Alongside language development, the course incorporates skills that support university study, including discussion skills, presentation skills, critical thinking, note-taking, collaborative working and written communication. Students will be encouraged to become more independent learners and confident communicators, enabling them to participate fully in lectures, seminars, group work and assessments. To enable this, students will start with some fundamental grammar points, learn subject-specific vocabulary around a number of common topics and learn some reading and listening strategies for both gist and detail.
Grammar
By the end of the course, students will be better able to use;
- A range of present and past tenses
- Future forms
- Language to make predictions
- Comparatives and superlatives
- Modal verbs of advice, deduction, probability
- Conditionals
- Passive voice
- Relative clauses
Vocabulary
By the end of the course, students will be better able to use vocabulary to discuss the following areas;
- Education and study skills
- Work and careers
- Technology and communication
- Health and wellbeing
- Society and culture
- Relationships and personality
- Current issues and contemporary topics
- Academic and professional communication
Speaking and Listening
By the end of the course, students will be better able to;
- Express and justify opinions
- Participate in debates and discussions
- Ask and answer questions confidently
- Deliver short presentations
- Communicate effectively in group work
- Understand spoken English is professional and academic situations
- Listen for key ideas and main themes
Reading
By the end of the course, students will be better able to;
- Understand longer texts and articles
- Identify main arguments and supporting information
- Read critically and evaluate information
- Develop reading fluency and confidence
- Build academic vocabulary through reading activities
Writing
By the end of the course, students will be better able to;
- Write well-structured paragraphs
- Develop and support ideas clearly
- Write reflective responses
- Produce short reports and summaries
- Use grammar and vocabulary accurately and effectively
- Improve organisation and coherence in written work
- Proofread and identify mistakes in their writing
There are no entry requirements. Students will be referred by lecturers/PATs and also after PFF/PFD sessions when applicable.
Teaching is delivered through a communicative and interactive approach that encourages students to actively use English in meaningful contexts. Lessons combine language development with practical activities that support Higher Education study. Students will participate in discussions, presentations, collaborative tasks, reading and listening activities, grammar workshops and guided writing practice. Teaching on this course will be inductive and learner-centred, with an emphasis on developing independent learners, with study skills that will enable them to be successful on their current Higher Education courses. Regular feedback and progress reviews will support students in identifying areas for improvement and developing greater confidence in their language skills.
There are no formal summative assessments or pass/fail outcomes associated with this course. The programme is designed to provide ongoing language development and support students' success within their Higher Education studies.
Student progress will be monitored through regular classroom activities, discussions, written tasks, presentations, and tutor observations. Formative feedback will be provided throughout the course to help students identify strengths, set personal learning goals, and continue developing their English language skills. Opportunities for self-reflection and individual progress reviews will encourage students to take an active role in their language development.
