LS3PCP-Professional Communication Project

Module Provider: English Language and Applied Linguistics
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:6
Terms in which taught: Summer / Autumn / Spring module
Pre-requisites: LS1ELS English Language and Society LS1SG Sounds, Grammar and Meaning
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded: LS3DI Dissertation
Current from: 2021/2

Module Convenor: Dr Christiana Themistocleous
Email: c.themistocleous@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

In a competitive job market, understanding how the professional workplace functions, along with well-developed employability skills are essential to securing future employment.  This module aims to help students understand how to apply the knowledge and skills they have learned in their BA programme in English Language and Linguistics to the completion of a professional placement. Students may choose this module (plus an additional optional module) in lieu of LS3DI.

Aims:

In this module students will undertake a placement in which they will apply their knowledge about language, linguistics, and communication.  Students will work with a placement provider (e.g. organisation, company, individual) and they will be supervised by an academic staff member. The placement itself aims to familiarise students with the professional work environment, provide the opportunity for students to acquire new skills and develop an awareness of the job sector. Possible placement roles include designing promotional material, websites, or newsletters for an organisation or company, engaging in social media marketing, planning and executing a public event, working as a research assistant on a project, or conducting research for a company or organisation and so on. Placements can be paid or unpaid.

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the module it is expected that the student will be able to:

• apply concepts from their study of language and linguistics to the domain of the workplace;


• locate and assemble sources of information necessary for completing the project;


• communicate effectively with the range of different kinds of people and organizations;


• critically reflect on their experience.

Additional outcomes:

• The module aims to enhance potential employability on graduation by providing practical experience in the workplace, encouraging development of greater understanding of workplace requirements, and enabling insights on the relationship between the student’s academic studies and their application in practice in a professional setting.


• Confidence, a sense of responsibility, and communication skills will be enhanced.


• Students who successfully complete the module should be able to demonstrate an awareness of how their transferable skills fit into the chosen institution, and identify criteria necessary to enhance his/her value to the institution in the context of graduate employment.

Outline content:

Part 2

A compulsory orientation workshop will be offered at the beginning of the summer term aiming to help students find a suitable placement. Supervisors will be allocated at this point. Thereafter, students can arrange drop-in sessions with the careers consultant and supervisor to discuss suitable placements and how to secure one. 

Part 3

Students will attend a compulsory, pre-placement brief ing. After the selection of placement providers and successful completion of relevant paperwork, students will work with their supervisor and placement provider to complete the Proposal which sets the aims and objectives of the placement. This must be approved by the supervisor and the placement provider at the start of the placement. Academic supervision sessions (3 hours per term) will provide guidance on the conduct of the placement at all stages, paying particular attention to the effective and ethical implementations, problem-solving, and critical evaluation of outcomes. The placement should be minimum 75 hours and it can be done either as a block or spread out. In the Spring Term students will attend a compulsory, post-placement briefing. Students will also be invited to present their experience to the next cohort in a placement event that will take place in the Spring term.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Workshops and orientation sessions; Individual supervision, including tutorial support for placements and their assessed work; work-placement should last minimum 75 hours.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Seminars	2	2	2
Tutorials	3	3	3
Work-based learning	37.5	37.5
Guided independent study:	55.5	54.5
Total hours by term	98	97	5
Total hours for module	200

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written assignment including essay	50
Project output other than dissertation	50

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

 1. Project output (50%): Upon completion of the placement, students will be required to present the work they conducted and the activities they were involved with during their placement in a screencast, poster or short report, depending on the nature of their work (to be agreed in the Proposal). The placement provider will be asked to complete an evaluation form which will be taken into consideration when assessing the student’s work.

2. Reflective essay (50%): Students will write an essay reflecting on their placement experience e.g., day-to-day activities, skills gained and how the placement has contributed to the students’ personal growth and professional development.

Formative assessment methods:

Proposal: This document will set the aims and objectives of the placement. It must be completed at the beginning of the placement and agreed both by the placement provider and supervisor. Students will receive formative feedback on the proposal. 

Penalties for late submission:

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/FILES/qualitysupport/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

A mark of 40% overall.

Reassessment arrangements:

Re-examination by dissertation to be submitted by 12 noon on the third Friday in August in the year the course is taken.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

Last updated: 8 April 2021