Overview

This course develops language proficiency. It develops your abilities in speaking, writing, listening and reading to so that you are better able to communicate and participate in an academic environment in which English language is the medium of instruction and communication. By the end of the course you are expected to reach a high B2 level of English equivalent to IELTS band 6.5. You will also develop an awareness of the norms of academic style, cohesion, clarification, and definition. The module will focus on the areas of academic writing, reading for higher education study, listening in the higher education environment, speaking, and listening in seminars and university study skills. It also enables learners to develop and apply academic and study skills and to understand the key place of education in creating a sustainable future. The topic of how Sustainable Development Goal 4 "Quality Education" can help create a more sustainable, equitable and peaceful world will provide a backdrop to speaking and writing activities on this module.

During this module, participants will focus on the following:

Reading academic texts:

-learning what are the academic expectations and including avoiding unfair practice. -reading academic texts including academic journals. -identifying the author’s point of view. -Using new ideas to from texts in essays and seminars. -Using academic vocabulary.

Listening to academic lectures:

-Skills in extracting main ideas and supporting points of academic lectures. -Use of notes to discuss topic and share ideas. -Awareness of underlying concepts of note taking. -Creation of links and relationships between highlighted points.

Critical thinking skills:

-Evaluating and appraising source material. -Utilisation of criteria for selecting appropriate source material. -investigating the purpose and usefulness of note taking. -considering the usefulness of learning to other subjects studied in International Year One and to future studies ranging from English competence to development of good study skills.

Academic Writing:

-analysing the structure of academic essays. -practicing how to structure an essay including the introduction, body, conclusion. -embedding information from written and spoken sources. -paraphrasing the main points of sources. -Looking at how titles dictate outline plans and the need to structure a coherent and cohesive essay. -expressing views and opinions related to the text. -using process writing techniques such as brainstorming, planning, writing, and revising. -Using appropriate reference language to report on ideas of others. -writing academic essays.

Speaking in collaborative groups:

-Taking part in seminar discussions on a variety of academic topics. -embedding the use of appropriate language structures for speaking in an academic context. -agreeing, disagreeing and building on the contributions of others in an appropriate and respectful way. -Expressing views and knowledge on topics. -Being a supportive and compassionate presence in collaborative activities.

Assessment Strategy

Threshold (40-49% / D- to D+) Can understand the main ideas of texts within their discipline and take simple notes. Can participate in an academic seminar and generally be understood. However, at times speech may be incoherent. Can write an essay synthesising information and arguments from different sources. However, there are weaknesses with structure and clarity of argumentation and some grammar and vocabulary errors.

Satisfactory (50–59% / C- to C+) Can understand the main ideas of texts within their discipline and take effective notes. Can participate in an academic seminar and be understood throughout. Can write an essay synthesising information and arguments from different sources. The essay has a clear overall structure but there may be weaknesses in coherence at paragraph level, argumentation, and some grammar and vocabulary errors.

Good (60-69% / B- to B+) Can understand ideas, arguments and implied meaning within a variety of texts and take highly effective notes. Can confidently participate in an academic seminar in an appropriate manner. Can write an essay synthesising information and arguments from a variety of sources and comment on these. The essay has a clear structure and logical argumentation. Errors in grammar and vocabulary are minimal.

Excellent (70%-100% / A- to A*) Can easily understand ideas, arguments and implied meaning within a variety of texts and take highly effective notes. Can confidently participate in an academic seminar in an appropriate and skilled manner. Can write an essay synthesising information and arguments from a variety of sources comment and expanding on multiple perspectives. The essay has a clear structure, logical argumentation and precise language. Errors in grammar and vocabulary are extremely rare.

Learning Outcomes

• Contribute in a seminar with an appropriate level of fluency, spontaneity and precision, ensuring you support your ideas with information from academic sources.

• Critically read academic written texts to identify the main ideas and arguments of the author(s) and summarise them.

• Identify and interpret the main ideas and arguments in an academic lecture and take notes.

• Write a clear essay, referencing academic sources and in an appropriate academic style.