The Advanced English Programme (Year 1, Part 1) is an interactive, workshop-style course for BA_S1 students who have English as one of their subjects. Ideally, you should already have at least a B2 level in English as a result of high school studies in the language.
An English language teacher, in particular, has to demonstrate excellent speaking and listening (oracy) skills in English for their students. To help you to further develop your oral communication skills, this course focuses on some of the most important kinds of oral/aural communication (e.g. presentations, pair-, small- and whole-group discussions), including key principles (e.g. audience, purpose, context, repetition, clarity, simplicity), specific language (e.g. question formation, verbal signposting, defining language), and skills (e.g. introducing yourself, describing a photo, talking about people and various familiar and unfamiliar topics, using and presenting visuals, asking and answering questions, explaining concepts and complex ideas), as well as learning strategies (e.g. giving and receiving feedback, observing how others use the language and learning from them, recording new language), that BA_S1 students need to master in order to thrive as future teaching professionals, and as university students.
Evaluation is based on your performance in four formal speaking assignments (see below), staged throughout the course, as well as on your preparation for and active contribution to each class. Regular attendance throughout the course is also expected. You will receive a final grade for the course based on all of the above.
The four formal speaking assignments:
1. Describing a photo in detail (individual oral presentation)
2. Presenting biographical information (individual oral presentation via PowerPoint)
3. Explaining a concept (individual oral presentation)
4. Interactive speaking with a partner and the lecturer (collaborative speaking task)
The Advanced English Programme (Year 1, Part 1) is to be completed in combination with the course: Guided Autonomous Study (Year 1, Part 1). Please note that you will need to register for both of these courses separately. To successfully pass the Guided Autonomous Study (GAS) course, you are required to complete 10 portfolio tasks throughout the semester. You will receive a separate grade for the GAS course based on your completed portfolio (key criteria: content, language, organisation and presentation).
- Docente: Shane Bos