ADVANCED ENGLISH COMMUNICATION SKILLS (AECS)

Course Overview
Advanced English Communication Skills (AECS) is designed to challenge advanced students and develop speaking and listening skills. The course also includes a focus on reading and writing skills.

Course Outcomes
AECS will enable students to:

• Improve their ability to understand native speaker speech
• Increase their active knowledge of vocabulary, collocations and idioms
• Refine their ability to use English grammar accurately
• Improve the accuracy and fluency of their pronunciation
• Expand their general knowledge of world issues and current events
• Understand a range of genres in both listening and reading texts

Course Content
AECS course materials are drawn from a wide variety of sources including advanced English course books, authentic audio and audio-visual listening materials, authentic reading materials from the media, the internet and published fiction and non-fiction for native speakers. Students also undertake a
class project which can involve a variety of activities including writing and performing a drama or producing individual ‘digital stories’.

Course modules include:

• Core Skills: speaking, listening and grammar using course books and authentic materials
• Advanced Reading Skills: outcomes include improved reading speed, increased reading fluency and improved knowledge of sophisticated vocabulary using fiction and non-fiction texts
• Advanced Writing Skills: brainstorming, planning, text organisation and editing according to student needs and requests
• News and World Affairs: authentic materials (newspapers, magazines, the internet, TV and radio) are used to develop listening, reading and discussion skills and to increase knowledge of current world issues
• Project work: the class works together to write and produce a group project requiring an integrated skills approach. This class is particularly useful for building confidence in using English and improving the accuracy and fluency of pronunciation
• Film Appreciation: by watching short film segments or one film over the course, students develop their listening skills and their ability to discuss films in depth
• Lecture/guest speaker/visits: students attend lectures given by a university lecturer or may participate in visits outside the university relevant to their interests.