: By the end of this course, students will be better able to practice necessary grammatical forms, functions and mechanics to improve writing quality suitable for office communication.
Topics: E-mails, Summaries, Business letters, Describing opinions; Solutions, Lists
American Ways
This course is a brief survey of very popular people, events and attributes of US culture, with an emphasis on historical perspectives. This course aims to surpass traditional survey courses in an effort to dig more deeply into the less evident aspects of American culture, values and experiences
This course is a brief survey of very popular people, events and attributes of US culture, with an emphasis on historical perspectives. This course aims to surpass traditional survey courses in an effort to dig more deeply into the less evident aspects of American culture, values and experiences
Art of Fashion
The course will provide students with a preliminary understanding of the Art of Fashion.
Aims: With successful completion of the course, students will be able to practice reading fashion-based articles;
better understand how fashion interacts with us in a completely different way than most other products of design
Topics: The Meaning of Fashion, Color Theory, Creating a Mood Board (Inspiration Board), Categorizing and Naming different clothing styles, Create and design an outfit that you’d like to wear, Choose a color or color palette, Case Study: Designers who define fashion history, Most Iconic Fashion Designs of all Time, The Secret World of Haute Couture, Shopping Report, Understanding Your Market, Primary Categories in the Market, Analysis of Advertisements
The course will provide students with a preliminary understanding of the Art of Fashion.
Aims: With successful completion of the course, students will be able to practice reading fashion-based articles;
better understand how fashion interacts with us in a completely different way than most other products of design
Topics: The Meaning of Fashion, Color Theory, Creating a Mood Board (Inspiration Board), Categorizing and Naming different clothing styles, Create and design an outfit that you’d like to wear, Choose a color or color palette, Case Study: Designers who define fashion history, Most Iconic Fashion Designs of all Time, The Secret World of Haute Couture, Shopping Report, Understanding Your Market, Primary Categories in the Market, Analysis of Advertisements
Cooking and Culture (18+ years old)
Cooking & Culture takes learning to life with its fusion of language, food and fun! Each week has target language that will be taught first in the classroom with a subsequent class in the kitchen, which will bring these words to fruition via classic cooking techniques. Come hungry!
Cooking & Culture takes learning to life with its fusion of language, food and fun! Each week has target language that will be taught first in the classroom with a subsequent class in the kitchen, which will bring these words to fruition via classic cooking techniques. Come hungry!
Crime & Psychology 2
The course will provide students with a preliminary survey of American crime through the perspective of psychology.
Aims: With successful completion of the course, students will be able to practice reading crime-based articles for gist, details and comprehension; practice authentic spoken production regarding criminal/psychological topics; learn the meaning, form and pronunciation of emergent vocabulary
Topics: Schools of Psychology, Schools of Psychology Continued, Serial Killers, School Shootings, Psychological Disorders, Psychological Disorders Continued, Prison & Correctional Facilities, Rehabilitation centers
The course will provide students with a preliminary survey of American crime through the perspective of psychology.
Aims: With successful completion of the course, students will be able to practice reading crime-based articles for gist, details and comprehension; practice authentic spoken production regarding criminal/psychological topics; learn the meaning, form and pronunciation of emergent vocabulary
Topics: Schools of Psychology, Schools of Psychology Continued, Serial Killers, School Shootings, Psychological Disorders, Psychological Disorders Continued, Prison & Correctional Facilities, Rehabilitation centers
Live the Language (18+ years old)
Students will be exposed to some of the most historical and significant information in the area found right in their backyard- Tarrytown! With one class one campus and on class off-campus each week, students will get to explore hands-on what makes this area special, all while talking to community members who live here year-round!
Students will be exposed to some of the most historical and significant information in the area found right in their backyard- Tarrytown! With one class one campus and on class off-campus each week, students will get to explore hands-on what makes this area special, all while talking to community members who live here year-round!
Sports (18+ years old)
Learn about the history, the rules and the most prolific players of some of the most popular sports around. Afterwards, like in a traditional high school or university setting, students will get the chance to show what they have learned on the field or on the court by actually playing in teams!
Learn about the history, the rules and the most prolific players of some of the most popular sports around. Afterwards, like in a traditional high school or university setting, students will get the chance to show what they have learned on the field or on the court by actually playing in teams!
The New Yorker
Based on the media platform of The New Yorker, this class aims to introduce contemporary American topics of art, fashion, entertainment, culture and hot topics. Each week, a topic will be showcased based on a video, and learners will practice speaking, listening and reading skills as well as learn vocabulary words that pertain to that topic.
