University of Roehampton International Summer School
Module offering summer 2014
Academic session 1 (9th June – 27th June)
English Language Development 1
This module is intended for students at the level B1/B2 of the Common European Framework of
Reference for Language Learning and Teaching (CEFR) designed by the Council of Europe. It is
designed for students, whose native language is not English and develops all the four skills of writing,
speaking, listening and reading with detailed work on grammar and vocabulary. The language is
developed in a variety of contexts such as daily life, travel and entertainment.
Requirements
A minimum score of IELTS 4.5; TOEFL iBT 54; Pearson PTE 41; Cambridge PET
Academic English Language Skills
This module is intended for students at the level B2 of the Common European Framework of
Reference for Language Learning and Teaching (CEFR) designed by the Council of Europe. It is
designed for students whose native language is not English and develops the language and study
skills required to cope with the challenges of studying a subject at undergraduate level. Students
may progress onto the subject specific Academic Sessions on completion of this module.
Requirements
A minimum score of IELTS 6.0; CPE/CAE grade C; Pearson Test 51; Toefl 80
LEVEL 1
Media City and Cultural Capital
Assessment: reflective learning blog using Mahara open source e-portfolio (approx. 3000 words)
[100%]
This module will offer students an overview of the media and creative industries in London. It
showcases the teaching and research expertise of staff at Roehampton working across the areas of
Journalism & News Media and Media & Culture. Divided into four blocks based around these areas it
will introduce students to topics ranging from the BBC and London's newspaper industry, to
London's art and culture scene and the Olympic park. Incorporating a mixture of both class based
sessions and visits, this module explores some of London's cultural arena and encourages students
to draw on their own experience in order to make connections between what they see, know and
read. This module also offers students the opportunity to gain some practical skills in the areas of
Journalism & News Media and Media & Culture. Students will gain a familiarity with the capital city
and encounter theories, concepts and practical skills that will prepare them for further study in
Media and Arts based subjects.
Gods and Heroes of Classical Mythology
The topics to be studied on this course include the enduringly intriguing Herakles/Hercules, Apollo,
Athena/Minerva and Aphrodite/Venus. We will explore the role of these and other personages in
some of the most important works of literature and art from Greece and Rome, including Ovid’s
Metamorphoses. We will also consider their rich ‘afterlife’ in the postclassical world down to the
present day. Students will not just study at Roehampton, but will actually study features of its
historic campus. In particular, we will explore the representation of a key story from the myth of
Hercules in the Adam Room of Grove House, a building that exemplifies the neoclassical Georgina
country villa. This ‘hands on’ approach to the study of mythology will be continued in offsite
sessions at world-class galleries and museums in easy reach of the campus, such as the British
Museum and the National Gallery.
Introduction to the London Stage
Assessment: coursework portfolio
London is one of Europe’s most exciting theatrical cities with a range of productions on offer at any
given time. are introduced to the wide diversity of theatre in London from the major subsidised
companies, through the commercial West End to smaller fringe venues and productions. Weekly
visits to new or recent events in the capital are introduced with a critical context and are discussed
the following week within seminar groups. As part of the seminars, students will explore a range of
strategies for analysing dramatic texts in production and reading live performance.
Students will be introduced to a range of dramatic forms, conventions and aesthetics, which are
employed on current London stages. Students will be encouraged to identify trends in productions
and analyse the social and cultural contexts through which they are formed and constructed.
Students will explore the relationship between contemporary theatre practices and specific periods
of theatre history, i.e. the influence of earlier dramatic forms, conventions, contemporary stagings of
classics, and contemporary responses and reworkings of the canonical texts/productions.
The module will focus on plays which are currently running in repertory in the London theatre, the
actual content varies from one term to another. Students will have an opportunity to visit the latest
productions of major subsidised companies such as the National Theatre, the Royal Shakespeare
Theatre and the Globe Theatre, new-writing theatres such as the Royal Court, through to smaller
‘fringe’ theatres and productions at alternative venues. Assessment: extended essay (approx. 2000
words)
Legal London in Practice:Advocacy in the Courts of England
Assessment: reflective assignment (approx. 3000 words) [100 %], preceded by each student
presenting court submission in court room simulation
This module will introduce participants to the legal and court systems of England, through field visits
to London’s leading legal institutions and courts. Students will see from the inside the basic workings
of the highest courts in England and work with members of the judiciary to deepen their
understanding of ‘law in action’.
