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:
- communicate confidently with your University staff and fellow students
- participate in class discussions
- prepare and deliver an effective presentation
- prepare and participate in academic discussions
- identify ways in which to improve your pronunciation
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 |
|---|---|
| Teaching | 4.08 |
| Independent Study | 4.42 |
| Total study time | 8.5 |
Resources & Reading list
Internet Resources
International Debate Education Association.
British Council phonemic chart.
Textbooks
J McCormack and S Watkins (2012). English for Academic Study: Speaking. Reading: University of Reading.
A McNair and F Gooch (2013). Language for Study level 3. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
A Baker (2006). Ship or Sheep: An Intermediate Pronunciation Course. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
E Williams (2008). Presentations in English. Oxford: Macmillan.
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.
S Cottrell (2008). The Study Skills Handbook. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
C Fletcher (2013). Skills for Study level 3. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
R Lowes, H Peters and M Turner (2004). International Students Study Guide. London: Sage Publications.
J Van Emden and L Becker (2010). Presentation Skills for Students. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
M Hewings (2010). English Pronunciation in Use Advanced. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
D Bell (2008). Passport to Academic Presentations. Reading: Garnet Education.
K Anderson, J Maclean and T Lynch (2004). Study Speaking. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
M Hancock (2008). English Pronunciation in Use Intermediate. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
M Powell (2011). Presenting in English. London: Thomson Heinle.
J Smith and A Margolis (2012). English for Academic Study: Pronunciation. Reading: University of Reading.
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% |