Unit information: Pre-sessional Language C in 2016/17

Unit name	Pre-sessional Language C
Unit code	LANG00015
Credit points	60
Level of study	QCA-3
Teaching block(s)	Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52)
Unit director	Mr. Jenkins
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	The IELTS level that you need to enter the unit will depend on the IELTS required to progress to your next course of study. See our website for details. http://www.bristol.ac.uk/english-language/study/pre-sessional-courses/entry-requirements/
Co-requisites	None
School/department	Centre for Academic Language and Development
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

The main aims of the Pre-sessional are:

• to improve students' command of general and subject-specific academic English;
• to develop the academic skills necessary to succeed at a British university;
• to help students adapt to living and studying in a UK higher education environment;
• to help students meet the English language conditions for entrance to UK universities.

The 14-week pre-sessional allows students with a lower IELTS writing band to benefit from 4 extra weeks of concentrated language and writing tuition before moving into the 10-week unit.

Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of this pre-sessional, you will be able to:

1. understand and use appropriate academic language and style;
2. apply appropriate listening and note-taking strategies in an academic context;
3. apply appropriate reading strategies for a variety of academic purposes;
4. present and discuss your work with a non-expert international audience;
5. use the work of others appropriately in your academic work;
6. evidence learning through writing under timed conditions;
7. apply critical questioning to all aspects of your academic work;
8. reflect on your learning and set appropriate goals.

Teaching Information

The course is taught over 14 weeks. The course is taught in small groups of 12-15 students. You will be expected to take an active part in interactive classroom activities, including pair and group work, peer review, seminars, presentations. You will also be asked to prepare reading or listening texts in advance of the class and follow up class work to consolidate your learning. You are also encouraged to make full use of the online learning environment - particularly the interactive academic grammar. There will also be weekly tutorials.

Assessment Information

Literature Review (20%) 1,500 words (ILOs 1,3,5,7,8)

Guided process throughout the course with formative feedback on annotated bibliography, outline, and first draft. Final draft is assessed summatively.

Reading Test (20%) 45 minutes (ILOs 1,3,7)

Reading a text in advance. Answering questions on the text under exam conditions.

Listening Test (20%) 70 minutes (ILOs 1,2,7)

Part 1: Listen and respond to a dialogue set in the university environment. (5 mins)

Part 2: Watching a video lecture (20 minutes), taking notes from the video lecture (20 minutes), using the notes to answer questions (25 minutes).

Timed Short Answer Questions (20%) 250 words (ILOs 1,2,3,4,5,6,7)

A response to a question based on the content of the British Culture element of the course. You will be required to show evidence of understanding of the issues and concepts discussed in the course from a range of perspectives.

Oral Presentation (20%) (ILOs 1,3,4,5,7,8)

You will prepare and deliver a 12-15 minute presentation, incorporating rationale for and the findings of your literature review, as well as your reflections on what you learned from the process. You will present to an audience of your peers.

Reading and References

As directed by teaching staff.