In addition, the module will illustrate for students the skill of advocacy and case presentation as
practised in both the English civil and criminal courts and provide them with a grounding in the skills
‘toolkit’ used by a successful advocate. This part of the course will help the students acquire the
skills necessary to analyse a legal case, identify issues, advise clients and present the case effectively
through submissions. During the summer school, students will develop the knowledge and skills they
attain and apply this to practical scenarios which build upon their introduction to advocacy.
Academic session 2 (30th June – 18th July)
English Language Development 2
This module is intended for students at the level B2 of the Common European Framework of
Reference for Language Learning and Teaching (CEFR) designed by the Council of Europe. It is
designed for students, whose native language is not English and develops all the four skills of writing,
speaking, listening and reading with detailed work on grammar and vocabulary. The language is
developed in a wide variety of contexts such as social issues, the environment, the media and
business.
Requirements
A minimum score of IELTS 5.5; TOEFL iBT 72; Pearson PTE 51; Cambridge FCE
LEVEL 1
Art in London Museums
Assessment: illustrated essay (2000 words) [100%]
The module will begin by looking at the historical development of museums from the random
gathering of natural and man-made objects found in the Cabinet of Curiosities of the Renaissance to
the institutional role played by modern and contemporary museums. We will have the opportunity
to explore London’s collections for the purpose of contextualising and critically evaluating the
cultural and historical value, purpose, educational role and key public function of different types of
exhibiting space. Along with developing knowledge of the collections’ contents exhibits, the module
will focus on ideas of collecting, curatorial knowledge and theories of display in the aim of
deconstructing the cultural narratives and representations that each exhibiting space provides.
Psychology in the Real World
The aim of this module is to introduce some of the real-world applications that psychology as an
academic discipline has contributed to, and the significant role these play in contemporary
professional practice. The module encourages students to critically engage in the ways in which
psychological notions underpin, inform or can be used to make sense of a wide range of phenomena
and practices in contemporary society. This module, therefore, seeks to bridge the gap between
theory, research and real-word application.
LEVEL 2
Londonopolis
Assessment: web/fieldtrip diary/blog (2000 words) [40%], essay (2000 words) [60%]
This module will combine contemporary theories and debates on the condition of urban life in a
global city with hands-on ethnographic, street-level perspective on urban social form experienced by
students. The idea is to continuously relate theories from the fields of urban anthropology, sociology
and urban studies with dynamic reality 'out-there' directly confronted by students and generate
discussions among students on the interplay between culture and structure, economy and society,
urban landscape and human behaviour. The methodological assumption behind the module is
strictly anthropological - that students need to be 'immersed' in various aspects of London life, see
things with their own eyes, analyse and critically evaluate their own assumptions against the
backdrop of chaos and order of urban life in London.
London is undoubtedly one of the global cities that offer a unique experience of social diversity. For
many international students life in London is part of their education trajectory per se and this
module aims at deepening this commonly held assumption through a study exploring various
aspects and trends in contemporary global city. The proposed structure of the module will be
divided between lectures/seminars/ethnographic debriefing sessions and field trips in 1:1 ratio (one
trip, one session). The taught sessions will be divided into a taught theoretical background of the
session and an 'ethnographic debriefing' session where notes, pictures, impressions from the field
trip will be discussed and analysed.
The UK Business Environment
Assessment: tbc
The Creative and cultural environment of the UK is currently its second biggest, expanding economy.
This is a new, and often unrecognised sector which includes patents, intellectual property, the core
creative industries which include heritage and architecture, entertainment, music, film, fashion and
literature. During the 20th Century the nature of all industry and economies have radically changed,
the nature of actual work has changed. By 1997 America and the UK were reaping the huge financial
benefits from books, films, music, TV and many other copyright products.
This summer school examines this area using the university's position in London, which holds the
current position of being the most creative centre in Europe. The course will look closely at this new
economy and use current examples of creative organisations and individuals who are working in this
sector.
Magic, Murder & Mystery in London Literature
Covering detective stories, fantasy, children’s literature and graphic novels, this module introduces
students to London city as the source, setting and inspiration for literary texts. Looking at texts
where magic, mystery and murder come to the fore, we will investigate the city as a space where the
strange and the familiar lie side by side. From Stevenson to Mieville, from Baker Street to Diagon
Alley, our investigations will lead us from Victorian London through to the 21st Century, taking us
through forgotten alleyways and snickets, through bustling tourist hotspots, into museums and
underground stations, through parks and gardens and even inside private houses.