IL1PIALS1N-Integrated Academic Language Skills 1

Module Provider: International Study and Language Institute
Number of credits: 0 [0 ECTS credits]
Level:4
Terms in which taught: Summer term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Mr James Wylie
Email: j.wylie@reading.ac.uk

Module Co-convenor: Miss Victoria Collins
Email: v.collins@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

As a component of the Pre-sessional English Language Programme (PSE), this module aims to help students develop their academic language skills for successful engagement with their university degree programme study.   It prepares students for entry onto the next part of the Pre-sessional English Programme (PSE), Integrated Academic Language Skills 2 (N.B. the final six weeks of the PSE consist of the exit modules, Integrated Academic Language Skills 4 (IL1PIALS4N) and Academic Practices and Genres (IL1PAPGPN/IL1PAPGUN) which further develop and summatively assess students' readiness to start their degree programmes.

Aims:

This module aims to help students develop their academic language proficiency for successful engagement with their university degree programme study, integrating practice of the fours skills, reading, writing, listening and speaking. 

Assessable learning outcomes:

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

LO1 Write a source-based academic factorial and consequential essay

LO2 Organise the ideas, paragraphs and sections of an essay coherently and cohesively

LO3 Draw on a wide range of grammatical structures and vocabulary to express complex ideas with reasonable fluency and accuracy

LO4 Mediate written information, conveying ideas from reading in writing, utilising appropriate paraphrasing and summarising skills

LO5 Attribute sources accurately within texts produced, using appropriate in-text and end-of-text citation methods

LO6 Participate in discussions in a range of academic contexts, conveying information clearly, expressing and seeking opinions and responding appropriately to interlocutors

LO7 Use and evaluate evidence from written and spoken sources within a spoken discussion

Additional outcomes:

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

LO8 Perform critical evaluation

LO9 Become a confident user of the university’s VLE (Blackboard), submission and assessment tools e.g. Feedback Studio, and other learning technologies (e.g. Microsoft 365)

LO10 Recognise the link between writing or speaking performance and assessment criteria

LO11 Use peer and tutor feedback to identify areas for improvement

LO12 Exercise autonomy and initiative in time management for coursework tasks

LO13 Collaborate and participate appropriately in group work and manage group tasks effectively

LO14 Use a variety of strategies and resources for the purpose of independent language study

LO15 Reflect on the skills and language needed to continue developing

LO16 Listen and understand in general, academic (e.g. in the classroom and to academic talks) and social contexts

Outline content:

The module will help students to acquire the skills and knowledge to engage effectively with spoken and written tasks common to university study through:

 

• Analysing the purpose, stages and key features of the spoken and written coursework genres.


• Extracting information from spoken and written texts relevant to the purpose of the tasks.


• Constructing the final response to the tasks independently [of the tutor] for final assessment.


• Practice of language to achieve a good control of grammatical forms, appropriate use of vocabulary for the context of the genre and topic, and a generally appropriate level of intelligibility.

Global context:

This module supports internationalisation at Reading by facilitating successful and equal inclusion of students whose first language is not English in UK degree programme study.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

The module will take a task-based, contextualised approach which integrates practice and development of receptive (listening, reading) and productive (speaking, writing) academic English communication skills around accessible themes.

The module will adopt an overall ‘genre’ approach, taking the social purpose of texts as the starting point to explicate organisation/structure and key language features.

The Systemic Functional Linguistic (SFL) framework, which links language to purpose and genre, will guide the teaching of linguistic and discoursal features of academic communication.

The module consists of practical classes and guided independent study tasks. Team work, discussion and peer feedback are central elements to this course.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures			10
Seminars			63
Guided independent study:
Wider reading (directed)			12
Advance preparation for classes			10
Preparation for seminars			10
Preparation for performance			15
Completion of formative assessment tasks			10
Essay preparation			20
Reflection			25
Total hours by term	0	0	175
Total hours for module	175

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method

Percentage

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Formative assessment methods:

There are two formative assessments: an individual written assignment and a group discussion.

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: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/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:

Reassessment arrangements:

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

Last updated: 27 June 2023