WHEN are blah-de-blah courses run?
Courses start in May and finish in September, allowing you enough time to move to and settle at your chosen university. Students can attend the 20 week course; 15 week course; 10 week course, or 5 week course.
More advanced learners need only attend the 5 week course whereas learners who need more support (IELTS 4 - 5) may want to attend the full 20 week course.
HOW does blah-de-blah deliver courses?
- We believe that students need to understand the detail of how language works as well as the generic principles of the English language
- We believe that students should be taught how to develop their own writer's identity.
- We believe that students should be given the language currently being used in academia as opposed to the now defunct 'old style Queens English'.
Therefore our course materials cover both the specifics of how language is used in academia, for example, how to extract and understand complex arguments in academic writing, how to criticise an author's claim, or how to show opinion through the use of adjectives, reporting verbs and meta-discourse. We also look at the generic features of EAP, for example, how to structure writing, and how to read for gist in order to extract the key ideas. We also understand the importance of developing study skills, for example, time management, referencing, and preparing for seminars. Finally, we feel that there is a set of practical and transferable skills that students need to have. These are skills that can be transferred to the workplace, such as giving an effective presentation, asking questions or challenging an idea in the appropriate way.