Module Content

• introducing the purposes and practice of seminar type and discussions and to the structure of talks while practising students’ speaking and listening skills in the contexts of general academic and subject-linked topics.
• the use of activities designed to raise awareness of various strategies used in interactive discussions as well as the development of key listening strategies to raise students’ awareness of discourse used to structure and signpost lectures and talks.
• pronunciation, encompassing word and sentence stress, intonation, and connected speech, to raise awareness of their pivotal role in effective communication, gradually enabling students to comprehend talks delivered at a faster pace and in various accents.
• engaging the students in critical discussion on the topics covered by being asked to respond to topics raised through the tasks.
• vocabulary practice to enhance students’ lexical range and help them to be more efficient and precise when communicating ideas and information.

Teaching Methods

The listening and speaking topics chosen will be based on a range of general academic and subject-linked material aiming at encouraging debate and discussion. Students will be provided with input and examples of language used through audio and video recordings of academic lectures and talks. Through structured practice, the sessions will also target students’ confidence in speaking in English and the development of their ability to express themselves orally in preparation for further study and careers. Students are required to think critically and respond to topics by expressing their own opinions. Exposure to both general and subject-linked academic vocabulary will aim at expanding students’ range and support them in developing their oral and aural communication skills. There will be a focus on the importance of accuracy and appropriate language use throughout.

The listening portfolio assessment aims to engage students in a wider range of listening activities and encourage them to practise listening skills and review vocabulary. 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 based on the completed portfolio. The speaking group seminar will be conducted in groups of 3 or 4 and will require students to demonstrate the ability to interact and attend to others during a discussion. This summative assessment is supported by in-class briefings and followed by feedback and feed-forward as relevant and/or necessary.
In addressing learning autonomy, this module ensures the effective use of language learning strategies by offering a variety of listening and speaking activities (e.g. listening and note-taking, listening and reporting, listening and transcribing, casual and formal conversations, interview simulations) using authentic material (traditional coursebook listening activities, listening of segments from academic lectures and seminars, podcast, and films, scholarly and/or professional interviews, and so forth) and allowing learners to choose tasks that match their interests and learning styles. This will also expose students to real-world language use and encourage them to explore these materials independently outside the classroom, something which fosters a sense of ownership and motivation. Learners will also be guided by the instructor on how to self-assess their listening and speaking skills (use of rubrics, AI tools for language pronunciation, etc), while encouraged to reflect on their strengths and weaknesses and set targets for improvement. Peer learning will also be promoted by providing opportunities for students to work collaboratively in pairs or small groups to practice their listening and speaking skills under the guidance and supervision of their instructor. Peer feedback and peer teaching can enhance autonomy by encouraging students to rely on each other for support and guidance beyond that provided by their instructor.

Assessment Methods

This module is assessed through one Listening Portfolio and one Group Presentation.