Languages

English Language

The Centre for English Language and Academic Writing (CELAW) at Goldsmiths has more than 20 years’ experience in teaching English for Academic Purposes to both international and UK students. Whatever your standard of English and academic level (undergraduate or postgraduate), we provide programmes and courses which will help you reach the point where you can operate with confidence in the UK university system as a successful and independent student.

A wide variety of media sources, up-to-date topics and methodologies, and sophisticated language-learning facilities are used to deliver the teaching.

Other languages

Languages other than English at Goldsmiths are taught by our Department of Professional and Community Education (PACE).

Study Abroad plus English for non-native speakers

This programme is an ideal option if you come from a country where the academic year begins in April or May. You can take up to six months of intensive English Language study on the Goldsmiths Pre-sessional Programme before entrance to our academic courses which start in September.

Study Abroad plus English has three main aims:

• To enable you to develop your knowledge and command of English so that you will be well equipped to follow your academic courses in English, and to socialise with other students.
• To provide you with an exciting opportunity to study academic subjects of your choice in classes with European and other international students.
• To introduce you to the study skills required by British university students, such as note-taking and seminar preparation. This programme goes further than just developing your English Language skills by building your understanding of British culture before beginning a programme of study in the Autumn Term. The programme is intended for students with a broad interest in contemporary cultural studies, whose first language is not English.

There are several routes, which are designed to support students at different levels of English proficiency:

The study abroad period that follows your English course can be either:

• a full year
• September-December
• September-March
• January-March
• January-June.

The Goldsmiths Pre-sessional Programme offers the best possible preparation for study at Goldsmiths, or on any other degree that focuses on culture, society or the arts. The course is unique because it not only covers the key academic English language skills – such as listening to lectures, note taking, guidance in academic writing and reading – but does so by focusing on the kind of academic content you are likely to meet on your degree.

In Phases 3 and 4, for instance, there is a series of lectures on key contemporary postmodern thinkers such as Foucault, Baudrillard, and Butler, whose work features in a number of different degrees. There is also a choice of second lecture, either Contemporary Art History or Film Studies. At the end of the pre-sessional, you write an extended academic essay which combines theory and analysis, and provides excellent training for your future studies.

The focus on content means that you will learn not only general academic English, but also key vocabulary and concepts at the same level of complexity as on a degree. We therefore strongly recommended that international students attend the Pre-sessional even if they have already obtained the language entrance requirements for their degree. The Pre-sessional will also familiarise you with Goldsmiths and with how you are expected to behave in a British academic context – for example, speaking in seminars and interacting with academic staff.

Work on degree programmes is intensive, so it is a very good idea to take the Pre-sessional Programme before you start. Afterwards it is difficult to learn your subject and improve your English at the same time!

The Pre-sessional is hard work, but you will also have fun, make friends and learn a lot. As one previous student commented: “It’s so much more than just a language course!” To get more of an idea of what we do, visit the Centre’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), at https://learn.gold.ac.uk, where you will find course outlines, typical lecture content and an example of a weekly timetable.

Key features of the programme:

• Two academic lectures per week in phases 3 & 4 (from July), in subjects which are directly relevant to studying at Goldsmiths.
• Training in key academic skills such as listening to lectures and note-taking, academic reading, discussing academic topics and giving academic presentations.
• Training and practice in writing academic essays, including how to compile a bibliography, reference properly and avoid plagiarism. Please note that we teach you how to write academic essays in the style of Goldsmiths and the University of London, not the 250-word IELTS style of essay.
• Language development classes to improve your grammar and academic vocabulary.
• Regular tutorials with a personal tutor who will monitor your progress, and give advice on how to make improvements.Familiarisation with all aspects of university life and UK culture in general.
• Students with conditional offers who successfully complete the Pre-sessional move automatically on to their chosen degree at Goldsmiths.