Module Directory

This module provides training in English language skills for successful postgraduate study in the context of the UK generally and at the University of Essex in particular.

The module focuses on developing English language proficiency through carefully graded input and scaffolded task completion, all within contexts of most relevance to those pursuing postgraduate research studies at the University of Essex.

The aims of this module are:

• To improve and strengthen language accuracy and range for students at or approaching European Framework Proficiency Level B2/C1.


• To support students to improve their knowledge and use of English language grammar and vocabulary with a specific focus on postgraduate needs and to enhance their competence across the four language skills.


• To provide input and practice in key receptive and productive skills (i.e. reading, listening, writing and speaking), both at the micro and macro levels.


• To develop and enhance language skills of particular relevance to the postgraduate study context, including written argumentation, reading-to-write, listening to lectures and note-taking.

By the end of the module, students will be expected to be able to:

1. Apply a range of grammatical structures and vocabulary accurately within an academic context at B2/C1 level.


2. Employ a range of skills effectively when reading texts at a B2/C1 level.


3. Create grammatically and lexically accurate and coherent written texts which incorporate information from sources read at B2/C1 level.


4. Select, produce and apply spoken discourse skills appropriately in academic communicative contexts.


5. Understand spoken discourse in conversations relating to university life in the UK and lectures or video content of relevance to postgraduate study at B2/C1 level.


6. Reflect upon the experience of language learning and evidence understanding of how to develop one’s language skills independently in parallel with postgraduate study.


7. Effectively communicate, in writing and seminar discussions, with appropriate criticality.

Skills for your professional life (Transferable Skills)

After studying this module, students will have practised the following transferrable skills:

1. Application of theory to practice and real-world problems.


2. Team working though problem solving and discussion in groups and the chance to exchange opinions on a range of issues


3. Time-management and managing workload by keeping up with weekly activities and timely completion of assignments.


4. Resilience and confidence building through practicing and applying critical thinking, debating and analytical skills.


5. Enhancing critical thinking skills


6. Enhance IT skills relating to undertaking the tasks set, i.e.  the reading requirements, researching resources, data analysis, production and presentation of assignments.


7. Reflective practice by engaging in regular self-evaluations.


8. Managing research projects

Syllabus

The core syllabus is intended to facilitate students’ development in the following skills in English. It will provide input on and practice for:

Grammar and Vocabulary

• Recalling and using a range of specified lexical items


• Producing well-formed collocations from lexical items


• Deploying a range of specified syntactic structures in well-formed sentence

Reading

• Independent prediction and deduction techniques


• Independent skimming of text for overall meaning


• Scanning a text for specific information


• Learning techniques for dealing with unknown vocabulary


• Note-taking


• Recognising cohesive devices


• Awareness and understanding of sentence structure

Writing

• Complex sentence and paragraph structure


• Writing an assignment / essay (descriptive, discursive) / report as appropriate to discipline


• Conveying a clear line of ‘argumentation’ within one paragraph in order to achieve a specified purpose (micro skills)


• Conveying a clear line of ‘argumentation’ between paragraphs in order to achieve a specified purpose (macro skills)


• Writing introductions and conclusions


• Introduction to key discourse markers and cohesive devices


• Effective punctuation


• Identifying and correcting errors


• Using sources relevant to topic
  

Listening

• Prediction and deduction techniques


• Listening for gist


• Listening for key information


• Introduction of basic strategies for dealing with incomplete comprehension


• Enhancing note-taking skills and taking notes of key points from a B2/C1 European Framework level listening text


• Recognising features of spoken language
  

Speaking

• Strategies for dealing with pronunciation miscues


• Forming questions using suitable academic register


• Responding to questions using suitable academic register


• Expressing opinions about a short academic text


• Agreeing/disagreeing using suitable academic register


• Exchanging basic general information


• Active, proficient participation in seminar discussion

This module will be delivered via:

• Five 2-hour seminars in the AU Term and
• Three 2-hour seminars in the SP and SU Terms.

Students will be guided to make use of the facilities online and in the Albert Sloman Library. Individual support will be provided and students will be encouraged to work independently.