English for Professional Development

Enhance your English language skills

Importance of communication skillsStrong communication skills are essential in all aspects of life. As leaders, co-workers, team members, and in the multiple roles we play both professionally and personally, communication is the key to success. The purpose of communication is to get a message across to others that involves both the sender of the message and the receiver. A message is only successful when both the sender and the receiver perceive it in the same way.

The development of excellent communication skills takes time, patience, and practice, but is highly beneficial. The advantages are that you can:

1. Increase your self-confidence2. Be taught important life skills, such as critical thinking,

problem solving, effective writing and public speaking3. Succeed professionally4. Gain an understanding of communicating with diverse

cultures

Commitment to excellenceOur innovative, high quality English for Professional Development programme is the ideal choice for graduates and professionals. We cater to a range of English communication needs and competency levels. Whether you are a business professional or university graduate who wants to succeed in the global marketplace, our English communication programmes can improve your communication skills.

We maintain high standards of excellence in teaching and learning practices, which are distinctive trademarks of the University of the Witwatersrand. Our highly trained staff have extensive experience teaching in South Africa and overseas and will provide you with high standard training solutions to meet your professional needs.

At Wits Language School you will benefit from:• Access to world-class facilities and academic expertise• A global institution• A student-focused learning environment

The Programme The programme offers 8 modules that are all aligned to the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) Unit Standards on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF).

Each NQF level is divided into 2 modules, Module A and Module B. Each module consists of 40 contact hours and runs for 10 weeks every Saturday from 09h00 - 13h00. In the eleventh week an exam will be written.

The full programme covers 320 face-to-face hours. However, the pre-assessment allows for entry into the programme at any point.

Pre-assessment The pre-assessment allows us to assess the candidate’s present level of English language proficiency, which in turn enables us to place the candidate at the correct level within the programme.

All candidates are required to take the placement assessment to ensure they enter the programme at an appropriate level. It is a written test which is one hour in duration.No specific school or tertiary qualification is required. However, all candidates must be literate and numerate.

The Modules

English Foundations, Part 1 (Module 1A)(Required entry level: NQF 1)

At the end of this course you will be able to:• Write short texts made up of simple sentences, new words

and phrases in the context of familiar topics such as family, friends and hobbies

• Produce different types of simple texts such as messages, personal notes, lists and descriptions

• Understand how to formulate simple questions and answers

English Foundations, Part 2 (Module 1B)(Required entry level: NQF 1)

At the end of this course you will be able to:• Produce a variety of texts for different purposes, audiences

and situations• Write clearly in order to communicate meaning and show

some control of grammar and style• Be familiar with a range of structuring devices and

conventions that help convey meaning and develop competence in writing through reflecting on and correcting your own written work

• Use language appropriate to the relevant cultural, learning or workplace environment

English Fundamentals, Part 1 (Module 2A)(Required entry level: NQF 2)

At the end of this course you will be able to:• Produce texts of about 80 to 120 words on topics relevant

to your social, cultural, geographical and professional environment

• Use expressions, vocabulary and language structures appropriate to this level and produce texts for written communication

English Fundamentals, Part 2 (Module 2B)(Required entry level: NQF 2)

At the end of this course you will be able to:• Use appropriate language and grammatical structures

in familiar and unfamiliar situations, written narratives and observations and responses to texts

• Use language appropriate to your social, cultural, geographical and professional environment

• Use a range of reading strategies to understand not only the literal meaning of texts but the implicit messages too

• Write for a specific audience and situation, using grammatical structures and writing conventions to produce coherent and cohesive texts

• Adapt language to suit the context • Draft and edit your own writing

Communicative Grammar (Module 3A)(Required entry level: NQF 3)

At the end of this course you will be able to:• Follow a process in writing various texts• Identify the main parts of speech and the function associated

with each of them• Carefully scrutinise your own and others’ writing for accuracy,

appropriateness and impact on different audiences and contexts

• Use appropriate language conventions, textual features and style

• Draft and edit your own texts

Business Writing (Module 3B)(Required entry level: NQF 3)

At the end of this course you will be able to:• Communicate or express your own ideas in writing• Review and redraft written texts• Write for a range of audiences and contexts using relevant

grammatical structures • Produce coherent and cohesive texts such as emails,

formal letters, proposals and internal correspondence

Report Writing (Module 4A)(Required entry level: NQF 4)

At the end of this course you will be able to: • Access, process, re-organise, and synthesise information

in order to present it in a report• Use appropriate language conventions, textual features

and style for specific reports• Draft and edit your reports

2014 PUBLIC COURSE SCHEDULES

Presentation Skills (Module 4B)(Required entry level: NQF 4)

At the end of this course you will be able to:• Identify and apply correct strategies for oral presentations• Use non-verbal communication effectively in a presentation

situation• Use the voice correctly in a presentation situation• Use presentation tools to create and present effective

visuals• Understand, identify and apply correct English grammar

Certificates

Module A and Module B each entitle participants to a University of the Witwatersrand Short Course Certificate of Competence (NQF Level 2 – 5 competence).