Aims: With successful completion of the course, students will be able to listen to videos from The New Yorker for gist & details; to read informative culture-based articles for gist & details; to discuss contemporary topics in relation to selected readings; to understand the meaning, form and pronunciation of emergent vocabulary
Topics: The Origins Of The Never Again Movement, Not A Game, The Art Of An Iconic Lower East Side Bar, The Truman Show Delusion, The Knockoff Economy, The Healing Power of Jazz, The Oscars through the Decades, Art Spiegelman Tours His Retrospective, Up & Then Down, Current events
Based on the media platform of The New Yorker, this class aims to introduce contemporary American topics of art, fashion, entertainment, culture and hot topics. Each week, a topic will be showcased based on a video, and learners will practice speaking, listening and reading skills as well as learn vocabulary words that pertain to that topic.
Aims: With successful completion of the course, students will be able to listen to videos from The New Yorker for gist & details; to read informative culture-based articles for gist & details; to discuss contemporary topics in relation to selected readings; to understand the meaning, form and pronunciation of emergent vocabulary
Topics: The Origins Of The Never Again Movement, Not A Game, The Art Of An Iconic Lower East Side Bar, The Truman Show Delusion, The Knockoff Economy, The Healing Power of Jazz, The Oscars through the Decades, Art Spiegelman Tours His Retrospective, Up & Then Down, Current events
U.S. Cultural Studies 4
The course is designed to give a brief introduction to some typical US cultural topics ranging from all parts of culture. A major goal of the class is to leave room for plenty of student participation and communication, making cross-cultural connections along the way.
Aims: By the end of this course, students will be able to read graded articles for gist and details of US culture; discuss highlighted cultural topics about the US in a natural way
Topics: Everyday life - College Culture, Holidays - NYC Parades, Art & Architecture - Music & Festivals, Business - Corporate Responsibility, Diversity - DACA, Food - Coke vs. Pepsi, Politics - The Electoral College, Music - Pop Culture, Fads & Trends - Contouring and other beauty fads, Attitudes - Paranoia & Security, Fashion - The Social Implications of Fashion, Entertainment - Game of Thrones
The course is designed to give a brief introduction to some typical US cultural topics ranging from all parts of culture. A major goal of the class is to leave room for plenty of student participation and communication, making cross-cultural connections along the way.
Aims: By the end of this course, students will be able to read graded articles for gist and details of US culture; discuss highlighted cultural topics about the US in a natural way
Topics: Everyday life - College Culture, Holidays - NYC Parades, Art & Architecture - Music & Festivals, Business - Corporate Responsibility, Diversity - DACA, Food - Coke vs. Pepsi, Politics - The Electoral College, Music - Pop Culture, Fads & Trends - Contouring and other beauty fads, Attitudes - Paranoia & Security, Fashion - The Social Implications of Fashion, Entertainment - Game of Thrones
U.S. Film Series 4
This class explores the English language by listening, speaking and watching a variety of American films.
Aims: Students will acquire a diverse vocabulary by listening, watching and using vocabulary from the film clips.
Topics: Life in the New York Fashion Industry, Immigration,
Free will . . .do we have it?, Women and Education, Racism, Women as Leaders, Self-image, Dysfunctional Family with Secrets, Extended Families, Second Chances,
Self- forgiveness, The true meaning of Christmas
This class explores the English language by listening, speaking and watching a variety of American films.
Aims: Students will acquire a diverse vocabulary by listening, watching and using vocabulary from the film clips.
Topics: Life in the New York Fashion Industry, Immigration,
Free will . . .do we have it?, Women and Education, Racism, Women as Leaders, Self-image, Dysfunctional Family with Secrets, Extended Families, Second Chances,
Self- forgiveness, The true meaning of Christmas
U.S. History & Politics 3
The course is designed to allow students to examine the history of the United States through a political lens through authentic materials and class discussion.
Aims: By the end of this course students will increase their vocabulary and reading proficiency through interaction with authentic texts about US History
Topics: Colonization, The Revolution, Westward Expansion, The Civil War, Industrialization, Word War I, the 20s & 30s, World War II, Cold War Era, Civil Rights, Vietnam, The Modern Era
The course is designed to allow students to examine the history of the United States through a political lens through authentic materials and class discussion.
Aims: By the end of this course students will increase their vocabulary and reading proficiency through interaction with authentic texts about US History
Topics: Colonization, The Revolution, Westward Expansion, The Civil War, Industrialization, Word War I, the 20s & 30s, World War II, Cold War Era, Civil Rights, Vietnam, The Modern Era
Academic Vocabulary & Collocations 3
A course at the advanced and upper-advanced levels which will provide students with systematic vocabulary development. The course will help students expand their vocabularies, improve their skills, and prepare for various English exams.
