IE0101 Communicating in Academic Contexts 1

Academic year

2025 to 2026 Semester 1

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

20

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 6

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

Only available to students on IE International Foundation Programmes.

Planned timetable

To be arranged

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Mr T J Barbour

Mr T J Barbour
This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Alison Malcolm-Smith, Mr Aaron Rotsinger

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This module aims to develop students' awareness of spoken academic discourse. The module is aimed at students who already have a good general proficiency in English (CEFR B2), but who may not have been introduced to the style and conventions of academic spoken genres. In order to build proficiency, the module provides opportunity for students to practice communicating in these genres, to get feedback on their performance, and to reflect on their progress.

Assessment pattern

Coursework = 100%

Re-assessment

Coursework = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

5 seminar classes per week x 10 weeks. 5 hours of scheduled revision week sessions

Scheduled learning hours

55

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

145

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Demonstrate ability to understand the main ideas, points of view, and key details of academic and professional presentations that are both propositionally and linguistically complex, provided they are delivered in standard spoken language and the topic is familiar (CEFR B2 4.4.2.1).
  • Give clear descriptions, express viewpoints and develop arguments, without much conspicuous searching for words, using some complex sentence forms (CEFR B2 4.4.1.1; SCQF 6.4)
  • Lead seminars by working collaboratively with peers to facilitate participants' understanding of concepts through discussion and debate guided by logically sequenced questioning (CEFR B2 4.4.3.1).
  • Obtain, organise and use factual or theoretical information for describing, comparing and contrasting processes, problems and solutions and explaining a viewpoint (SCQF 6.1).
  • Demonstrate flexibility in the use of language and structures for oral communication in an academic context i.e. seminars and presentations (CEFR B2 5.2.1).