Module Content

The syllabus integrates development of language skills with study and communication skills using a range of academic topics drawn from social and natural science, arts and humanities, business and management, technology and IT. Where a cohort of students has similar study or professional goals, it is also possible to tailor topics to that group’s needs.

The module will focus on:
•developing English language knowledge and skills to the appropriate level of competence (B2+)
•refining English language skills to demonstrate high levels of awareness of contextual variation in language style, appropriacy to context and genre and refining ability in producing spoken and written English texts which demonstrate competence in this
•increasing academic reading, writing, listening and speaking skills
•improving students’ reading and listening comprehension by helping them develop effective methods and strategies
•improving students’ language proficiency by developing their vocabulary and grammar
•refining essential academic writing skills
•developing skills for participating appropriately in events such as lectures, seminars, meetings, teamwork or tutorials
•developing critical thinking abilities such as actively questioning texts and evaluating their content and competence in expressing critical opinions.

Teaching Methods

The teaching and learning approach integrates the development of English language skills with relevant academic and/or professional skills, appropriate to the cohort of students. This means for example that the material that students will read (or lectures they will listen to) will be used as input for language work, seminar discussion, oral presentation and essay writing. This integration reflects the nature of academic and professional practice and allows an in-depth exploration of various academic topics while developing English language knowledge and skills.
Class contact sessions typically consist of a mix of tutor input (or recorded input) and interactive pair/ group tasks. Authentic academic and professional texts and scenarios are used to increase students’ knowledge and awareness of a range of typical genres in their field, and to enable them to develop appropriate language and skills. There is a strong focus on academic vocabulary development, using the Academic Wordlists and other (online) resources, on improving reading speed, comprehension of spoken and written and particularly on improving academic and/or professional writing ability.
Group and independent learning activities are used to replicate the typical demands of undergraduate study and/or the workplace. Independent work will involve preparation for classes, reading and researching academic texts, writing short texts in preparation for the portfolio of tasks. A range of online resources will be made available to students through Blackboard. These activities complement those undertaken during the module’s Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activity and allow students to consolidate and develop both subject-specific and other transferable skills.

Assessment Methods

This module is assessed through an examination and a portfolio of tasks.