Aims and Fit of Module

The module aims to support students in the development of English language and academic skills specific for Design School.

The main emphasis of the module is for students to utilise English language skills to produce, evaluate, reflect on and present ideas through products in various oral and written forms relevant to their degree programmes.

Linguistic proficiency will be developed to approximate CEFR B2+ through close-alignment with the content and skills taught in the degree programmes. These abilities will enable students to function more effectively in their disciplinary studies, as well as in their future academic and professional career.

Learning outcomes

A. Employ listening strategies to enable general, detailed, and/or critical understanding of level-appropriate spoken texts and verbal interactions.
B. Employ reading strategies to enable general, detailed, and/or critical understanding of level-appropriate written texts.
C. Demonstrate speaking abilities with level-appropriate fluency and linguistic proficiency.
D. Demonstrate writing abilities with level-appropriate style and linguistic proficiency.
E. Demonstrate a range of academic skills (e.g. critique, reflection, adherence to academic integrity requirements, collaboration, problem-solving, digital literacy, etc.).

Method of teaching and learning

Following the practice of University of Liverpool’s English Language Centre, materials, instructional design and assessments will be framed according to the Academic Literacies approach. This means foregoing a one-size fits all study skills perspective on EAP in recognition of the fact that departments have their own set of academic literacy practices, in reading and writing particularly, that students need help understanding. To that end, materials
and assessments will be developed in consultation/collaboration with department academic staff. Smaller class groupings will allow for increased and sustained formative feedback which is both responsive and supportive of students’ needs.
 


Students will have four hours of classroom contact time (seminars) and seven hours of self-study per week. The seminars will be conducted using various EAP teaching approaches and methodologies that encourage students to discover meaning and knowledge independently and by working with peers. Students will also be given guidance on, and opportunities to practice the various skills mentioned in the learning outcomes. The self-study activities will be extensions and/or consolidation of work carried out in the seminars. 


Speaking coursework assessments normally take place during normal teaching weeks.