1.07/8/9/10 ACADEMIC YEAR ENGLISH

Course Description

The course is designed for those students who wish to progress to higher education in the UK. To progress you will need a recognised English Language qualification.

Initially, there are 20 lessons per week of English to help students to improve their language skills. When students have achieved an appropriate level of English, IELTS preparation and Study Skills are introduced.

Throughout the year, students on this course have the opportunity to participate in university visits and attend afternoon programme activities. These include lectures on topics of cultural and academic interest, films, and play reading.

Course Objectives

The initial aim of the course is to improve and consolidate language skills. Once the students have built up a strong language foundation, attention is paid to the other components of the course, namely IELTS Preparation and Study Skills, together with further extension of English language skills. Students learn appropriate items, skills and strategies, and go on to practice applying them.

Course Content

1. English Language

The following skills receive attention:

Listening Comprehension

You will be introduced to a range of accents and speeds of speaking. You will be given a variety of tasks, such as form-filling, listening for the main idea, and noting details.

Speaking

The aim of these lessons is to increase your confidence and fluency through guided work, discussion, role-play and group or individual presentations. Attention is paid to clear production of connected speech as well as of individual sounds.

Reading

Skimming, scanning and predicting are emphasised here, along with strategies for dealing with unfamiliar vocabulary. We choose texts which vary progressively in terms of level, style, purpose and the amount of visual information contained.

Writing

You will be given training in writing for a number of purposes, and a balance of personal and impersonal styles and topics are selected. There is a natural progression from the construction of sentences through to compositions, with the amount of control and guidance varying according to the level of the class.

2. IELTS Preparation

3. Study Skills

The following study skills are normally included in the course:

• approaches to studying effectively

• academic reading skills including the vocabulary of textbooks and examinations

• note-taking (from audio and written material)

• critical thinking and critical analysis

• using appropriate language for presentations and discussions

• academic writing skills and readers’ expectations

Final Outcomes

By the end of the course, students should have reached a satisfactory level to prepare for academic studies and meet appropriate language requirements to realise their aims.

In this way, the students are thoroughly prepared to gain admission to universities and to derive the maximum benefit from their studies while they are there.

Duration: This course may be for 3 or 4 terms (in total 36 or 48 weeks).


External English Examinations at MLS

MLS is a centre for all the examinations listed below. As these examinations mainly test the English that is already being taught in English language or English for Business lessons, only a little extra preparation is usually required.

TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication) is recognised by a large number of corporations. It measures the English language skills of people working in an international environment. It is a suitable test for people working in, or interested in, business, commerce, and industry. However, the test does not require very specialised knowledge or vocabulary, so it should also be considered by students studying English, in addition to those taking English for Business or Business courses. TOEIC covers all levels, so can be taken by any student at MLS.

The SEFIC (Spoken English for Industry and Commerce) tests are set by the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry. They mainly test speaking, with some listening, some reading and very little writing except at the highest level. The levels at which this examination is offered are: Preliminary, Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, Level 4.

The BEC (Business English Certificate) is a Cambridge English language examination for learners wishing to use English for the purposes of international business. It is therefore most suitable for students taking an English for Business, Business and English, or Marketing course. The examinations test functions and topics related to the work environment.

There are three levels, each testing Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking skills. The levels are:

Preliminary, Vantage, Higher.


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