Aims and Fit of Module

To provide a foundation in English language, critical thinking and independent learning skills in the context of students’ program clusters, bringing their English language skills to a high Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) B1 level, with a general level of ability that is broadly comparable to Southern England Consortium for Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SEEC) Level 2. A mark of 40% on this module is benchmarked against a high CEFR B1 level, while a mark of 70% is benchmarked against a low CEFR B2 level.


Students passing this module with a score of 70% or higher are able to progress on to take two specialized 5-credit modules in Semester 2 in place of a 10-credit EAP module. Those passing with a score of 69% or lower must join the 10-credit Semester 2 EAP module for their cluster.


NOTE:

CEFR B2 level English language ability is a UK Home Office requirement for a Tier 4 visa, which is necessary for entry into a UK University.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the module, students should be able to perform the following tasks at a standard no less than a high CEFR B1 level and/or SEEC Level 2:


A. Deliver a prepared presentation on a familiar topic that is generally clear enough to be followed without difficulty.

B. Take part in routine formal discussion of familiar subjects involving the exchange of factual information, or the discussion of solutions to practical problems.

C. Follow and take notes of a structured lecture or talk on a familiar topic.

D. Read and comprehend factual texts on issues related to students’ program clusters.

E. Produce writing that appropriately summarizes, reports on and/or gives opinions about factual information on issues related to students’ program clusters.

F. Demonstrate awareness of written academic register (including vocabulary, sentence structure and cohesive devices) and write with a comprehensible level of grammatical, lexical and mechanical accuracy.

G. Organize time and resources appropriately in response to academic tasks and deadlines.

H. Be aware of university penalties for committing academic offences and demonstrate a basic competence in strategies (including using references appropriately) to avoid plagiarism, collusion and the embellishment of data. 

Method of teaching and learning

•	Students will be divided into levels based on their performance on an English language test taken prior to the start of this module. Lower-level groups will focus on meeting the basic requirements of each module learning outcome, while higher-level groups will be encouraged to exceed these requirements. Although the syllabus for each level may vary in response to student needs, all levels will cover all module learning outcomes.

•	Students will have 8 hours per week of integrated skills classes, covering reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills.

•	No more than 4 teaching hours on this module may be replaced with one-on-one or small-group tutorials.

•	Students will have 2 hours per week of writing workshops. This consists of a large-group session where a writing task is assigned, followed by workshop sessions in small groups, where tutors can help students with their writing.

•	Students will be given assistance to develop a program of self-study through the semester using a variety of online and other resources to help them meet the learning outcomes of the module. In particular, students are encouraged to engage in extended reading to enhance their lexical resource.