Module Content

• enhancing a broad range of academic-related and non-academic-related vocabulary, as well as complex grammatical and syntactic structures, to prepare students for degree-level study by examining both academic and non-academic texts.
• activities which are designed to develop students’ general academic and subject-specific lexical range in specific contexts.
• grammar consolidation and vocabulary extension appropriate to the language level to enhance cohesion, coherence, and accuracy.
• providing input on familiar topics, enabling the student to describe experiences, events and give reasons, and explanations for opinions and plans.
• developing high-frequency vocabulary and language, relating to current affairs and topics of personal and professional interest.
• introduced to study skills and encouragement to increase students’ self-directed learning.

Teaching Methods

Students will actively participate during in-class sessions, in a diverse array of activities meticulously designed to foster the continuous enhancement of their vocabulary and grammar to increase comprehension of language use in academic contexts. The lessons will be meticulously structured, placing a significant emphasis on communicative activities and exercises, providing students with the opportunity to apply language skills through interactive discussions and collaborative tasks, including group work, group activities, and individual tasks, with a strong encouragement for both peer and group feedback throughout the sessions. The tasks themselves will be designed to stimulate to read and critically respond to academic texts rich in vocabulary, complex grammatical and syntactic structures, and relevant phraseology.
To familiarise students with academic contexts, a variety of reading materials will be integrated into the curriculum. Collaborative learning strategies, such as group discussions and peer reviews, will be employed to facilitate shared insights and the exchange of diverse perspectives. Practical engagement will be prioritized, featuring hands-on exercises like guided conversation sessions, allowing students to apply recently acquired knowledge of elaborate vocabulary and grammatically complex utterances, and receive immediate feedback.
Beyond direct contact hours, students will be assigned homework tasks and guided towards resources for independent learning. Regular feedback, delivered orally or in written form as appropriate, will be provided for homework assignments. The portfolio process (with tasks undertaken across the module) is a prime example of formative assessment in that students are given feedback on each element as it is undertaken. The final mark is awarded on the basis of the completed portfolio, as well as the preparation of an academic poster. Summative assessment is supported by in-class briefings and followed by feedback and feed-forward as relevant.
To support a variety of language learning practices which enhance learner’s autonomy, explicit instruction regarding the enhancement of vocabulary and the appropriate use of language will be provided, integrated into the module’s curriculum through workshops, training sessions, and a set of interactive and non-traditional activities. These might include vocabulary games (e.g. students describe a word without using certain “taboo” words related to it to help others guess the word, start with a word and have students list as many related words as they can within a time limit), reading circles (students divided into groups, reading text, identifying unfamiliar words, trying to explain to one another these words when possible, or finds the meaning and possible uses of those words in context), and vocabulary journals (students keep a vocabulary journal where they write down new words encountered in readings, lectures, or discussions, and they are encouraged to include definitions, example sentences, and personal connections to the words). Stepping away from the idea of a traditional classroom, where the instructor has full authority over the learners, scaffolding will ensure learners receive structured support, gradually becoming more independent and more prepared to encounter academic challenges in the future. Awareness of the importance of these strategies will be raised, and learners will be encouraged to collaborate and provide peer feedback, while individualized support will be tailored to meet learners’ unique needs and goals as well as to improve their language learning journey.

Assessment Methods

This module is assessed through one Portfolio and one Academic Poster.