The selection of vocabulary, language and skills for a discipline- specific Pre-university Foundation Programme Clare Anderson CATS College Cambridge

Context University Foundation Programme (UFP) progression to university place in one year 5 hours English per week, 3 IELTS, 2 ESAP: Academic Skills for UFP Students from: GCSE or A-level year 1 Business, Sciences and Social Sciences Re-inclusion of coursework Class size; up to 3 subjects supported per group University Foundation Programme (UFP) progression to university place in one year 5 hours English per week, 3 IELTS, 2 ESAP: Academic Skills for UFP Students from: GCSE or A-level year 1 Business, Sciences and Social Sciences Re-inclusion of coursework Class size; up to 3 subjects supported per group

UFP students Age English level 4.5 – 7.0 Attitude to English language The relevance question Age English level 4.5 – 7.0 Attitude to English language The relevance question

Factoring-in UFP-wide issues In-sessional course plus Prioritising and balancing needs: students Easier than A-levels English language work? Really? Expectation of evening & weekend study unreasonable! EAP tutors will proof-read project/coursework Academic Skills sessions: Ah! Prioritising and balancing needs: students Easier than A-levels English language work? Really? Expectation of evening & weekend study unreasonable! EAP tutors will proof-read project/coursework Academic Skills sessions: Ah! some pre-sessional goals Prioritising and balancing needs: tutors Intensive course AS & A2 type modules Course content timely delivery vs student comprehension Coursework deadlines Exam practice & revision Solution: the EAP tutor (!) Prioritising and balancing needs: tutors Intensive course AS & A2 type modules Course content timely delivery vs student comprehension Coursework deadlines Exam practice & revision Solution: the EAP tutor (!)

Vocabulary & skills choices Vocabulary specific to whole course OR limit to academic communication? Coursework preparation: genre, academic skills eg research, note-taking, paraphrase Term 3: essay type exam Q&A eg Business case studies Vocabulary specific to whole course OR limit to academic communication? Coursework preparation: genre, academic skills eg research, note-taking, paraphrase Term 3: essay type exam Q&A eg Business case studies

Sources Tutor notes College Coursework briefing sheets EAP Formative assessment briefing sheets Past student Coursework Online revision sites Online audio-visual content: Youtube; bbc online Corpora for secondary level? Tutor notes College Coursework briefing sheets EAP Formative assessment briefing sheets Past student Coursework Online revision sites Online audio-visual content: Youtube; bbc online Corpora for secondary level?

Working example 1: Accounting Lexis from tutor’s Accounting Study Guide Chapter 1: given EAP treatment youtube accounting content: ZfzoER_I ZfzoER_I Word formation review and extension EAP assessment 1: Academic poster Lexis from tutor’s Accounting Study Guide Chapter 1: given EAP treatment youtube accounting content: ZfzoER_I ZfzoER_I Word formation review and extension EAP assessment 1: Academic poster

Example 2: Accounting Understanding a UFP Accounting Coursework part 2 briefing sheet Becomes interactive EAP worksheet Monitored by EAP & Accounting tutors Students explain in own words in L2 Understanding a UFP Accounting Coursework part 2 briefing sheet Becomes interactive EAP worksheet Monitored by EAP & Accounting tutors Students explain in own words in L2

Example 3: Business Exploiting case studies for extended exam Q&A plus vocabulary revision Audio-visual files help lower reading level students eg Vietnamese start-up queen Vocabulary Marketing vocabulary links: Youtube ZuVA ZuVA Exploiting case studies for extended exam Q&A plus vocabulary revision Audio-visual files help lower reading level students eg Vietnamese start-up queen Vocabulary Marketing vocabulary links: Youtube ZuVA ZuVA

Example 4: Business Supporting Coursework Part 2 Building a formative assignment (CSR) Teaching the academic conventions, skills & vocabulary within that Supporting Coursework Part 2 Building a formative assignment (CSR) Teaching the academic conventions, skills & vocabulary within that

Raise student engagement Student engagement: EAP assessments formative for coursework & vocabulary Specific mention in term reports to parents Support of colleagues across disciplines Peer visits Modified team teaching Student engagement: EAP assessments formative for coursework & vocabulary Specific mention in term reports to parents Support of colleagues across disciplines Peer visits Modified team teaching

Logistics Complexities of Schemes of work Class timing Late-comers to the course Importance of reinforcement from cross departmental cooperation Writing & adapting the material Complexities of Schemes of work Class timing Late-comers to the course Importance of reinforcement from cross departmental cooperation Writing & adapting the material

Action research Student attitudes: generic academic skills Student attitudes: subject specific academic skills and vocabulary Students with pre-intermediate English Student attitudes: generic academic skills Student attitudes: subject specific academic skills and vocabulary Students with pre-intermediate English

Many thanks!