This module provides training in core English, academic language and study skills for successful undergraduate study in the context of the UK generally, and at the University of Essex in particular. To join this module, a student must have the following IELTS score: 5.0 overall with a minimum of 5.0 on writing.
The module is divided into 3 x 5-week periods. The module will be taught during the Summer and Long Vacation terms.
Module aims
The aims of this module are to:
1. provide opportunities to raise core language skills in grammar, vocabulary and across the four language skills
2. provide opportunities to build EAP competence in grammar and vocabulary, for students at or approaching European Framework Proficiency Level B2
3. provide practice in key academic language skills including term assignment writing, writing under exam conditions, seminar preparation and participation, reading to write, listening to lectures and note-taking
4. provide students with an increased awareness of western methods of undergraduate teaching and learning as well as introduce them to the system at Essex specifically
5. help students with transition from prior school learning cultures to UK HE learning culture, in order to reach a better understanding of study requirements, and the criteria by which academic work is assessed
6. provide students with practice in supported individual and independent study through use of extended assignment and project work
Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, students will be able to demonstrate:
- competency in the skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking to levels required for their undergraduate degree course
- an ability to understand and take notes from longer academic texts of non-specialist nature, with a view to writing with appropriate integration of information from / acknowledgement of sources
- an ability to produce a long assignment (up to 1,000 words) at B2 level in accordance with British academic conventions
- the ability and confidence to participate fully in seminar discussion and presentations, as well as in tutorial-based discussion
- the ability to prepare appropriately for lectures, take notes and review lecture-based learning materials
- an ability to develop skills in researching requirements of course work, course assignments and course examinations
- an ability to continue to develop their language skills independently, in parallel with degree course work.
Syllabus
For undergraduate students, all module classes are organised by language proficiency level. Core English and EAP classes prepare students in grammar, vocabulary and the 4 skills. Project classes focus on independent learning and basic research skills. Students are provided with further classroom sessions on Listening to lectures and note-taking, Presentation skills and Seminar speaking skills.
The syllabus is intended to facilitate students' development in the following skills in academic English.
Core English skills
- Development of higher level English grammar and vocabulary
- Confidence, fluency, and precision in speaking
- Develop understanding of spoken and written discourse on general interest topics, with ability to deal with incomplete comprehension
- Accurate and concise writing at sentence, paragraph and text discourse levels
Academic reading skills
- Developing prediction and deduction techniques
- Proficient skimming of text for overall meaning
- Proficient scanning of text for specific information
- Reading texts effectively for a range of purposes
- Note-taking practice for use in summary, paraphrase, quotation and citation
- Recognising language markers used in academic discourse
- Familiarity with complex sentence structures and their use
Academic writing skills
- Structuring an essay of up to 1,000 words
- Proficient use of discourse markers and cohesive devices
- Use of suitable register dependent on the task
- Extracting and synthesising information from notes based on outside sources
- Following academic conventions using appropriate citations and referencing
- Revise and edit own work
Academic listening skills
- Preparation for lecture listening through reading and questioning
- Proficient prediction and deduction techniques
- Efficient listening for key information in lectures
- Use of notes for a range of academic purposes
- Further development of strategies for dealing with incomplete comprehension
- Proficient note-taking skills at level required by degree course
Academic speaking skills
- Preparation for and participation in seminar-style discussion
- Question forms appropriate to academic register including questionnaire-style items
- Language for discussion including agreement, polite disagreement, questioning, asking for clarification, elaboration of ideas, summation of ideas
- Presenting ideas and information in the target discipline in the form of short, prepared talks both without and with integrated use of visual aids such as PowerPoint
Assessment
Breakdown of assessment tasks:
Writing skills: timed-writing test 20%
Listening skills: listening test 15%
Speaking skills: oral presentation 15%
Academic Project (first and second draft of two reading-to-write assignments: 750 + 1,000 words) 50%
Pass mark for module: 40% (NB: students need to achieve 40% in each assessed element of coursework)
The module is divided into 3 x 5-week periods. The module will be taught during the Summer and Long Vacation terms.
Module aims
The aims of this module are to:
1. provide opportunities to raise core language skills in grammar, vocabulary and across the four language skills
2. provide opportunities to build EAP competence in grammar and vocabulary, for students at or approaching European Framework Proficiency Level B2
3. provide practice in key academic language skills including term assignment writing, writing under exam conditions, seminar preparation and participation, reading to write, listening to lectures and note-taking
4. provide students with an increased awareness of western methods of undergraduate teaching and learning as well as introduce them to the system at Essex specifically
5. help students with transition from prior school learning cultures to UK HE learning culture, in order to reach a better understanding of study requirements, and the criteria by which academic work is assessed
6. provide students with practice in supported individual and independent study through use of extended assignment and project work
Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, students will be able to demonstrate:
- competency in the skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking to levels required for their undergraduate degree course
- an ability to understand and take notes from longer academic texts of non-specialist nature, with a view to writing with appropriate integration of information from / acknowledgement of sources
- an ability to produce a long assignment (up to 1,000 words) at B2 level in accordance with British academic conventions
- the ability and confidence to participate fully in seminar discussion and presentations, as well as in tutorial-based discussion
- the ability to prepare appropriately for lectures, take notes and review lecture-based learning materials
- an ability to develop skills in researching requirements of course work, course assignments and course examinations
- an ability to continue to develop their language skills independently, in parallel with degree course work.
Syllabus
For undergraduate students, all module classes are organised by language proficiency level. Core English and EAP classes prepare students in grammar, vocabulary and the 4 skills. Project classes focus on independent learning and basic research skills. Students are provided with further classroom sessions on Listening to lectures and note-taking, Presentation skills and Seminar speaking skills.
The syllabus is intended to facilitate students' development in the following skills in academic English.
Core English skills
- Development of higher level English grammar and vocabulary
- Confidence, fluency, and precision in speaking
- Develop understanding of spoken and written discourse on general interest topics, with ability to deal with incomplete comprehension
- Accurate and concise writing at sentence, paragraph and text discourse levels
Academic reading skills
- Developing prediction and deduction techniques
- Proficient skimming of text for overall meaning
- Proficient scanning of text for specific information
- Reading texts effectively for a range of purposes
- Note-taking practice for use in summary, paraphrase, quotation and citation
- Recognising language markers used in academic discourse
- Familiarity with complex sentence structures and their use
Academic writing skills
- Structuring an essay of up to 1,000 words
- Proficient use of discourse markers and cohesive devices
- Use of suitable register dependent on the task
- Extracting and synthesising information from notes based on outside sources
- Following academic conventions using appropriate citations and referencing
- Revise and edit own work
Academic listening skills
- Preparation for lecture listening through reading and questioning
- Proficient prediction and deduction techniques
- Efficient listening for key information in lectures
- Use of notes for a range of academic purposes
- Further development of strategies for dealing with incomplete comprehension
- Proficient note-taking skills at level required by degree course
Academic speaking skills
- Preparation for and participation in seminar-style discussion
- Question forms appropriate to academic register including questionnaire-style items
- Language for discussion including agreement, polite disagreement, questioning, asking for clarification, elaboration of ideas, summation of ideas
- Presenting ideas and information in the target discipline in the form of short, prepared talks both without and with integrated use of visual aids such as PowerPoint
Assessment
Breakdown of assessment tasks:
Writing skills: timed-writing test 20%
Listening skills: listening test 15%
Speaking skills: oral presentation 15%
Academic Project (first and second draft of two reading-to-write assignments: 750 + 1,000 words) 50%
Pass mark for module: 40% (NB: students need to achieve 40% in each assessed element of coursework)