Aims: By the end of this course, students will be able to acquire and effectively practice new vocabulary in lexical sets; to infer words in reading texts based on context, form, and function; to demonstrate understanding of vocabulary through writing a variety of texts.
Topics: Fascinating Rhythm: The Life of George Gershwin (Biographical Sketch); The Code-breakers of Bletchley Park
(Historical Nonfiction); Charles Ponzi and His Scheme (Informational Essay); Putting Social Media in Perspective
(Speech); The Comics and Cartoons of Windsor McCay (Informational Essay); Origins of Anarchism (Magazine Article); On the Edge (First-Person Narrative); Target This! (Persuasive Essay); Volunteer Profile: Jennifer Yoder (Profile); A River of English (Humorous Essay); Remarks Prepared for Delivery Before Congress (Script for Political Speech); Matriarchal Society (Expository Essay)
A course at the advanced and upper-advanced levels which will provide students with systematic vocabulary development. The course will help students expand their vocabularies, improve their skills, and prepare for various English exams.
Aims: By the end of this course, students will be able to acquire and effectively practice new vocabulary in lexical sets; to infer words in reading texts based on context, form, and function; to demonstrate understanding of vocabulary through writing a variety of texts.
Topics: Fascinating Rhythm: The Life of George Gershwin (Biographical Sketch); The Code-breakers of Bletchley Park
(Historical Nonfiction); Charles Ponzi and His Scheme (Informational Essay); Putting Social Media in Perspective
(Speech); The Comics and Cartoons of Windsor McCay (Informational Essay); Origins of Anarchism (Magazine Article); On the Edge (First-Person Narrative); Target This! (Persuasive Essay); Volunteer Profile: Jennifer Yoder (Profile); A River of English (Humorous Essay); Remarks Prepared for Delivery Before Congress (Script for Political Speech); Matriarchal Society (Expository Essay)
Exam Strategies 4
This class utilized testing strategies and exercises used by TOEFL and Cambridge Examinations to improve students' overall language skills
Aims: To improve both productive and receptive skills and to improve language systems.
Topics: Reading and Listening, Register, Writing, Sentence Types, Speaking, Cohesion, Word Formations, Collocations/Vocabulary, Organization details, Grammar, Prepositions followed by nouns and adjectives,
This class utilized testing strategies and exercises used by TOEFL and Cambridge Examinations to improve students' overall language skills
Aims: To improve both productive and receptive skills and to improve language systems.
Topics: Reading and Listening, Register, Writing, Sentence Types, Speaking, Cohesion, Word Formations, Collocations/Vocabulary, Organization details, Grammar, Prepositions followed by nouns and adjectives,
TOEFL: Mastering Skills for TOEFL
Students will become familiar with the structure of the test by practicing the four sections of reading, listening, speaking and writing as well as expanding vocabulary.
This SPIN class is available to students with an Intensive or Exam Course and a minimum of 6 weeks length of study.
You must take the TOEFL Placement Test before beginning a TOEFL SPIN class.
For more information or to sign up for the placement test, please see a staff member in the Academics Office in Rita Hall.
Students will become familiar with the structure of the test by practicing the four sections of reading, listening, speaking and writing as well as expanding vocabulary.
This SPIN class is available to students with an Intensive or Exam Course and a minimum of 6 weeks length of study.
You must take the TOEFL Placement Test before beginning a TOEFL SPIN class.
For more information or to sign up for the placement test, please see a staff member in the Academics Office in Rita Hall.
Grammar 5
This course is an in-depth look at the level-based grammar points and language functions which are highlighted as necessary abilities by the Common European Framework
Aims: By the end of this course, students will be better able to identify the meaning, form and pronunciation of each highlighted system; practice identified system exponents in a controlled manner; authentically produce target language in context
Topics: Future perfect and future perfect continuous,
Modals in the past, The passive, Emphatic forms, Past perfect, past perfect continuous, Expressing past and present habits, Narrative tenses, Reported speech, Mixed conditionals, Hypothesizing in speech, The future, The future in the past
This course is an in-depth look at the level-based grammar points and language functions which are highlighted as necessary abilities by the Common European Framework
Aims: By the end of this course, students will be better able to identify the meaning, form and pronunciation of each highlighted system; practice identified system exponents in a controlled manner; authentically produce target language in context
Topics: Future perfect and future perfect continuous,
Modals in the past, The passive, Emphatic forms, Past perfect, past perfect continuous, Expressing past and present habits, Narrative tenses, Reported speech, Mixed conditionals, Hypothesizing in speech, The future, The future in the past
Music & Lyrics 2
This course is a brief history of different genres and eras of music, including a focus on vocabulary, and listening to and understanding lyrics.
