Pre-sessional English Language

This programme consists of several entry points. You start the programme in either June, July or August, and finish in September.

Modules

• Academic Reading and Writing Skills
• Academic Listening
• Academic Grammar and Vocabulary
• Pronunciation Skills
• Presentation and Seminar Skills
• Modernity
• Cultural Studies
• Critical Thinking
• Research and Study Skills
• Postmodernity
• Interpreting Images
• Textual Analysis
• Art History/Film/Postmodernities Lecture

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

Structure

The 12 week, 9 week and 5 week programmes all follow a weekly timetable of 22.5 hours of intensive teaching, consisting of 21 hours of classes (including 3 hours of guided independent study and tutorials). There is also a 1.5 hour lecture.

Classes start every morning at 9:30am and afternoon classes start at 2.00pm. Each teacher-led class is 90 minutes.

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:

• An extended written essay on a question related to your future studies (40%)
• An oral presentation assessment based on a creative content module (20%)
• A reading examination (20%)
• A summary writing task based on a lecture listening (20%)

Learner Outcomes

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.

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, giving 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.