Electronic Precinct - March 1996

English for Academic Purposes

The English for Academic Purposes courses run by the Applied English Language Studies Unit (AELSU) are designed to bring overseas students up to an acceptable standard of English to be able to go on to study on undergraduate and postgraduate courses at the University.

Advising students to follow one of these courses brings a number of advantages to departments. Firstly, there is the language work; this is both conversational English and English for academic study. The course includes project work, introducing students to the computers and libraries and to working with a supervisor, and there is a spoken presentation and a poster presentation towards the end of the course.

These courses provide a useful orientation to the University, to Liverpool and the surrounding area, and to life in Britain generally and includes a social programme which involves visits to local places of interest as well as social events which bring together students from a range of different backgrounds.

The courses also set up a useful bridge between AELSU and departments. Students' language level is assessed and a full report on each student given to the department concerned. Informal consultation over students is available, and it is hoped a member of the student's academic department can attend the poster session at the end of the course, as a symbolic way of supporting the student in their move to their new community.

There is a 10 week and a 5 week course running in the summer (dates are 22 July-27 September, and 26 August-27 September). Student's language skills are tested on entry and divided into an upper or lower level group as appropriate. Students with an IELTS score of 5.0-5.5 are advised to complete the 10 week course and those with 5.5-6.0 to attend the 5 week course, although students with a higher score (up to 7.5) will benefit from the course.

Further information and application forms can be obtained from Karin Alecock, AELSU, Department of English Language and Literature Tel: ext 2735.