LS3PCP-Professional Communication Project

Module Provider: English Language and Applied Linguistics
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:6
Terms in which taught: Summer / Autumn / Spring module
Pre-requisites: LS1ELS English Language and Society LS1SG Sounds, Grammar and Meaning
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded: LS3DI Dissertation
Current from: 2021/2

Module Convenor: Dr Christiana Themistocleous
Email: c.themistocleous@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

In a competitive job market, understanding how the professional workplace functions, along with well-developed employability skills are essential to securing future employment.Ìý This module aims to help students understand how to apply the knowledge and skills they have learned in their BA programme in English Language and Linguistics to the completion of a professional placement. Students may choose this module (plus an additional optional module) in lieu of LS3DI.

Aims:

In this module students will undertake a placement in which they will apply their knowledge about language, linguistics, and communication.Ìý Students will work with a placement provider (e.g. organisation, company, individual) and they will be supervised by an academic staff member. The placement itself aims to familiarise students with the professional work environment, provide the opportunity for students to acquire new skills and develop an awareness of the job sector. Possible placement roles include designing promotional material, websites, or newsletters for an organisation or company, engaging in social media marketing, planning and executing a public event, working as a research assistant on a project, or conducting research for a company or organisation and so on. Placements can be paid or unpaid.

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the module it is expected that the student will be able to:

• apply concepts from their study of language and linguistics to the domain of the workplace;


• locate and assemble sources of information necessary for completing the project;


• communicate effectively with the range of different kinds of people and organizations;


• critically reflect on their experience.

Additional outcomes:

• The module aims to enhance potential employability on graduation by providing practical experience in the workplace, encouraging development of greater understanding of workplace requirements, and enabling insights on the relationship between the student’s academic studies and their application in practice in a professional setting.


• Confidence, a sense of responsibility, and communication skills will be enhanced.


• Students who successfully complete the module should be able to demonstrate an awareness of how their transferable skills fit into the chosen institution, and identify criteria necessary to enhance his/her value to the institution in the context of graduate employment.

Outline content:

Part 2

A compulsory orientation workshop will be offered at the beginning of the summer term aiming to help students find a suitable placement. Supervisors will be allocated at this point. Thereafter, students can arrange drop-in sessions with the careers consultant and supervisor to discuss suitable placements and how to secure one.Ìý

Part 3

Students will attend a compulsory, pre-placement brief ing. After the selection of placement providers and successful completion of relevant paperwork, students will work with their supervisor and placement provider to complete the Proposal which sets the aims and objectives of the placement. This must be approved by the supervisor and the placement provider at the start of the placement. Academic supervision sessions (3 hours per term) will provide guidance on the conduct of the placement at all stages, paying particular attention to the effective and ethical implementations, problem-solving, and critical evaluation of outcomes. The placement should be minimum 75 hours and it can be done either as a block or spread out. In the Spring Term students will attend a compulsory, post-placement briefing. Students will also be invited to present their experience to the next cohort in a placement event that will take place in the Spring term.