HS235-5-PS-CO:
Introduction to Speech and Language Therapy
2024/25
Health and Social Care (School of)
Colchester Campus
Spring & Summer
Undergraduate: Level 5
Current
Thursday 27 March 2025
Thursday 12 June 2025
15
08 March 2024
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
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This module will introduce students to the core knowledge and skills of speech and language therapy, enabling them to develop an understanding of communication across the lifespan.
Students will explore the key components of human communication (speech including phonology and articulation, language development and linguistics, pragmatics, total communication) and how they typically develop. They will be introduced to the concept of clinical phonetics and linguistics which will be covered in greater detail in Years 3 and 4. Students will draw on their experiences in order to develop an understanding of the breadth of human communication and the theoretical framework that underpins speech and language therapy.
The aim of this module is:
- To introduce students to the core knowledge and skills of speech and language therapy enabling them to consider their and others’ communication and to identify the factors that inhibit or promote successful communication.
By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:
- Demonstrate understanding of the professional values and scope of practice of registrant Speech and Language Therapists.
- Demonstrate emergent professional skills in appropriately relevant locations e.g. linking language and literacy skills across the lifespan / augmented communication.
- Demonstrate knowledge of core social contexts relevant to the Speech & Language Therapy profession (e.g. home, education, health, social care).
- Demonstrate knowledge of typical communication and literacy development across the lifespan.
- Describe the core components of language and literacy readiness.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the processes involved in the ‘Speech Chain’.
- Demonstrate the ability to phonetically transcribe typical speech sounds.
- Demonstrate the ability to analyse typical grammar.
- Identify high frequency syntactic and phonetic features of languages commonly spoken in the UK.
Keynote lectures, blended learning, group work.
Indicative content:
- Definitions of phonology, articulation, receptive and expressive language, semantics, pragmatics, total communication.
- History and international definitions of Speech and Language Therapy.
- Core skills of a Speech and Language Therapist.
- Introduction to linguistics and phonetics in a clinical context.
- Disciplines and approaches drawn upon in Speech and Language Therapy e.g. psychology, Sociology, Child development, healthy ageing.
- Communication across the lifespan.
- Factors that impact upon communication success.
This module will be delivered via a variety of teaching methods.
Lectures will cover key concepts. These will be supported by practical sessions and the use of simulated practice to enable the students to make the links between theory and practice.
Additional support will be provided through individual and group tutorial sessions.
Some student-led sessions are included.
Rotational placement between an education setting, care of older adults and one other setting e.g. day services.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
No
No
No
No external examiner information available for this module.
Available via Moodle
No lecture recording information available for this module.
* Please note: due to differing publication schedules, items marked with an asterisk (*) base their information upon the previous academic year.
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