English language support

Academic English Language Support

Is success in your studies important to you?

Do you want to improve your English Language?

Do you want to get good marks on your assignments?

Would you like help understanding what is expected of you at a UK university?

Would you like to be able to socialise with other students?

If yes… you need to attend our FREE In-sessional English classes.

We can help you improve your academic English. Our in-sessional courses focus on:

• your listening and speaking skills to help you understand and participate in seminars
• your reading skills to improve your reading efficiency
• your writing skills to help you write a variety of assignments effectively.

What are some of the difficulties that international students might have?

They include:

• Writing assignments using spoken language which is too informal.
• Knowing how to search for academic texts (without using Google).
• Using long quotes from texts in their assignments without acknowledging the source.
• Uncertainty in acceptable conventions used when presenting or taking part in seminar discussions.

How does In-sessional English help?

In-sessional English is tailored to your subject and level. The texts you will read, the vocabulary you will learn and the skills you will practise will be relevant to your subject area whether you are studying at undergraduate degree level or master's level.

We offer students:

• The right support tailored to your personal academic needs.
• Semester-long support (where applicable) through weekly classes to help improve your language and academic skills.
• Various workshops such as:
• • Organising your writing
  • Academic Presentations
  • Participating effectively in seminars
  • Writing using academic Style
  • Improving your grammar for academic use
• All classes and workshops are free.

Who are classes and workshops available to?

All international students are welcome to join our classes and all international students are also required to sit our Academic English Skills assessment (AESA). This helps us ensure we can help you in a personalised way which suits your needs.

The AESA is closely matched to the skills you will need for your studies, so you will be asked to write an essay based on several different short texts on one topic of general interest.

You will be given the texts and the essay title at the time of the assessment. You will have 90 minutes to complete this 350-word task. The AESA is administered to new students at the start of Semesters A and B.

Does the AESA or the classes affect your degree in any way?

The AESA helps us identify any areas of weakness you may have in academic English and the courses/workshops provide appropriate material and skills practice to help you succeed in your studies.

It is a fact that attendance at our workshops helps improve your grades. Further assessment during the year helps you, and us, gauge your success and any further needs you may have. Although marks are kept in our systems, none of the results appear on your transcripts or affect your degree classification in any way.

Do you get any recognition for attending?

If you attend classes and pass our end of Semester assessment you receive a certificate in recognition of your commitment and effort to improve your work.

When and where are classes held?

Classes are held throughout Semesters A and B with workshops also being available throughout the academic year. Days and times vary depending on your Programme and your main campus of study. Look out for information on leaflets, posters and studynet or contact Mary Martala-Lockett or Gamu Matarira.

What do students say about us?

"Classes improved my essay writing skills."

"The sessions were targeted and tailored to each subject."

"It helps me on several cases, e.g. presentation, references, how to summarise."