Aims: By the end of this course, students will be better able to read lyrics from songs for vocabulary, idioms and slang, discuss and contrast different music genres and elements, and understand the meaning, form and pronunciation of vocabulary and complete gap fills
Topics: Basics of song, The Blues and African-American music, Jazz, The British invasion, Classic Rock, Rhythm and Blues, Hip-Hop, 60s music and Counterculture, Country, Folk, and Americana, 90s music, Indie
This course is a brief history of different genres and eras of music, including a focus on vocabulary, and listening to and understanding lyrics.
Aims: By the end of this course, students will be better able to read lyrics from songs for vocabulary, idioms and slang, discuss and contrast different music genres and elements, and understand the meaning, form and pronunciation of vocabulary and complete gap fills
Topics: Basics of song, The Blues and African-American music, Jazz, The British invasion, Classic Rock, Rhythm and Blues, Hip-Hop, 60s music and Counterculture, Country, Folk, and Americana, 90s music, Indie
Slang & Idioms 2
This class seeks to increase student's vocabulary and understanding of a wide rand of topics using everyday slang and expressions.
Aims: To practice using slang related to the week’s topic in context, To increase student’s recognition and understand of context specific slang & idioms
Topics: Television & Entertainment / Life of the Party,
Alliterations & Foreign Words, At School, Home, In the Workplace, Sports-related Slang, Science Slang, Idioms Related to the Body, Idioms Related to Money, Idioms Related to Animals, Idioms Related to Law, Idioms Related to Names
This class seeks to increase student's vocabulary and understanding of a wide rand of topics using everyday slang and expressions.
Aims: To practice using slang related to the week’s topic in context, To increase student’s recognition and understand of context specific slang & idioms
Topics: Television & Entertainment / Life of the Party,
Alliterations & Foreign Words, At School, Home, In the Workplace, Sports-related Slang, Science Slang, Idioms Related to the Body, Idioms Related to Money, Idioms Related to Animals, Idioms Related to Law, Idioms Related to Names
TED Talks
This course is designed to focus on three different listening skills in relation to relevant and interesting TED talks. Ranging from global issues to trivial trivia, TED talks will provide the context for meaningful communication in the classroom.
Aims: By the end of this course, students will be better able to practice listening for gist, details and comprehension; to produce newly-acquired emergent vocabulary for improved communication
Topics: “The Hidden Power of Smiling”,“What Your Doctor Won’t Disclose”, “Want someone to help? Shut up and listen!”, “Big Data is Better Data”, “What Fear Can Teach Us”, “How I Fell in Love with a Fish”, “The Currency of the New Economy is Trust”, “Lies, Damned Lies and Statistics”
This course is designed to focus on three different listening skills in relation to relevant and interesting TED talks. Ranging from global issues to trivial trivia, TED talks will provide the context for meaningful communication in the classroom.
Aims: By the end of this course, students will be better able to practice listening for gist, details and comprehension; to produce newly-acquired emergent vocabulary for improved communication
Topics: “The Hidden Power of Smiling”,“What Your Doctor Won’t Disclose”, “Want someone to help? Shut up and listen!”, “Big Data is Better Data”, “What Fear Can Teach Us”, “How I Fell in Love with a Fish”, “The Currency of the New Economy is Trust”, “Lies, Damned Lies and Statistics”
Writing 5
This course is designed to focus on one of the most challenging skills: writing. The first class of the week will be devoted to the mechanics and grammar used to write, and the second class is function-based tasks for authentic production.
Aims: By the end of this course, students will be better able to practice necessary grammatical forms, functions and mechanics to improve writing quality.
Topics: Synonym, antonyms, collocations, Synonym, antonyms, collocations, Proper citation skills, Subject-verb agreement, Suffixes, Comparative forms, Parallel structure, Verb tense consistency, Sentence fragments, Modals, Adverbs of degree
This course is designed to focus on one of the most challenging skills: writing. The first class of the week will be devoted to the mechanics and grammar used to write, and the second class is function-based tasks for authentic production.
Aims: By the end of this course, students will be better able to practice necessary grammatical forms, functions and mechanics to improve writing quality.
Topics: Synonym, antonyms, collocations, Synonym, antonyms, collocations, Proper citation skills, Subject-verb agreement, Suffixes, Comparative forms, Parallel structure, Verb tense consistency, Sentence fragments, Modals, Adverbs of degree