IL1PIALS4N-Integrated Academic Language Skills 4

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

Module Convenor: Mrs Sarah Harford
Email: s.k.harford@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module is taught twice to two different cohorts of students, one in the Autumn term and one in the Summer vacation.  The contact hours are listed for the first iteration of teaching in the Autumn term and these same contact hours are repeated for the second iteration of teaching in the Summer vacation.

As a final - or 'exit' - component of the Pre-sessional English Language Programme (PSE), this module aims to help students develop their academic language skills to the level necessary for successful engagement with their university degree programme study.   

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, interdisciplinary academic themes. It will include some focus on exam practice activities in preparation for the Test of English for Educational Purposes (TEEP) which assesses students on their integrated academic language skill proficiency.

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:

• listen to and understand the key points from academic lectures, taking effective and selective notes to meet the required purpose.


• read academic texts purposefully to identify main ideas, key points and particular details.


• use listening-into-writing and reading-into-writing skills to develop arguments within a written text.


• write clear, detailed exam-style academic Essay texts in response to prompts and under timed conditions, synthesising and evaluating information and arguments from a number of sources.


• participate in discussions in a range of academic contexts,  conveying information clearly, expressing and seeking opinions and  responding appropriately to interlocutors.


• draw on a wide range of grammatical structures and vocabulary to express complex ideas with reasonable fluency and accuracy.

Additional outcomes:

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

• exercise autonomy and initiative in time management


• use a variety of strategies and resources for the purpose of independent language study


• become a confident user of the university’s VLE [Blackboard], submission and assessment tools e.g. Feedback Studio, and other learning technologies e.g. Office 365


• reflect on the skills and language needed to continue developing


• understand how to use tutor feedback to identify areas for improvement

Outline content:

The content of this module will be organised via two consecutive accessible interdisciplinary academic topics based on University of Reading research themes.

Written and spoken texts on each theme will be used to practice:

• academic reading and reading-into-writing skills


• academic listening and listening-into-writing skills


• skills for integrating sources, including paraphrasing, summarising and synthesising


• expository timed writing skills


• speaking skills for seminar discussions


• related exam skills for the Test of English for Educational Purposes (TEEP)

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, interdisciplinary academic 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.  

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	5
Seminars	42
Guided independent study:
Preparation for seminars	22
Revision and preparation	18
Reflection	18
Total hours by term	105	0	0
Total hours for module	105

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Class test administered by School	100

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

The Test of English for Educational Purposes (TEEP)

Formative assessment methods:

Students will regularly receive formative feedback on language skills tasks completed during the module.

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:

The grades required for successfully completing the Pre sessional English Language course will vary according to the University entry requirement for students’ intended degree programmes.

Reassessment arrangements:

Re-assessment is through the Test of English for Educational Purposes (TEEP).

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books: 

2) Specialist equipment or materials: 

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear: 

4) Printing and binding: 

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification: 

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence: 

Last updated: 2 October 2023