SPELLBOUND English Language Skills Packages for Learners
Enhance English language learning for better academic success and university transition. Solutions include increased class time, online resources, and interactive tools. Students benefit from individualized corpora and e-tutorials. Positive feedback reflects improved confidence and research assistance. Future developments focus on further KLE resources and tailored corpora for research writing styles.
SPELLBOUND English Language Skills Packages for Learners
E N D
Presentation Transcript
SPELLBOUND Skills Packages for English Language Learners The English Language Unit
Background • English language impacts on the student’s whole learning experience and students who struggle with their English language development inevitably struggle with both their studies and their transition into university life. • This can affect the retention and progression, as well as the recruitment of future international students.
The typical international student • Enter Keele with an IELTS score of 6.0 • Cram schools often mean that a ‘true’ score is closer to 5.0 • Learning main subject content + developing English language skills = a sometimes insurmountable challenge • Stress, loss of face • May turn to alternative methods to ensure success • May return to (e.g.) China during the long breaks
Possible solutions • Increase the amount of time available for English classes = less time for main subjects • Increase pre-arrival contact with the ELU • Increase online resources • Increase contact with ELU during breaks • Increase in-class interactivity • Increase subject-specific resources
Deliverables • The ELU Welcome Web • Innovative use of the Interactive Whiteboard • Use of online resources via the KLE • Interactive resources using Studymate and Respondus • Individualised corpora for PGR students • E-tutorials using MSN/Skype for off-site students
Concordancing – investigating the use of vocabulary in context
Analysing the effectiveness • Student Feedback: “really useful – I feel more confident” “I use the e-tutorials a lot – they help me with my research when I’m in Sri Lanka” “The whiteboard in my English class is nice. I feel interested to look at it.” “I think the vocabulary development on KLE is useful. It helps me a lot with my writing.” “The language I use for my research is very specific and I cannot find it in a dictionary. The corpora that the ELU made for me is perfect because I can see which language is necessary and how it is used.”
Future Developments • Additional KLE-based resources. • Additional subject-specific vocabulary development. • Design and implementation of individual corpora focussing on different styles of research writing.