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 the following IELTS score: 5.0 overall with a minimum of 5.0 in all parts of the IELTS test (1st year entry); or 5.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in writing (2nd year entry).
The module runs over a 10-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), both at the micro and macro level
4. to provide students with practice in key language skills, including written argumentation, reading to write, listening to lectures 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 produce meaningful and accurately written discourse, using micro and macro skills
- An ability to read with purpose and critically
- An ability to use spoken discourse skills at micro and macro levels
- 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 and macro skills necessary to produce meaningful and accurately written assignments
- Conveying a clear line of argumentation within one paragraph in order to achieve a specified purpose (micro skills)
- Conveying a clear line of argumentation between paragraphs in order to achieve a specified purpose (macro skills)
Discoursal Skills: Development of micro and macro skills necessary to read with purpose and critically
- 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: two in-class tests under exam conditions (grammar) 30%
Reading and writing skills: reading-to-write assignment (750 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 10-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), both at the micro and macro level
4. to provide students with practice in key language skills, including written argumentation, reading to write, listening to lectures 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 produce meaningful and accurately written discourse, using micro and macro skills
- An ability to read with purpose and critically
- An ability to use spoken discourse skills at micro and macro levels
- 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 and macro skills necessary to produce meaningful and accurately written assignments
- Conveying a clear line of argumentation within one paragraph in order to achieve a specified purpose (micro skills)
- Conveying a clear line of argumentation between paragraphs in order to achieve a specified purpose (macro skills)
Discoursal Skills: Development of micro and macro skills necessary to read with purpose and critically
- 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: two in-class tests under exam conditions (grammar) 30%
Reading and writing skills: reading-to-write assignment (750 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)