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  1. Languages, Linguistics and Film
  2. Language Centre
  3. Graduate Diploma
  4. PMP English Language and Study Skills

English Language and Study Skills (IFP/IFJ 6000)

Overview

The English Language and Study Skills (ELSS) is a core module of the Pre-Masters Graduate Diploma Programmes. It provides you with an understanding of UK academic culture and helps you to develop the linguistic, analytical and argumentative skills necessary to succeed on a postgraduate degree programme in both written and spoken work. The module will introduce the skills of referencing, summarising and paraphrasing, essay design and will raise awareness of issues relating to plagiarism. You will be exposed to different styles of academic texts within the disciplines of Humanities and Social Sciences, focusing on the development and evaluation of arguments as well as on linguistic features, such as syntactic and grammatical patterns.  It also prepares and supports you linguistically and academically for the Independent Research Project modules (IFP/IFPJ6011/6012/6013/6014).

Module Structure

You will have six hours of academic reading and writing each week, plus two hours of LCSS (lecture comprehension and seminar skills) across both semesters and two hours of grammar (semester 1 only).  In addition you will have individual tutorials of 20 – 30 mins every second week.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this module you will be able to:

  • Demonstrate the English language ability and study skills required for entry to and potential success in a taught masters degree programme;
  • Read and think critically in order to question, examine arguments/ideas, and evaluate evidence and conclusions for their reliability and validity;
  • Actively engage with academic reading texts through discussion/debate and synthesize ideas and evidence, applying appropriate knowledge and skills flexibly;
  • Write coherently in a variety of academic styles (eg argumentative, discursive, critical, persuasive) to the standards of masters level writing;
  • Synthesize ideas and evidence and apply appropriate knowledge and skills in order to produce written or oral academic work;
  • Engage, lead and be proactive in academic discussions, and work effectively in groups;
  • Apply critical reading and thinking skills in oral and written communication;
  • Develop analytical skills through guided and independent study and research;
  • Develop linguistic skills to produce cohesive and coherent texts in English, meeting the requirements at Masters level;
  • Demonstrate cognitive skills transference;
  • Use self-organisational and group-working skills.

Aims

The module aims to introduce international and EU students to UK HE language and study skills requirements and standards, to support you in your academic modules and to provide the language skills you need to succeed at taught masters level. This will be achieved by scaffolding the required skills, both linguistic and cognitive, so that you produce linguistically sophisticated work that demonstrates a clear line of argumentation.

Assessment

You will be assessed by both coursework and exam:

  • Portfolio (30%)
  • Writing test (20%)
  • Seminar Skills (10%)
  • Final exam (40%)

Who teaches this module?

Carerina de Rosa, Charlotte Assimakopoulos, James Crichton Bell, Julian Ridler, Sharon Turner.

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