This course seeks to enhance English proficiency in listening, speaking, reading and writing and will spend the major portion of the class time in the training of the first two skills. The designated textbook will provide a major framework for activities of listening and speaking. Handouts of readings and writing will be offered throughout the semester. Students are required to undertake three kinds of take-home assignments. First, students will go online to do exercises provided by the textbook publisher. Second, students will write two listening logs on short segments taken from American National Public Radio programs. Third, several writing assignments allow students to practice basic academic writing. Designed to guide students to understand how they can be personally and intellectually involved in mastering upper-intermediate skills of English, peer collaboration and in-class activities are vital to the learning process. Students will constantly work with other group partners in writing workshops and in-class activities.