You'll be working in workshop mode with the tutor and your fellow students (usual group size about 20 students). You will be practising the skills you need for the assessment. `Workshop mode - means that the teacher will not usually stand in front of the class and lecture you. In a workshop, you will normally work with other students in English, increasing your understanding of your chosen field of study, analysing and solving various subject-related problems and applying your new knowledge and communicating it to your fellow students and the tutor in writing or in speaking.

For example, if you are a business student, one week you might be asked to read about a new business venture, and then discuss this in class. For homework, you could perhaps write about this topic. The next week, you could be listening to reports about the economic situation and then discuss this or write about it.

If you are a computing student, you might be asked to research a product or service on the internet and then give a presentation about it to the group. The group might ask questions or talk about problems and you would then perhaps write a report answering the questions or solving the problems. In another class, you could listen to a radio programme about an aspect of computing, and then perhaps write a summary of what you've heard, or respond to it in writing (e.g. by suggesting solutions to a problem).

The important aim is to give you the chance to practise your subject-related English in real-life scenarios that will develop your English and your communication skills.

Your tutor will provide you with appropriate materials to support your learning in this module.
Examples of textbooks for each discipline could be:
Walker, C. (2008) English for Business Studies, Course book and Audio CDs, Garnet Education.
Ibbotson, M. and Day, J. (2008) Cambridge English for Engineering, Cambridge University Press.

Glendinning, E. and McEwan, J. (2006) Oxford English for Information Technology, Oxford University Press.

* 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)

You will have reached a level of GCSE + 1 year or equivalent in your education system.

The aim of this module is to prepare you for further study in the area of your chosen discipline of degree study and your professional life. It develops the communication skills and discipline-specific English language knowledge and vocabulary. It covers a wide range of topics common to the studies of your chosen discipline.

This module is assessed by a closed-book examination. The exam will consist of three parts: (1) a reading and writing exam; (2) a speaking exam; and (3) a listening exam.

1) 2 hour reading and writing exam (40% of marks - learning outcome 1)
In this exam, you will be provided with written texts on a topic of your chosen discipline. Your job is to read the materials and then respond to them in writing. So, for example, you might be asked to summarise the views expressed in the text, and then go on to write about your opinion on this issue.

2) 10-15 minute speaking exam (25% of marks - learning outcome 2)
There are two parts to this exam. In the first part (about 5 minutes), you present a professional situation of your own choice (subject to prior tutor approval). The second part of the exam will take the form of a discussion session with the examiner on your chosen topic (about 10 minutes)

3) 45 minute listening and writing exam (35% of marks - learning outcome 3)
This exam will consist of a number of listening pieces which you will respond to in writing. Your response may take different forms, for example, a summary of what you have heard, answering questions or choosing an appropriate multiple-choice answer.