| Full Year, 2020 On-campus Toowoomba | |
| Short Description: | Intermediate English (10 week) |
| Units : | 2 |
| Faculty or Section : | USQ College |
| School or Department : | USQ College |
| Student contribution band : | Band 1 |
| ASCED code : | 091501 - English Language |
| Grading basis : | Graded |
Staffing
Examiner:
Other requisites
Students will require access to e-mail and have internet access to UConnect for this course.
Rationale
Learning the English language is not merely a matter of learning words, sentence structure, grammar and the like, instead it is a complex blend of building and applying varied skill sets in reading, writing, listening and speaking. Application of these English language skill sets also vary according to purpose. Students studying at the tertiary level must be provided with the opportunity to build both productive and receptive skills to prepare them for academic communication in a tertiary educational environment. This course provides a pathway to EAP1, familiarising learners with academic English lexical items and structural features.
Synopsis
The course further develops learners' reading, writing, speaking and listening skills in the English language. The syllabus is divided thematically, with weekly units focusing on topics such as the environment, technology, intelligence, the visual arts, transport, engineering, cultural practices, health and fitness, success, and animal conservation. Lessons are learner-focused and highly interactive, making students active learners and users of English. As part of the English-learning process, activities develop students' problem-solving and communication skills, digital literacy, and negotiation of linguistically unfamiliar texts and situations. They also build intercultural competence, an awareness of different registers, and pragmatic competence in English.
Objectives
On completion of this course students will be able:
- to recognise and understand the structure and content of short academic essays.
- participate with increasing skill in a variety of academic and non-academic discussions.
- to engage in an academic environment with a reasonable level of confidence in terms of written and spoken expression.
- build confidence in the ability to comprehend and analyse new and unfamiliar material encountered in a typical academic environment.
- apply knowledge of foundational digital literacy skills that can be used to help produce a variety of texts.
- apply an appropriate level of critical analysis skills to assist with everyday and academic problem solving tasks.
Topics
| Description | Weighting(%) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. |
Reading skills: Understand high-frequency academic vocabulary in English. Use strategies required for managing more complex texts in English. Demonstrate evidence of critical thinking. Recognise different registers of English. |
25.00 |
| 2. |
Writing skills: Recognise and produce the standard structure of paragraphs and short essays in English. Present a persuasive argument in written and spoken English. Use and understand a range of grammatical structures and cohesive devices with confidence and reasonable accuracy in written English. Use digital tools to communicate in English. |
25.00 |
| 3. |
Listening skills: Understand high-frequency academic vocabulary in English. Listen to a range of topics on less familiar and/or abstract topics in English with some confidence and purpose, although not necessarily with full comprehension. Recognise the purpose and organisation of a range of spoken texts in English. Listen to a short lecture in English and take notes on key information. |
25.00 |
| 4. |
Speaking skills: Present a persuasive argument in written and spoken English. Confidently use and understand a range of grammatical structures and cohesive devices with reasonable accuracy in spoken English. Discuss abstract topics and/or societal issues on a limited range of themes in English. Demonstrate discussion strategies such as agreeing, disagreeing, offering and asking opinions, clarifying, asking for clarification, and interrupting, all in a semi-formal situation. Use high-frequency academic vocabulary in English. Apply features of English pronunciation to enhance meaning, clarity, and understanding. |
25.00 |
Text and materials required to be purchased or accessed
ALL textbooks and materials available to be purchased can be sourced from (unless otherwise stated). (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/textbooks/?year=2020&sem=04&subject1=ENS7803)
Please for alternative purchase options from USQ Bookshop. (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/info/contact/)
Reference materials
Student workload expectations
| Activity | Hours |
|---|---|
| Directed 精东传媒app | 220.00 |
| Private 精东传媒app | 110.00 |
Assessment details
| Description | Marks out of | Wtg (%) | Due Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FINAL TEST IN LISTENING | 100 | 20 | TBA | |
| FINAL TEST IN READING | 100 | 20 | TBA | |
| FINAL TEST IN SPEAKING | 100 | 20 | TBA | |
| FINAL TEST IN WRITING | 100 | 20 | TBA | |
| WEEK 5 LISTENING TEST | 100 | 5 | TBA | |
| WEEK 5 READING TEST | 100 | 5 | TBA | |
| WEEK 5 SPEAKING TEST | 100 | 5 | TBA | |
| WEEK 5 WRITING TEST | 100 | 5 | TBA |
Important assessment information
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Attendance requirements:
Students are required to attend at least 80% of the scheduled class sessions and ensure their attendance is registered with the staff member in charge of the activity. An exception to this attendance level may be made by the university where the student can produce documentary evidence that clearly demonstrates compassionate and compelling circumstances. In this case attendance of at least 70% of the scheduled class sessions will be acceptable. It is the students' responsibility to access information regarding course-related activities and administration. -
Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
Refer to statement 4 below for the requirements to receive a passing grade in this course. All assessment items must be received prior to the start of the examination period for the intake in which the course is offered. Students may be required to re-submit an assessment piece that is unsatisfactory. -
Penalties for late submission of required work:
Students should refer to the Assessment Procedure (point 4.2.4). -
Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must obtain at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course (i.e. the Primary Hurdle), and have satisfied the Secondary Hurdle (Supervised), i.e. the reading and writing tests by achieving at least 50% of the marks available for that assessment item.
Supplementary assessment may be offered where a student has undertaken all of the required summative assessment items and has passed the Primary Hurdle but failed to satisfy the Secondary Hurdle (Supervised), or has satisfied the Secondary Hurdle (Supervised) but failed to achieve a passing Final Grade by 5% or less of the total weighted Marks.
To be awarded a passing grade for a supplementary assessment item (if applicable), a student must achieve at least 50% of the available marks for the supplementary assessment item as per the Assessment Procedure (point 4.4.2). -
Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
As P is the only passing grade available for this course, all students who are qualified for a passing grade will be given a grade of P. Other students will be given either a Failing grade or an incomplete grade. -
Examination information:
Closed Examination: Candidates are allowed to bring only writing and drawing instruments into the closed examination. -
Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
Any Deferred or Supplementary examinations for this course will be held at the end of each intake. -
精东传媒app Student Policies:
Students should read the USQ policies: Definitions, Assessment and Student Academic Misconduct to avoid actions which might contravene 精东传媒app policies and practices. These policies can be found at .
Assessment notes
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Referencing in assignments must comply with the Harvard (AGPS) referencing system. This system should be used by students to format details of the information sources they have cited in their work. The Harvard (APGS) style to be used is defined by the USQ library's referencing guide. This guide can be found at
Evaluation and benchmarking
In meeting the 精东传媒app's aims to establish quality learning and teaching for all programs, this course monitors and ensures quality assurance and improvements in at least two ways. This course:
1. conforms to the USQ Policy on Evaluation of Teaching, Courses and Programs to ensure ongoing monitoring and systematic improvement.
2. forms part of the ELICOS program and is benchmarked against the internal USQ accreditation/reaccreditation processes which include (i) stringent standards in the independent accreditation of its academic programs, (ii) close integration between business and academic planning, and (iii) regular and rigorous review.
Other requirements
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Computer, e-mail and Internet access:
Students are required to have access to a personal computer, e-mail capabilities and Internet access to UConnect. Current details of computer requirements can be found at . -
Students can expect that questions in assessment items in this course may draw upon knowledge and skills that they can reasonably be expected to have acquired before enrolling in this course. This includes knowledge contained in pre-requisite courses and appropriate communication, information literacy, analytical, critical thinking, problem solving or numeracy skills. Students who do not possess such knowledge and skills should not expect the same grades as those students who do possess them.