Unit information: Academic Listening and Speaking in 2020/21

Unit name	Academic Listening and Speaking
Unit code	LANG10007
Credit points	10
Level of study	C/4
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director	Mr. Tony Prince
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	Centre for Academic Language and Development
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

This unit is designed for non-native-speakers of English who have met the University’s minimum English language entry requirements and wish to develop their competence in listening and speaking in English for academic purposes. The critical analysis of academic lectures and seminars is used to develop the language skills required for effective communication within the UK higher education context. Academic listening and speaking performance is developed through integrated practice activities involving spoken responses to listening input.

There is a focus on the requirements and expectations in the UK higher education study culture for critical thinking within lectures and social construction of knowledge in seminars.

Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, learners should have improved their performance within the UK higher education study culture through demonstrating the ability to:

1. listen critically to academic lectures and take effective notes
2. understand the structure and development of academic talks
3. provide oral summaries of lectures and seminar contributions
4. build on contribution of others in seminars
5. justify personal contributions with appropriate evidence
6. prepare and deliver short academic presentation

Teaching Information

Combination of synchronous and asynchronous sessions based on Blackboard VLE involving practical task based work.

Assessment Information

1. Podcast (50%) of contribution to a seminar, including summary of previous speaker's contribution, and addition of new point with appropriate justification (1,2,3,4,5)
2. Mini-presentation (50%) using appropriate software on subject-specific topic for a general audience (2,5,6)

Reading and References

Materials provided by Centre