IF1NUC-English for Chemists

Module Provider: International Study and Language Institute
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:4
Semesters in which taught: Semester 1 module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Mr Aaron Woodcock
Email: a.e.w.woodcock@reading.ac.uk

Module Co-convenor: Ms Laura Connolly
Email: l.connolly@reading.ac.uk

NUIST Module Lead: Ying Zhu
Email: zhuying_313@126.com

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module will equip you with the lexical knowledge and communication skills you need to learn your subject at Level 4 in English. It will also equip you with tools and techniques you can use to develop your linguistic knowledge and competence throughout your university career and beyond.

This module is intended for students with an entry level of CEFR () in general English of B2, but an entry level of CEFR B1 when communicating specifically within or about their field of specialisation.Ìý On successful completion of the course, you will have achieved CEFR B2 when communicating within or about your field of specialisation.Ìý

Any students with entry levels that fall outside these parameters will be identified and supported so that they can achieve their best on this module.

Aims:

This module primarily aims to build your:

1. Discipline-specific vocabulary


2. Spoken and written communication skills


3. Explaining and summarising skills


4. Self- and inter-personal awareness

It also aims to build your:

1. Tools and techniques for developing vocabulary independently


2. Listening and reading comprehension


3. Techniques for producing written and spoken discourse


4. Collaboration and adaptability skills

Assessable learning outcomes:

On completing this module, you will have successfully demonstrated you can:

1. Use the main discipline-specific vocabulary of your field with generally high accuracy and fluencyÌý


2. Communicate discipline-specific ideas effectively for a variety of purposes and audiences through a range of media


3. Without recourse to a dictionary or a machine translator, explain familiar discipline-specific concepts and processes in your own wordsÌý


4. Articulate what and how you have learned, awareness of your strengths and areas to develop, and commitment to learning language

Additional outcomes:

On completing this module, you will also have successfully demonstrated you can:

1. Use a variety of tools and techniques to continue your development of discipline-specific vocabulary independently


2. Understand in detail propositionally and linguistically complex discipline-specific texts


3. Identify some of the techniques expert writers use to produce clear, smoothly flowing, complex texts for audiences with specialist knowledge of your discipline


4. Collaborate effectively and adapt to different work or study contexts

Outline content:

Content will include:

• Key discipline-specific vocabulary and its usage, e.g. multiple-meanings, pronunciation, collocations and word forms


• Key structure, discourse and language features used for communicating your subject, e.g. given to new information flow, summary noun phrases and expressing degrees of confidence


• Key strategies for summarising texts and data, e.g. amplifying and streamlining


• Basic frameworks for reflection and critical analysis


• Useful tools and techniques for developing your discipline-specific vocabulary independently, e.g. discipline-specific dictionaries, word-list apps and concordance line tools


• A range of discipline-specific texts aimed at specialists and non-specialists


• Basic theories and research on learning vocabulary and working in a team

Global context:

This module develops your