MODULE SPECIFICATION FORM
Module Title:
Level:
4
Credit Value:
20
English for Specific Academic
Purposes
Module code:
LAN419
Semester(s) in which to
be offered:
Existing/New:
Title of module being
replaced (if any):
1
and/or
2
With effect
from:
July 2011
Academic English and British Culture
HUM154
New
Originating Subject:
Module duration
(contact hours/
directed/directed
private study:
Module Leader:
Dr. Leila Luukko-Vinchenzo
Second Language
Learning Centre
200 hours ( 40 hours
contact; 160 hours
Directed and Private
Study)
Percentage taught by Subjects other than
originating Subject (please name other
Subjects):
Programme(s) in which to be
offered: Free-standing
module
Status: core/option/elective (identify
programme where appropriate):
Option
N/A
Pre-requisites per
programme (between levels):
Co-requisites per programme
(within a level):
None
Module Aims:
This module is designed for students who are non-native speakers of English and have no or
little previous first-hand encounter with life in Britain or UK HE environment. It is aimed at
providing language and academic skills support mainly in three areas to a level which allows
students to follow their main course of HE UG studies with more confidence, and with better
understanding of the cultural and sub-cultural environment in which they are working and
living:
a) English language skills in general and in all four areas (reading, writing, speaking and
listening) with view on the students’ main subject area;
b) Academic English and study skills in all four areas with focus on the students’ subject field;
c) English language skills in the students’ specific academic field of study (ESP).
On completion of the module the students will have achieved an overview of British culture
and current affairs, of UK HE system and life, improved their general English language skills
by a degree comparable to appr. 0.5 IELTS, and gained academic and language related
subject-specific skills required to better succeed in their main field of studies
Expected Learning Outcomes
At the end of this module, students should be able to:
Knowledge and Understanding:
1. Display deepened and widened knowledge of the sounds, syntax, morphology and
lexicon of general and everyday English in context
2. Show knowledge and experience of UK HE system and academic environment, with
particular reference to their subject related areas; British current affairs and culture,
especially in the context of their subject area
3. Demonstrate a sound basis of academic skills in English in the four main areas of
listening, speaking, reading and writing – with an emphasis on researching and
analysing for, constructing and delivering assignments in their subject area
4. Reveal expanded knowledge of and skills in mainly structures and lexical choice of
English specific to the students’ field of study
.
Transferable/Key Skills and other attributes:
Students will develop skills in the following:
 Communication in general English, applied and extended to communication in both
academic and specific cultural and professional contexts
 Listening and reading for general and specific purposes; information gathering and
processing
 Speaking and writing using the appropriate style/genre/format by considering factors such
as the composition of audience, purpose of delivery, methods of delivery, time
management etc.
 Confidence, independence, working with and relating to others
 Understanding and appreciating intercultural communication and adapting to new
environments
 Analytical thinking using English as a language for research and participation in oral and
written discussion, in general and subject specific academic contexts
 Reflection on own learning and development
Assessment: please indicate the type(s) of assessment (eg examination, oral, coursework,
project) and the weighting of each (%). Details of indicative assessment tasks must be
included.
The indicative assessment comprises the tasks as listed below with one integrated mark
being submitted for assessment. Weightings identified are for indicative purposes only.
 oral skills: a short oral, subject specific presentation and free discussion – 10 mins in total
(20%)
 writing skills: a subject specific report or essay; (equivalent to 1,000 words) (30%)
 reading skills: read and understand a subject specific text, answer questions in English
(15%)
 listening skills: listen to subject specific audio material, answer questions in English (15%)
 completion of timed subject specific language exercises (20%)
Assessmen
t
One
Learning
Outcomes to
be met
1, 2, 3, 4
Type of assessment
Weightin
g
Duration
(if exam)
Classroom based
tests, and coursework
(report/essay)
100%
No more
than 2
hours for
tests
Word count
or equivalent
if appropriate
Learning and Teaching Strategies:
The module will be delivered mainly through tutor-led formal classes, with scheduled
opportunities for the intensive study of subject specific language and practice of intercultural
communication skills also outside the classroom. Pair and small-group work will be
emphasised in order to foster team work in a multilingual setting by using English as the
common medium of communication. Extensive additional learning resources, including audio
and visual materials and other appropriate materials will be available for private study.
Students will follow a course book, accompanied by additional material provided by Glyndŵr
staff, and a range of resources with backup material on Moodle. Students will complete
regular written exercises to consolidate learning.
Syllabus outline:
1. Life and current affairs in Great Britain; Higher Education in the UK, with particular
reference to the study culture in the subject specific area;
2. General Language vs. Languages for Specific Purposes; Selected lexical (e.g.
collocations, verbs with prepositions, idioms, subject specific vocabulary), syntactical (e.g.
word order, sentence types) and morphological (e.g. prefixes and suffixes) aspects as
appropriate to the subject specific language and the level of the module
3. Subject specific grammatical features, e.g. verbs with prepositions, tenses, passive mode,
modal verbs, noun phrases, adverbs and adverbial clauses, punctuation etc., as appropriate
to the subject specific language and the level of the module
4. Academic reading: e.g. strategies (scanning, skimming), critical and analytical thinking,
summarizing subject specific texts, as appropriate to the level of the module
5. Academic writing: e.g. structure, paragraphs, cohesion, fact vs. opinion, graphs/tables,
plagiarism, referencing, quoting, paraphrasing, proofreading, writing a subject specific
assignment – as appropriate to the level of the module
6. Academic listening: e.g. clues, key points, new vocabulary, note-taking in subject specific
lectures/ presentations/seminars, as appropriate to the level of the module
7. Academic oral communication: e.g. pronunciation, stress, intonation, varieties of spoken
English, description vs. persuasion, presentation of a subject specific topic, as appropriate to
the level of the module.
8. Acquisition of cultural awareness within the EAP/ESP programme, as appropriate to the
level of the module
Bibliography
Essential resources:
McCarthy, M./O’Dell, F. (2008) Academic Vocabulary in Use. CUP
Other indicative resources:
Hewings, M. 92005) Advanced Grammar in Use with Answers. 2nd ed. CUP
Appropriate additional materials will be pre-prepared and made available to students by
Glyndŵr staff, including handouts, reading and other materials as appropriate for the subject
specific language and the level of the module. Students will also have access to an
appropriate range of supplementary material and links to web-based resources on Moodle,
including linguistic exercises, comprehension exercises and other stimulus material in order
to facilitate independent learning.