Module QXS-1002:
Advanced Vocabulary

Module Facts

Run by School of Arts, Culture and Language

10.000 Credits or 5.000 ECTS Credits

Semester 2

Organiser: Ms Emily Morris

Overall aims and purpose

To develop students' general and academic English vocabulary.

To raise students' awareness of the meanings of Latinate and other affixes used in English academic vocabulary and so to enable them to comprehend unfamiliar words and understand the morphological aspects of 'word families' in English.

Course content

This course is only available to students whose native language is not English and who have not passed the Cambridge Advanced level examination. Students who speak English at a native level, for example having learned with a native English speaking parent, are not eligible.

Assessment Criteria

threshold

40% A student has achieved the minimum acceptable standard of competence in coursework and examination relating to the learning outcomes above (equivalent to IELTS 6.0) A student has a basic awareness of word derivation and word families although there may be some errors of usage when s/he uses unfamiliar vocabulary in writing and speaking. A student shows some improvement in her/his general and subject specific English competence.

good

55% A student has achieved a good standard of competence in coursework and examination relating to the learning outcomes above (equivalent to IELTS 6.5). A student has a good awareness of word derivation and word families although there may be occasional errors of usage when s/he used unfamiliar vocabulary in writing and speaking. A student shows a good level of general and subject-specific English competence.

excellent

70% A student has achieved an exceptional standard of competence in coursework and examination relating to the learning outcomes above (equivalent to IELTS 7.0 or above). A student has an excellent awareness of word derivation and word families with very few errors of usage when s/he uses unfamiliar vocabulary in writing and speaking. A student shows excellent general and subject-specific English competence.

Learning outcomes

  1. On successful completion of the modules, a student will be able to:

    1. Understand the vocabulary of un-simplified academic texts in English related to their own specialist subjects.

    2. Use subject-specific vocabulary when writing texts in their own subject area.

    3. Understand the vocabulary of un-simplified general interest texts in English.

    4. Use general English vocabulary when giving presentations on a general topic.

    5. Correctly complete vocabulary exercises at a level commensurate with IELTS 6.0 and above.

Assessment Methods

Type Name Description Weight
Assignment 50.00
Vocabulary Exam 50.00

Teaching and Learning Strategy

Hours
Work-based learning

Teaching consists of a two-hour interactive class each week for 12 weeks. Each week, students are expected to complete exercises related to the work covered in class and to research in the library and on the Internet in preparation for their assignments. It is hoped that in 2021 this course will be face to face, but provision remains for it to be online, depending on government and university guidelines.

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Private study

Every week students work individually to prepare for work-based learning class time. They then work in small groups to compare and complete their preparation work, with each group given individually focused input from the tutor.

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Transferable skills

  • Literacy - Proficiency in reading and writing through a variety of media
  • Self-Management - Able to work unsupervised in an efficient, punctual and structured manner. To examine the outcomes of tasks and events, and judge levels of quality and importance
  • Exploring - Able to investigate, research and consider alternatives
  • Information retrieval - Able to access different and multiple sources of information
  • Inter-personal - Able to question, actively listen, examine given answers and interact sentistevely with others
  • Critical analysis & Problem Solving - Able to deconstruct and analyse problems or complex situations. To find solutions to problems through analyses and exploration of all possibilities using appropriate methods, rescources and creativity.
  • Presentation - Able to clearly present information and explanations to an audience. Through the written or oral mode of communication accurately and concisely.
  • Teamwork - Able to constructively cooperate with others on a common task, and/or be part of a day-to-day working team

Subject specific skills

  • Oral presentation skills & scholarly conventions - students will be able to present data, argumentation, findings and references in oral form in keeping with the conventions current in language science and English language studies.
  • Analysis & interpretation skills - students will be able to analyse, interpret data accurately, and draw appropriate conclusions based on the application of appropriate analytic and theoretical frameworks available in linguistics and English language studies.
  • Research skills - students will be able undertake independent research, involving formulating a research question, identifying and deploying appropriate linguistic methodology (theoretical or empirical) and data collection techniques (theoretical, experimental or field-based), and the selection and application of appropriate theoretical frameworks in order to adequately address the research question.
  • Problem solving - students will be able to evidence problem-solving skills in formulating problems (factual, empirical, theoretical) in precise terms, identifying key issues, and developing the confidence to address challenging problems using a variety of different approaches
  • Evaluation & reflection - students will be able to critically evaluate a particular position, viewpoint or argument in relation to a specific area of investigation. They will be able to reflect on the efficacy of a particular approach, practice or performance, and moderate these as a consequence in order to achieve specific goals.
  • Independent investigation - students will develop the ability to plan, design and execute a significant piece of research or inquiry, either independently or as a member of a team in order to discover a specific solution to an outstanding issue or question through searching out and synthesizing written, visual and oral information. Students will also develop skills of independent investigation, including interacting with peers and subjects/informants.
  • Fluency, confidence and proficiency in the use of English -students will demonstrate their ability and proficiency to use and understand and instruct others in English in a range of academic and classroom contexts.
  • Effective communication - students will develop the ability to communicate effectively, appropriately and confidently, in a range of contexts, to different audience types, and making use of a range of supporting materials
  • Learning to learn - students will learn to reflect, modify and improve their learning strategies
  • Working effectively with others - students will develop the ability to work well with others as part of a group or a team
  • Awareness of and appreciation for linguistic and cultural differences - students will develop an awareness of and an appreciation for the range and nature of linguistic and cultural diversity
  • Personal organisation - students will develop the ability to undertake self-directed study and learning with appropriate time-management
  • Proficiency in the use of English in reading, writing, speaking and/or listening - students will demonstrate proficiency in their ability to use and understand English in a range of different contexts and via different media.
  • Understanding of the nature and organization of language - students will demonstrate familiarity with observations and findings relating to various aspects of linguistic phenomena and organization.
  • Understanding the nature of commonalities and differences across languages - students will demonstrate familiarity with phenomena and findings relating to universals and diversity exhibited by and across languages.
  • Knowledge of the nature of language origins, change and use - students will demonstrate familiarity with phenomena and findings relating to the nature of language origins, the way language changes, and factors involved in and affecting language use.

Resources

Resource implications for students

n/a

Reading list

n/a

Courses including this module

Compulsory in courses:

Optional in courses: