Presessional programme for Built Environment students

Sandra Haywood, Andrea Sweetman

Centre for English Language Education

CELE: English for Academic Purposes

Research

Credit-bearing courses

Insessional courses

Presessional programmes

Presessional programmes

Intensive, full-time Year-round 4 entry points 10 weeks Assessed

(gatekeeping)

Mixed disciplines Mixed level (mostly

pg) Mixed nationality

Presessional programmes

Summer term – highest demand Standard 10 week programmes 5 weeks programmes 4 weeks: students with unconditional offers Specialised programmes Total number of students = 450 approx pa Majority register at UoN

Specialised programmes

Development of BE programme

Faculty Liaison project: University-wide Aims:

to identify the academic literacy demands of different disciplines

to investigate the extent to which CELE prepares and supports students

Built Environment selected for in-depth study Aim:

data gathering pool of resources

Data gathering

Online fact-finding Interviews with teaching staff Interviews with students Observations Samples of assignments

One genre unknown to us: ‘studio crits’ Diverse needs: MArch / MSc split

Vital ingredients

Cooperation of staff Support of HoD Key academic contact

Cooperation of students Consent

Two way process

Data analysis

To understand linguistic demands and challenges

To understand specific conventions and expectations For example: studio crit

Need to defend design Need to understand indirect instructions / criticisms,

informal language

Data analysis contributed to:

Presessional programme Insessional course Research papers

Process

Allowed CELE to build up deeper understanding

Allowed DBE to understand what CELE does

BUT considerable time required Data gathering and analysis Building relationships

Significant resource implications

Funding

University of Nottingham’s Teaching and Learning Fund

CELE

Presessional programme development: 1 FTE for 20 weeks

BE Programme development

Consultation with HoD 5 weeksTable: Number of BE students on standard programmes pa

Aim 1 group (max 16 students) Based on standard programme framework

with tailored content

07-08 08-09

20 week course

2 1

10 week course

4 1

5 week course 20 16

Materials Development

Research & Planning

Conceptualisation & Development

Implementation

Reflections

Materials Development : Acknowledgements

Klaus Mundt – Input into oral skills / assistance with

selection of video clips

Dr Cora Lindsay– Development of Reading and Essay

Writing component

Research & Planning

• Access to past assignments - online

• Compiled list of questions : Sent out in advance of

follow- up meetings [ See handout]

• Attended Studio Criticisms : MArch [Urban Design ]

• [Regeneration of a run-down area of Hackney]

Constraining Factors:

• Limited amount of time to produce materials for use in the summer (2009)

• Course Duration : 5 weeks

• Materials – pinned to existing framework of CELE courses

Existing Framework: CELE Presessional Courses

Project (x 5 per week)

Listening & Note-Making (x 1 per week) plus LIVE LECTURE [summer

only]

Discussion & Presentation Skills (x 2 per week)

Reading & Essay Writing (x 4 per week)

Further Considerations• Needs : How can we help students to

reach their target scores in such a short time?

• Entry level : MSc students IELTS 5.5 > 6.00 target

MArch students IELTS 6.0 > 6.5 target

[Cohort intending to study on various programmes within the Dept. of Architecture and Built Environment]

Yet more considerations :

The question EAP tutors inevitably ask :

How far can the EAP tutor [non- specialist] become involved in teaching in areas which may involve subject – specific content / highly specialised vocabulary ?

Live lecture programme:

Week 1 - Thursday, 19th August Re-inventing the Tall Building : Alternative Designs and Functions

for a Sustainable Future Philip Oldfield   Week 2 – Thursday, 26th AugustRoom Acoustics and Intelligibility Iain Paterson Stephens Week 3 - Thursday 2nd SeptemberWhat is Renewable Energy?  Sean Casey Week 4 - Thursday, 9th September   Sustainability in the Built Environment   Ed Cooper

 

Conceptualisation : Oral /Aural/ R&EW Components Topic Language

Focus

Week 1 R&EW Concepts of Design : Compare & Contrast DPS /LN Design : Urban Housing

Week 2 R&EW Cities and Towns Problem/Solution DPS/LN

Week 3 R&EW Supermarkets & Retail Cause/Effect DPS/LN Parks

Presentations [Organisation & Delivery]

Week 4 R&EW Pract. Exam DPS Presentation Pract. [Organisation &

Delivery]

Implementation:

• Overwriting : rather too much material for time frame

• Emphasis : More given to MArch programmes in materials

Reflections :

Student Feedback : Overwhelming majority said they would recommend the course to others Committed tutors - vital Involvement/cooperation & support from B.E. Dept. – vital Development time - vital

Final Reflection: Cooperative, motivated students – 50% unconditional Helpful to track students after Xmas – before reviewing the course