Module overview
This module is non-credit bearing and forms part of Pre-sessional Course B in which you study Academic Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing. You also attend Independent Learning workshops to further develop critical thinking and study skills necessary to succeed at the University.
The speaking module is taught in conjunction with the Listening module as these skills often overlap; for example, knowledge of pronunciation is also an important tool for effective listening. As a result, you will be expected to practise a range of skills in the same class.
The speaking module follows the University of Southampton Pre- sessional Course B Speaking and Listening syllabi.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- prepare and participate in academic discussions
- participate in class discussions
- prepare and deliver an effective presentation
- identify ways in which to improve your pronunciation
- communicate confidently with your University staff and fellow students
Syllabus
The speaking syllabus helps you develop strategies for improving your academic speaking skills, and focuses in particular, on how to develop your speaking skills during group work, academic discussions, and presentations. Three main skill areas are taught and practised in the speaking module: pronunciation skills, presentation skills, and academic discussion skills.
A. PRONUNCIATION
The areas you will cover include work to improve:
- individual sounds
- pausing and chunking
- sentence stress
- intonation
- fluency
- word stress.
B. PRESENTATION SKILLS
The areas you will cover include how to:
- select presentation content
- structure a presentation
- open and close a presentation
- organise the body of a presentation
- use signposting language
- deal with questions
- prepare and use visual aids and notecards
- engage audience through body language.
C. ACADEMIC DISCUSSSION SKILLS:
The areas you will cover include how to:
- research and prepare for an academic discussion
- refer to your research in an academic discussion
- listen and participate actively
- exchange opinions
- agree and disagree
- explain and support your points
- ask for and give clarification
- show your understanding of others’ points
- interrupt politely
- make suggestions
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
You will experience a wide variety of teaching and learning methods including: full class teaching; seminar discussions; individual and group presentations; individual, pair and group work in class; set tasks to be completed outside class; self-directed independent study and group tutorials.
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Independent Study | 4.42 |
| Teaching | 4.08 |
| Total study time | 8.5 |
Resources & Reading list
Internet Resources
British Council phonemic chart.
International Debate Education Association.
Textbooks
D Bell (2008). Passport to Academic Presentations. Reading: Garnet Education.
J McCormack and S Watkins (2012). English for Academic Study: Speaking. Reading: University of Reading.
E Williams (2008). Presentations in English. Oxford: Macmillan.
M Hancock (2008). English Pronunciation in Use Intermediate. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
K Anderson, J Maclean and T Lynch (2004). Study Speaking. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
S Cottrell (2008). The Study Skills Handbook. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
A McNair and F Gooch (2013). Language for Study level 3. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
R Lowes, H Peters and M Turner (2004). International Students Study Guide. London: Sage Publications.
M Powell (2011). Presenting in English. London: Thomson Heinle.
M Hewings (2010). English Pronunciation in Use Advanced. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
J Smith and A Margolis (2012). English for Academic Study: Pronunciation. Reading: University of Reading.
B Chivers and M Shoolbred (2007). A Student’s Guide to Presentations: Making your Presentation Count. Los Angeles: Sage Publications Ltd.
C Thaine (2012). Cambridge Academic English Intermediate Student’s book: An integrated skills Course for EAP. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
J Van Emden and L Becker (2010). Presentation Skills for Students. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
A Baker (2006). Ship or Sheep: An Intermediate Pronunciation Course. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
C Fletcher (2013). Skills for Study level 3. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Assessment
Assessment strategy
Informal tasks designed to provide formative feedback on:
- pronunciation
- oral presentations
- discussion participation
- speaking skills in general.
Formative
This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.
DiscussionSummative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Presentation | 50% |
| Discussion | 50% |