This module will help you to develop all four basic language skills ¿ listening, speaking, reading and writing. This is an essential basis for your further study and for living and working in the UK.

In both semesters, you will be using a variety of materials, including a course-book or course-books at an appropriate level and any other materials which your tutor thinks appropriate. For example, Language Leader Intermediate might be used in the first semester and FCE Gold Plus in the second.

These assessments are internal exams. However, the module also prepares you for an external SELT; namely, the Cambridge First Certificate exam (see award handbook for more details).

A speaking test (weighted at 25%); a listening test (weighted at 25%); a writing test (weighted at 25%); a reading test (weighted at 25%).


This module is assessed by four elements:

(1) A speaking test of up to 15 minutes which will normally consist of three parts: a general conversation, a mini-presentation and a conversation with the examiner, all on general topics (LO 1 & 2).
(2) A listening test of up to 40 minutes which will normally consist of a mixture of tasks based on conversations and monologues on a variety of themes (LO 2).
(3) A writing test of up to 60 minutes which will normally consist of two writing tasks on general themes (LO 1 & 2).
(4) A reading test of up to 60 minutes which will normally consist of a number of tasks (e.g. matching exercises, gap fills, etc) (LO 2).

Students are required to pass all elements of the assessment for this module.

We will be using Cambridge First Certificate materials as well as materials available in the media, on the Internet and supplementary materials supplied by your tutor. Possible texts include:
Cotton, D. et al. (2008). Language Leader Intermediate. Pearson Longman, Essex.
Newbrook, J. et al. (2008). FCE Gold Plus. Pearson Longman, Essex.

The Library
A PC with MS Office and Internet
Individual and group study space
A good advanced learner¿s English Dictionary
Multimedia equipment (DVD player, listening station)

This module has 192 hours of whole class contact ¿ typically ten hours per week. In the class contact hours, you will be working with the tutor and your fellow students. Examples of the sort of activities you will be doing in the course are:

¿ Writing about various themes
¿ Speaking in pairs, small groups and whole group discussions
¿ Listening to a variety of people talking in different situations
¿ Reading a range of texts on varied topics of interest