Course details

This course is for university support staff whose first language is NOT English. (If English is your first language, the Writing with confidence course may be more relevant to you). The course programme, which may be modified in the light of the interests of course members, will include identifying your main concerns about using English and finding ways to help you. We will look, in a fun way, at reading, writing, speaking and listening. There will be an opportunity to improve your communication and to practise new skills in a relaxed atmosphere.

Format: face-face
Intended for university support staff whose first language is NOT English and aims to help build up confidence in English when telephoning, form filling, or following instructions.

Learning objective(s)/outcomes
(These may be modified in the light of the course members’ interests)
By the end of the course you should be able to:

• Demonstrate an improvement in your chosen areas of concern
• Identify how and where you can continue to improve

Pre-Course Assessment
You will be asked to undertake a short, informal assessment a couple of months before the actual course start date. The purpose of this is firstly to gain a view on the standard of your English at present and secondly, and most importantly, to identify where appropriate support may be given to you.

As this assessment will be carried out by your course tutor, it will also give you the opportunity to discuss your own particular language needs as they relate to your job role within the University. This will then enable the tutor to cater, wherever possible, for your own particular language needs as well as those of the whole class. 

If this assessment suggests that this course will not meet your needs, we will do our best to recommend an alternative.