Pre-sessional English Language

For 2020–21, we have made some changes to how the teaching and assessment of certain programmes are delivered. To check what changes affect this programme, please visit the Programme Changes page

Modules

• Academic Reading and Writing Skills
• Academic Listening
• Academic Grammar and Vocabulary
• Pronunciation Skills
• Presentation and Seminar Skills
• Modernity
• Critical Thinking
• Research and Study Skills
• Postmodernity
• Textual Analysis

Please note that due to staff research commitments not all of these modules may be available every year.

Structure

The 12, 9 and 5 week programmes all follow a weekly timetable of 21 hours of online learning, consisting of 21 hours of work online (including 3 hours of guided independent study and webinars and tutorials). There is also a series of five lectures which takes place during the final five weeks of the programme covering some key themes generic to most Goldsmiths disciplines.

Lessons are every day with some classes accompanied by recorded lectures and flipped classes.

In addition students are also expected to engage in a minimum of 10 hours of independent self-study outside of the programme hours each week.

Assessment

Students are required to complete formative written assignments throughout the programme.

The end-of-programme summative assessment includes:

1. An annotated bibliography on 2 sources used in your essay. (20%)
2. A critical analysis of 2 further sources used in your essay. (20%)
3. A skeleton Draft of your essay including Thesis statement, topic sentences and use of references. (20%)
4. A self-reflective audio/video recording on your City project based on your learning journal. (10%)
5. A listening comprehension based on a lecture ( 10 %)
6. The final essay (responding to feedback) 1,500 words incorporating parts 1,2 and 3. (20%)

The overall aim of the Goldsmiths Pre-Sessional Programme is to improve your Academic English to the level whereby you can participate in your chosen undergraduate or postgraduate programme.

Learning outcomes

Successful completion of the programme will mean that you have:

• developed both independent and collaborative academic study skills, enabling you to both analyse issues and formulate questions;
• developed your English for academic purposes and gained the ability to both listen to and communicate complex ideas to a variety of audiences;
• developed as an autonomous learner, so that you can derive meaning from complexity using evidence;
• increased your intercultural awareness, gained a better knowledge of Goldsmiths, London and the UK and developed your social and academic life.

This is achieved by:

• the programme concentrating on increasing cultural and interdisciplinary knowledge through independent and collaborative learning;
• focusing on the four language learning skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing;
• the skills being practised within a genuine academic context; i.e. listening to lectures, reading academic texts, understanding academic presentations and writing academic essays. Guided independent study will also focus on grammar and vocabulary development;
• gaining confidence in academic writing conventions, including in-text citation, referencing, direct quotation and compiling bibliographies;
• studying content with a discipline specific focus. This means that you will be developing your academic English through content that is challenging, dynamic, interesting, and often useful for your future studies;
• the programme allowing you to develop creative thinking along with critical thinking skills through debating, and evaluating complex ideas. 

Progression

Progression onto your degree programme will depend on achieving an overall pass mark of 50% for Postgraduate students and 40% for Undergraduate students.

Failure to achieve the required grade or not engaging appropriately with the Pre-sessional course will mean students have not met the conditions of their offer from the University and will therefore not be permitted to progress on to their degree programme.

Please note that due to staff research commitments not all of these modules may be available every year.

Please note that due to staff research commitments not all of these modules may be available every year.