Run by School of Arts, Culture and Language

10.000 Credits or 5.000 ECTS Credits

Semester 1

Organiser: Mr Andrew Salter

This module, available only to non-native speakers of English, aims to improve students ability to understand and be understood in academic listening and speaking contexts, with a view to enhancing their BU learning experience. The module includes a variety of academic speaking situations, such as presentations, seminars, team decision-making, negotiation and interview. It focuses on various aspects of spoken English, such as fluency, accuracy, stress and intonation, pronunciation, and expression of ideas. It also addresses the problems students face in listening to and understanding a range of spoken-English accents. Students are encouraged to develop personal strategies for dealing with difficulties in these situations. Students awareness of their spoken weaknesses is raised through analysis of their own utterances. This enables them to begin to address the correction of their own individual errors.

Course is suitable for non native Speakers of English with an IELTS of less than 7.0.

good

Pass 50% A student has achieved a good standard of English language competence in speaking and listening skills in coursework and examination related to the learning outcomes above (equivalent to IELTS 6.5). There are some inaccuracies and pauses in spoken English which cause occasional lapses in fluency. Pronunciation is of an acceptable standard and may be understood by an L1 English speaker with only occasional difficulty. There is evidence of ability to self-correct errors. A student may be reticent but makes reasonably effective contributions in speaking situations. Notes from listening are mostly relevant and complete, although there are some inaccuracies. A student has fairly effective listening strategies but has occasional difficulty in understanding spoken English in unfamiliar situations.

excellent

Excellent 70% A student has achieved an excellent standard of English language competence in speaking and listening skills in coursework and examination, related to the learning outcomes above (equivalent to IELTS 7.0 or above). Spoken English is fluent and accurate. Pronunciation is good and easily understood by a native English speaker. A student is able to self-correct errors and apply a range of strategies to aid communication. S/he contributes actively and confidently in a speaking situation and is able to identify, note and use key points from listening effectively. There is evidence of well-developed, effective listening strategies and a student is able to understand and follow spoken English in any situation with comparative ease.

1. On successful completion of this module, students will:

   1. Be able to speak confidently to an audience and respond to questions in appropriate English.
   2. Have developed strategies to be able to listen, understand and take notes in a variety of listening situations.
   3. Have developed their awareness of and strategies to improve their errors in spoken English.
   4. Have developed the strategies and language to enable participation in and contribution to a range of academic learning scenarios.
   5. Be able to recognise and understand the effect of tone, mood implication etc in a listening situation.

Type	Name	Description	Weight
GROUP PRESENTATION	Group Presentation		30.00
INDIVIDUAL PRESENTATION	Individual Presentation		30.00
ESSAY	Essay - Exam substitute	An essay has, due to the possibility of Covid restrictions, been substituted for the usual Exam.	40.00

		Hours
Seminar		100

• Inter-personal - Able to question, actively listen, examine given answers and interact sensitevely with others
• Presentation - Able to clearly present information and explanations to an audience. Through the written or oral mode of communication accurately and concisely.
• Argument - Able to put forward, debate and justify an opinion or a course of action, with an individual or in a wider group setting

Compulsory in courses:

• W3BJ: MA Music with Education year 1 (MA/MUSED)

Optional in courses:

• Q1AX: MA Applied Linguistics for TEFL year 1 (MA/ALTEFL)
• Q1AN: MA Bilingualism year 1 (MA/BILING)
• X3AN: MA Education Studies year 1 (MA/EDST)
• X3BG: MA Education Studies (12-months) year 1 (MA/EST)
• Q1AB: MA Linguistics year 1 (MA/LING)
• Q1BB: MSc Language Acquisition & Development year 1 (MSC/LAD)