English Speaking and Listening Skills

Course Coordinator: Dr Garfield Lau, BA, MPhil (CUHK); PhD (HKBU)

Course Developer: Sue Deutscher

This pre-foundation course aims to improve students' language proficiency at the tertiary level. It is specifically designed to help students develop listening and speaking skills which can be applied to whatever subjects they may choose to study in the English medium at the tertiary level.

Aims
This course aims to:

• Improve students' understanding of the English language;
• Develop students' listening and speaking skills in various social contexts;
• Develop learners' interest in activities that use English as the medium of communication.

Contents
The course covers the following topics:

• Developing an understanding of the English language as a medium for learning, as well as a means of communication
• Having a conversation and sharing information, making suggestions and giving advice
• Describing people, places and objects, and exploring ideas
• Taking part in a discussion about current issues
• Listening to a talk and learning questioning strategies
• Giving a talk, and learning the difference between prepared and impromptu talks

Learning support
There will be regular two-hour tutorials and a supplementary day school.

Assessment
There will be two assignments that consist of both speaking and listening tasks, one compulsory video-taped speaking exercise to be done in school and a listening examination. Students are required to submit assignments via the Online Learning Environment (OLE).

Equipment
You will need access to the internet, as well as a computer with PowerPoint, and a web browser which can play the audio and video components on the Online Learning Environment (OLE).

You will also need access to devices which can record your voice into MP3 format.

Set book(s)
There are no set books for this course.

Students with disabilities or special educational needs
The audio and verbal components of the materials and assessment of the course may cause difficulties for students with impaired hearing or speech. You should seek advice from the Course Coordinator before enrolling on the course.