Course Catalogue

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This course develops English language communication skills in order to support professionally orientated post graduate students, for example, those studying within the Adam Smith Business School. There is an emphasis on developing interpersonal interaction and discourse competence in English to a peer group and on structuring responses to both written and spoken tasks.

The course runs for 10 weeks in Semester 1. There will be two 1 hour sessions in each of those weeks.

Overall IELTS 6.5 or language proficiency at this level, with no sub-test less than 6.

None

None

project portfolio comprising reflective writing tasks (30%)

classroom-based assessment of speaking skills (70%)

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. Where, exceptionally, reassessment on Honours courses is required to satisfy professional/accreditation requirements, only the overall course grade achieved at the first attempt will contribute to the Honours classification. For non-Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

The reflective writing portfolio (30%) cannot be reassessed because reflections are connected to learning cycles associated with out-of-class preparation and in-class practice. The group nature of the oral assessment: academic discussion assessment (25%), interview role play assessment (25%), and on-going spoken assessment (20%) prevent reassessment.

This course aims to:

■ develop English language proficiency in order to participate fully on business related Masters programmes and improve employability;

■ develop knowledge of genres and discourses particular to students' context;

■ provide structured opportunities to develop the practical skills needed to produce associated written and spoken text/content effectively.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ communicate effectively and appropriately across a defined range of spoken and written contexts.

■ respond in a structured manner to specific tasks/questions.

■ work autonomously to study/do group work in English in order to prepare effectively for, and therefore contribute to, tasks in class.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.