This module provides training in English language skills for successful undergraduate study in the context of the UK generally, and at the University of Essex in particular. The module provides classes at several language proficiency levels, allowing targeted preparation for students entering degree courses with different language proficiency entry requirements. To join this module, a student must have a minimum overall IELTS score of 4.5 and all parts of the IELTS test must be at a minimum of 4.5.
The module runs over a 5-week period. The module will be taught during the Long Vacation term.
Module aims
The aims of this module are:
1. to raise language accuracy and range for students at or approaching European Framework Proficiency Level B2
2. to help students improve their knowledge of English language grammar, vocabulary and enhance their competence across the four language skills
3. to provide input and practice in key literacy and discoursal skills (i.e. reading, writing, listening and speaking)
4. to provide students with practice in key language skills, including reading to write, listening and note-taking, writing under exam conditions
Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, students will demonstrate:
- Competence in language system production skills, such as writing at sentence level
- An ability to understand long, complex sentences in reading
- An ability to summarise texts in the form of a short piece of written work
- An ability to read with purpose and critically
- An ability to employ listening and speaking skills effectively
- An ability to continue to develop their language skills independently, in parallel with degree course work
The module will be comprised of the following strands:
Language Development
Discoursal skills (Reading and Writing)
Discoursal skills (Listening and Speaking)
Syllabus
For core language and discoursal skills training, classes are organised by language proficiency level. The core syllabus is intended to facilitate students' development in the following skills in English. It will provide input on and practice for:
Language system production skills
- Recalling and using a range of specified lexical items
- Producing well-formed collocations from lexical items
- Deploying a range of specified syntactic structures in well-formed sentence
Language system comprehension skills (sentence level)
- Understanding long, complex sentences in reading
- Processing vocabulary/collocation and understanding how these contribute to the overall sentence meaning
- Processing items of grammar and syntax and understanding how these contribute to the overall sentence meaning
- Parsing complex sentences
Discoursal Skills: Developing micro skills necessary to produce accurately written assignments
- Conveying a clear line of argumentation within one paragraph in order to achieve a specified purpose
Discoursal Skills: Development of micro and macro skills necessary to read with purpose
- The ability to understand details of the target text (micro skills)
- The ability to understand the overall point of the target text (macro skills)
Discoursal Skills: Development of micro and macro skills in spoken discourse (listening and speaking)
- Conveying a clear line of argumentation in order to achieve a specified communicative purpose
- Understanding both the overall point of and the supporting detail of spoken discourse
Assessment
There will be continuous formative assessment throughout the module. There will be summative assessment in each strand:
Language development: in-class test under exam conditions (grammar) 30%
Reading and writing skills: reading-to-write assignment (500 words) 30%
Speaking skills: oral presentation 20%
Listening skills: listening test 20%
Pass mark for module: 40% (NB: students need to achieve 40% in each assessed element of coursework)
The module runs over a 5-week period. The module will be taught during the Long Vacation term.
Module aims
The aims of this module are:
1. to raise language accuracy and range for students at or approaching European Framework Proficiency Level B2
2. to help students improve their knowledge of English language grammar, vocabulary and enhance their competence across the four language skills
3. to provide input and practice in key literacy and discoursal skills (i.e. reading, writing, listening and speaking)
4. to provide students with practice in key language skills, including reading to write, listening and note-taking, writing under exam conditions
Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, students will demonstrate:
- Competence in language system production skills, such as writing at sentence level
- An ability to understand long, complex sentences in reading
- An ability to summarise texts in the form of a short piece of written work
- An ability to read with purpose and critically
- An ability to employ listening and speaking skills effectively
- An ability to continue to develop their language skills independently, in parallel with degree course work
The module will be comprised of the following strands:
Language Development
Discoursal skills (Reading and Writing)
Discoursal skills (Listening and Speaking)
Syllabus
For core language and discoursal skills training, classes are organised by language proficiency level. The core syllabus is intended to facilitate students' development in the following skills in English. It will provide input on and practice for:
Language system production skills
- Recalling and using a range of specified lexical items
- Producing well-formed collocations from lexical items
- Deploying a range of specified syntactic structures in well-formed sentence
Language system comprehension skills (sentence level)
- Understanding long, complex sentences in reading
- Processing vocabulary/collocation and understanding how these contribute to the overall sentence meaning
- Processing items of grammar and syntax and understanding how these contribute to the overall sentence meaning
- Parsing complex sentences
Discoursal Skills: Developing micro skills necessary to produce accurately written assignments
- Conveying a clear line of argumentation within one paragraph in order to achieve a specified purpose
Discoursal Skills: Development of micro and macro skills necessary to read with purpose
- The ability to understand details of the target text (micro skills)
- The ability to understand the overall point of the target text (macro skills)
Discoursal Skills: Development of micro and macro skills in spoken discourse (listening and speaking)
- Conveying a clear line of argumentation in order to achieve a specified communicative purpose
- Understanding both the overall point of and the supporting detail of spoken discourse
Assessment
There will be continuous formative assessment throughout the module. There will be summative assessment in each strand:
Language development: in-class test under exam conditions (grammar) 30%
Reading and writing skills: reading-to-write assignment (500 words) 30%
Speaking skills: oral presentation 20%
Listening skills: listening test 20%
Pass mark for module: 40% (NB: students need to achieve 40% in each assessed element of coursework)