This English for Academic Purposes module helps you to improve your level of English so that you can perform satisfactorily at a British university. In addition, the module will also give you lots of opportunity to practise your learning skills - vital for success at university. A third aspect - especially useful if you happen to be new to British higher education system - explores academic conventions here in the UK.

So, the first aspect of the module will be practice of the four major language skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing), all geared to the academic situation. The second part of the module - which is about improving your language skills - will involve discussing efficient study methods and than actually putting them into practice. Turning to the third aspect of the module - academic conventions at a British university - we'll be looking at examples where students and academics have used the conventions well. Then you'll try your hand at applying the conventions for yourself.

The basic textbook is:

Cox, K & Hill, D (2004) EAP Now! (Student's Book). Harlow, Longman.

There are two parts to the assessment. They will both take place towards the end f semester. The first is a 1000 words research project. The second is a 10-minute presentation on your project. Here are the details:

1) Research project (1000 words, 50%, Learning Outcomes 1,3 & 4 - Knowledge and Understanding, Analysis, Written Communication, Problem solving)

As members of the group will be studying different subjects, we think it's best if you choose your own topic. But to save you wasting your valuable time, we'll ask you to agree your choice with your tutor. Your topic can be on an academic subject (though we think it would be better and easier to choose an aspect of the subject you study). Once you have decided on your topic, you will find out information about it using the University library, the internet etc. (This is known as research) You won't be alone: your tutor will be there to support you.

2) Seminar presentation and seminar performance (10 mins for presentation, continous assessment for seminar performance, 50%, Learning Outcomes 1 and 2 - Knowledge and Understanding, Application)

There are two parts to this assessment. For the first part - seminar presentation - you will give a short talkabout your project in front of your classmates. For the second part - seminar performance - you will need to take part actively in class throughout the module. Here are the details:
a) Seminar presentaion (25%): you'll talk about two main aspects of your project. First, you'll give us an overview of what you are writing about. Second, you'll talk about the actual process of doing the project (for example, how and why you choose your topic, difficulties with your reseach, where you got your information from, how you solved your problems, etc).
b) Seminar performance (25%): it's very important to take part actively in your learning. That's why we'll be assessing your class contributions during the module. Your tutor will give you a score to reflect what you say and what you do in class. This will be an impression mark based on the tutor's observation of you throughout the module - continous assessment in other words.

You will have an IELTS level of 6 or equivalent.

The library
A PC with MS Office and the Internet
Individual and group study space
A good advanced learner's English dictionary
Multimedia equipment (DVD player, listening station)

This module has 40 hours of whole class contact - 4 hours for most weeks. In addition, you will also have tutorial time with the module tutor towards the end of your module. There's a lot of work to get through, so it's essential that you ay=ttend all sessions.

Normally, you'll be spending four hours class contact time developing the learning and improving on the skills you need to succeed at a British university. Learning strategies will be varied: you'll be working on your own, with a partner, in a group, or with the class as a whole. You'll be listening, speaking, reading and writing, both in class and at home. We'll have pair discussion, group debates, presentations, audio-visual inputs, short tutor lectures, seminars and tutorials. The in-class activities will be supplemented by your independaent study outside class, doing such things as working with computer programmes, reading you textbook, carrying out specific language tasks and so on. You'll also be taking practice tests to help you with the final assessments at the end of the semester. Last but not least, we very much hope you'll set up self-help study support groups with your fellow students. You might like to use some of your independent study time to work with other students on the module to maximise your learning.

A vitally important part of the module learning strategies will be your tutorial time with the module tutor. You will have about 30 minutes with your tutor towards the end of the semester. It is vital that you prepare well for your tutorial sessions so that you get the most out of the time you have with the tutor. In these sessions, you will explore with your tutor how your written project research is progressing.

You may share this module with the students who are at a more advanced level in the university (for example, at level 3). A lot of the teaching you get will be the same for both you and the higher level students. Your tutorials, though, will be tailored specifically to your level and your needs. And obviously the independent study which you do outside class will be targeted at your individual requirements. Apart from that, you will take different assessments: your written project and presentation are shorter. And we will expect Level 1 seminar performance from you rather than a Level 3 performance. The criteria (that is to say, standards) that we use to assess you are also suited to your level.

We think there are clear advantages to this way of teaching. First, we can afford financially to put on a useful modle to help you improve your study and language skills. Second, we hope that you can benefit from the grater experience of the more advanced students (of course, we are sure that they too will benefit from learwning with you!). Third, you will be mixing with a wider rnge of people - not just students in your level. We think this should make a stimulating and exciting learning environment.