2024/25 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

ELU3008 Language for Communication and Society

Module manager: Simon Webster
Email: S.J.Webster@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: 1 Jul to 15 Sep (2.5mth) View Timetable

Year running 2024/25

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

This module is an English language content-based pre-sessional designed to support students who either do not meet the English language requirements for their chosen post-graduate programme or who wish to gain a better understanding of the academic language and literacy practices in their area of study.The module is taught in partnership between academics from both the University of Leeds Language Centre and the School of Media and Communication, allowing the learning of language to be integrated and built around key content areas, and students to develop a deeper understanding of how knowledge and theory are communicated in their own subject. This module will help students develop the language skills, knowledge and understanding required for postgraduate study in their chosen fields. Students will study subject specific content to help them develop their language competence and ability to communicate at an appropriate academic level within their chosen field of study.The module consists of 3 units which run concurrently. Each unit will be based around an introductory content lecture. Students will work on understanding this content and the language used, alongside that of core texts, through a series of language classes and seminars. Students will have the chance to work both individually and with others. The final assessments will be based around individual pieces of work, involving some element of independent research.

Objectives

This module provides students with the opportunity to:

1. Meet the language requirements of their future academic programme;
2. Display linguistic and literacy skills to a level that will enable them to communicate competently within their discipline specific academic context at post-graduate level;
3. Develop an awareness and understanding of the culture, context and discourse of academic study in the chosen field.
4. Develop as reflective learners with a demonstrable ability to work both autonomously and in a group situation, with a cultural awareness and understanding of ethical academic practices.

Learning outcomes
On completion of the module, students should have begun to develop:

1. a use of written and spoken academic language to suit a clear communicative purpose, including having a wide lexical resource, a range of appropriate structures and the ability to use these coherently, accurately and fluently [MO1]
2. an awareness of subject specific genre, discourse and rhetorical function; making appropriate choices in relation to audience and purpose at whole text, paragraph and sentence level. [MO2];
3. an ability to follow subject specific academic conventions in both spoken and written tasks, such as referencing, citations, synthesising sources and their own argument, meeting task requirements, turn taking and building collaborative understanding [MO3]
4. a critical approach to their own work and the work of others through use of a range of sources, counter-argument and/ or evaluation; development of an argument with a clear position [MO3]
5. an ability to work effectively with others on a discipline specific task; [MO4]
6. An ability to critically reflect on their own learning and demonstrate awareness of resources and techniques they could employ to continue their own development [MO4]
7. an ability to communicate an awareness of the cultural and ethical issues of academic study within the chosen field. [MO4]

Syllabus

Academic Content is based around topics provided by the School of Media and Communication, with the below academic language and literacy skills being woven into the content:

- Foundational reading texts in the genre
- Genre analysis
- Listening and speaking skills
- Writing academic texts
- Seminar skills
- Presentation skills
- Discipline related lexis
- Reflection and independent learning strategies

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lectures	4	2.00	8.00
Seminars	4	2.00	8.00
Tutorials	4	0.20	1.00
Group learning	28	2.00	56.00
Private study hours			177.00
Total Contact hours			73.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			250.00

Private study

This is a full-time course. On average students will have 16 hours of tuition per week, however, this may vary each week. You will also be expected to do up to an additional 19 hours or more of independent study each week.

Students will be reading and preparing for seminars, lectures and assessments using both online digital and print resources, and will be completing tasks.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Progress will be monitored through:

- Checking, and formative feedback of, students weekly performance on tasks, presentations and seminar participation
- Checking, assessing and giving feedback on students’ progress with weekly written tasks.

In class informal observation by teachers on students use of language and level of engagement

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Presentation	5 minute individual contribution	50.00
Portfolio	Portfolio comprising the components of an essay of 1,200 words	50.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Normally, further attempts are offered for students who need to progress and who either do not meet the required, level of attainment or reach the required overall level but do not reach the required on more than one assessment component.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 13/11/2024

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