Academic English

Subject description

The Academic English foundation subject is a compulsory part of the UPC course. With this subject, you’ll gain the academic English skills you need to study a degree programme at UK universities.

The Academic English foundation subject provides linguistic support for your other three UPC subjects. We’ll assess you with coursework during the year and final exams at the end of the course. Classes will focus on four key Academic English skills:

• writing
• reading and vocabulary
• listening and note-taking
• speaking.

Academic English provides you with the language skills you need for the UPC.

You’ll learn how to avoid plagiarism, develop your English and find your voice when presenting written and spoken research.

We’ll teach you reading and listening skills, and how to apply them at university.

You’ll apply all these skills to relevant academic contexts, and do the Preparatory Academic Essay in Term 1 which will prepare you for your research projects in your other UPC subjects.

How we teach Academic English

We use engaging and practice-based teaching to help you develop the four essential skills.

Writing

You’ll learn how to write shorter, timed essays as well as longer written work presenting your research. You’ll find out how to take notes, summarise, draft and develop a proper structure when writing. We’ll teach you how to integrate academic research, data and sources into your work. You’ll develop the reviewing, editing and proofreading skills you need at university.

Reading

You’ll develop reading strategies for studying academic texts. Classes will focus on text analysis and organisation, as well as building vocabulary. You’ll learn to interpret data and separate fact from opinion.

Listening

You’ll develop skills in active listening and note taking during lectures. You’ll learn to identify key points and digressions in lectures. These note-taking skills will help you identify important points for future revision.

Speaking

You’ll focus on essential spoken English skills. These skills will allow you to participate effectively in your seminars. We’ll cover academic presentations and how to deliver them clearly with slide shows. You’ll find out how to run ‘Question and Answer’ sessions. You’ll learn how to use academic language and reflect on feedback.

Intended learning outcomes

By the end of the subject, you should be able to:

• effectively read and understand academic texts
• note the key points in lectures
• fully participate in and lead seminars
• present your academic research as written projects and oral presentations
• understand and follow the academic English conventions you’ll need at a UK university
• meet the academic English written requirements of exams.

Overview of summative assessment

Recommended reading

You don’t have to do any specific reading before you join this subject.

However, you should engage with media relating to the degree you’re aiming for. This includes quality English newspapers, magazines, journals, online lectures, documentaries and podcasts.