Communicating in English

Learning Outcomes

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• write a small paragraph in your own words, based on your notes from a lecture;
• write short coherent texts that describe a simple idea or concept;
• start to feel confident in handling unfamiliar vocabulary;
• benefit from basic reading strategies;
• reflect on your developing language ability and where you need to improve.
• prepare and deliver oral presentations, both individually and as part of a team;
• begin to be aware of how individual/cultural differences can affect how you communicate with others
• take notes from texts and mini lectures;

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• principles of a good lecture and how to use this in note-taking.
• simple, complex and compound sentences and how they express ideas in a paragraph;
• principles of academic texts in textbooks and know how to read them effectively;
• how cultural behaviour influences how we communicate and work together

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• express simple facts and concepts clearly using simple, compound and complex sentences
• describe and recall what you have read or heard in your own words.
• extract data and ideas from a variety of texts;
• recognise the impact of cross cultural (and personal) differences in communication and know what to look for when working with others;

Topics across Cultures

This unit will introduce you to a variety of topics so you can adjust to listening & learning in English.

Communicating across cultures - Identifying the hidden assumptions about how we communicate. How does my culture influence how I communicate and the expectations I have. Practicing and developing our awareness in discussion and activities.

Famous scientists and engineers - Listen to mini talks, read texts, search web and write /discuss what you find.

Conflicts in science and engineering - Listen to mini talks, read texts, search web and write /discuss what you find.

Reading and Writing

Understanding how texts are structured - Looking at reading strategies for effective reading.

Working from topics introduced earlier.

• Simple and complex ideas - Working with simple, compound and complex sentence structures – building sentences into paragraphs
• Putting ideas in your own words - Paraphrasing – getting the key points – paraphrasing from note taking
• Becoming a good writer - Editing your work – are your ideas coherent?

All grammar issues relating to these sessions will be dealt with in the support sessions

Listening and Speaking

Working with topics: Ethics in Engineering, Environmental Engineering

• What is the lecturer SAYING? - Topic: Ethics in Engineering. Looking at how a good lecture is structured. Understanding words that link ideas and move on. The function of silences/louder speech/slower speech.
• Listening for the gist: Topic: Environmental Engineering. Getting the gist of what was said. Practice listening to mini lectures / discussions /talks and paraphrasing.
• How can I structure what I want to say and say it clearly? - Useful discussions on presenting ideas/discussing issues and giving a small presentation.

All grammar issues relating to these sessions will be dealt with in the support sessions

Using topics from the previous weeks: Students will work in groups and be given a selection of topics (or they can suggest their own) and present this as: An essay/a poster/a presentation - Topics will vary and include: cross cultural communication, engineering ethics, history of science.

Learning activities include

• individual work on exercises, supported by tutorial/workshop sessions with tutors;
• group presentation;
• individual reflective document on own learning.

Teaching methods include:

• lectures, supported by example exercises;
• tutorials/workshops to support grammar;
• printed notes available through Blackboard and/or through your module lecturer.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.