Module overview
This module is non-credit bearing and forms part of Pre-sessional 6 Programme in which you study Academic Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing. You also attend Independent Learning workshops to develop the critical thinking and study skills necessary to succeed at University in the UK.
Academic Speaking is taught in conjunction with Academic Listening
as these skills often overlap; for example, spoken interaction requires both skills and the aim of this module is to help develop a more general communicative competence. This means that the separate Academic Listening and Speaking modules will appear on your timetable as a combined ‘Listening and Speaking’ teaching session. The Academic Speaking module follows the University of Southampton Pre-sessional 6 - Listening and Speaking syllabus and has specific assessments for this module.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Learning Outcomes
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- prepare and participate in academic discussions
- communicate confidently with your University staff and fellow students
- participate in class discussions
- prepare and deliver an effective presentation
- identify specific ways to improve your speaking skills
Syllabus
The Pre-sessional 6 - Academic Speaking module will help you to develop your speaking skills in a variety of university settings. For example, you will develop your ability to speak in formal academic settings, such as presentations, and more informal settings such as seminars and tutorials.
A. PRONUNCIATION
The areas you will cover include work to improve:
1. individual sounds
2. pausing and chunking
3. sentence stress
4. intonation
5. fluency
6. word stress.
B. PRESENTATION SKILLS
The areas you will cover include how to:
1. select presentation content
2. structure a presentation
3. opening and closing a presentation
4. organise the body of a presentation
5. use signposting language
6. deal with questions
7. prepare and use visual aids and notecards
8. engage audience through body language.
C. SEMINAR INTERACTION:
The areas you will cover include how to:
1. researching and preparing for seminars
2. referring to your research in seminars
3. active participation
4. exchanging opinions / agreeing and disagreeing
5. explaining and supporting your points
6. asking for and giving clarification
7. interrupting politely
8. making suggestions
9. summarising a discussion and reporting back
10. leading a discussion
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; use of authentic texts; Independent Learning workshops; self-directed independent study and tutorials.
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Independent Study | 5 |
| Teaching | 4 |
| Total study time | 9 |
Resources & Reading list
Internet Resources
International Debate Education Association.
British Council phonemic chart.
Textbooks
J Smith and A Margolis (2012). English for Academic Study: Pronunciation. 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.
J Van Emden and L Becker (2010). Presentation Skills for Students. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
D Bell (2008). Passport to Academic Presentations. Reading: Garnet Education.
E Williams (2008). Presentations in English. Oxford: Macmillan.
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.
M Hancock (2008). English Pronunciation in Use Intermediate. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
C Fletcher (2013). Skills for Study level 3. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
C Thaine (2012). Cambridge Academic English Intermediate Student’s book: An integrated skills Course for EAP. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
R Lowes, H Peters and M Turner (2004). International Students Study Guide. London: Sage Publications.
B Chivers and M Shoolbred (2007). A Student’s Guide to Presentations: Making your Presentation Count. Los Angeles: Sage Publications Ltd.
J McCormack and S Watkins (2012). English for Academic Study: Speaking. Reading: University of Reading.
M Powell (2011). Presenting in English. London: Thomson Heinle.
M Hewings (2010). English Pronunciation in Use Advanced. 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.
Individual PresentationSummative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Individual Presentation | 100% |