Course FeesEach 40-hour module is charged at R4 400.

The course fee includes:

• Registration• Pre-assessment • Course book• Course handouts• Branded file and exam pad• One set of dividers

The course fee excludes:

• Recommended dictionary, which costs R180.• Book for Book Club, which costs R150.

• Branded pen• Result letter• Certificate• Book Club meetings• Scrabble Meet• Grammar Q&A• Syndicate Group Meetings

JOHANNESBURG CAMPUSYou can write the pre-assessment and register at the following times: Monday - Friday 08h30 - 16h30 OR

Saturday 08h00 - 12h00

START DATE END DATE EXAM DATE

Intake 1 01 February 03 May 10 May

Intake 2 05 April 05 July 12 July

Intake 3 07 June 23 August 30 August

Intake 4 02 August 11 October 18 October

Intake 5 04 October 06 December 13 December

PRETORIA CAMPUSYou can write the pre-assessment and register at the Pretoria campus on the following dates from 09h00 - 12h00:

Saturday: 11 January, 18 January, 25 JanuaryAND Saturday: 10 May, 17 May, 24 May AND Saturday: 06 September, 13 September, 20 SeptemberOR you can write the pre-assessment and register at the following times at the Johannesburg campus:

Monday - Friday 08h30 - 16h30 OR Saturday 08h00 - 12h00

START DATE END DATE EXAM DATE

Intake 1 01 February 03 May 10 May

Intake 2 31 May 17 August 23 August

Intake 3 27 September 29 November 06 December

Bonus ActivitiesThese activities take place on five afternoons per intake after classes on Saturday, from 13h30 - 15h30. They are optional and come at no extra charge. Only the book for Book Club needs to be purchased.

Syndicate Group MeetingsThe aim of the meetings is to provide students with more opportunities to interact in English. The activities are centred around business. Syndicate Group Meetings give you the chance to engage in strategies for problem solving, debates, discussions, decision making, presenting and justifying opinions and presenting proposals. Thus, the focus is largely on reading comprehension and speaking fluency.

Book ClubBook Club is where students meet to discuss a book that they have read and express their opinions, likes, dislikes, etc. The aim of the Book Club is to further enhance students’ English reading and speaking skills, by launching into enthralling plotline debates, arguing about favourite characters and using the discussion forums to tell fellow readers which parts made you laugh and cry. The benefits of reading are improved comprehension, spelling and vocabulary.

Scrabble Meet Scrabble is a classic board game, which is not only fun to play, but also acts as a great educational tool. It helps increase vocabulary, teaches spelling skills and problem solving skills and enhances mathematical skills.

Grammar Q & AGrammar Q & A is an excellent opportunity for all students to clarify any grammar issues they may have. Students can bring any grammar question to the session and the facilitator will explain the grammar point, when it is used, give examples of it and provide students with an opportunity to practise it.

Forthcoming Courses

A. English Skills for Professional Development

English for LeadershipExplores the language skills needed to demonstrate leadership.

English for NegotiatingExplores the language skills needed to conduct successful negotiations.

English for Problem Solving/Critical ThinkingExplores the language skills needed to gather and assess information and evidence in a balanced and reflective way and to reach conclusions that are justified by reasoned argument.

English for Job Applications and Interview EssentialsDevelops professional English language skills for the job application process.

Speaking for Business ContextsDevelops professional English communication skills of business professionals who need to establish business relationships, both within their organisation and outside it.

B. English for Specific Purposes

English for EntrepreneursDevelops professional English communication skills to start a successful venture.

English for Project ManagementDevelops professional English communication skills to manage projects successfully.

English for MarketingDevelops marketing-related English communication skills.

English for Human ResourcesDevelops English communication skills in a variety of human resources contexts.

English for the Financial SectorDevelops English communication skills needed to operate successfully in the financial industry.

English for EngineeringDevelops engineering-related English communication skills.

English for AviationDevelops English communication skills of pilots and air traffic controller officers.