General English Conversation - LFA00324L

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  • Department: Language and Linguistic Science
  • Credit value: Information currently unavailable
  • Credit level: LFA
  • Academic year of delivery: 2024-25
    • See module specification for other years: 2025-26

Module summary

IELTS is the International English Language Testing System. It measures the ability to communicate in English across all four language skills – listening, reading, writing and speaking – for people who intend to study or work where English is the language of communication. Further details of the examination syllabus are on: www.ielts.org

The Improve your English for IELTS course is for one semester only and is aimed at students interested in developing their English language skills for the IELTS examination, especially the ‘Academic’ version. The examination is usually held four or more times per month. Course participants are not required to register for the exam but if they choose to do so, it is their responsibility to make the arrangements at a local centre.

Related modules

You need to have a minimum overall score of IELTS 5.0 (or an equivalent B2 level English language qualification) in order to join this class. 

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 2 2024-25

Module aims

To acquire the skills required by the syllabus for the IELTS examination. Namely:

  • To develop techniques to comprehend reading texts and to be exposed to a range of question styles.
  • To practise writing skills that will produce structured and coherent short essays.
  • To grow in confidence when speaking in a structured exam interview.
  • To become familiar with a variety of listening formats and to acquire strategies to process the information heard.
  • To build vocabulary suitable for academic contexts.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the course students should be able to:

  • Notice an improvement in their English in all four components of the IELTS exam.
  • Take an IELTS exam and improve their overall score. Students are not required to take an IELTS exam, but if they choose to do so, with full engagement on the course, scores in all four components will improve

Module content

The module will:

  • Increase the range and accuracy of vocabulary, specifically related to academic contexts.
  • Aid fluency through practice tasks which will guide the user through a variety of IELTS speaking tasks.
  • Develop IELTS examination techniques to deal with reading, writing, speaking and listening skills.

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Departmental - attendance requirement 100

Special assessment rules

None

Additional assessment information

Since this is a non-accredited course, assessment will be formative, with a focus on providing students feedback and feedforward opportunities.

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Departmental - attendance requirement 100

Module feedback

Ongoing formative feedback will be given to students in class and in response to the writing of short essays.

Indicative reading

You will be expected to buy a copy of the main coursebook for this course before the first lesson. Information on these books will be given to you when you register.

  • McCarter, S. (2017). Ready for IELTS 2nd edition. Macmillan
  • O’Connell, S. (2010). Focus on IELTS. Pearson Longman.
  • Brook-Hart, G. and Jakeman, V. (2013). Complete IELTS. Cambridge CUP.
  • Murphy, R. (2019). English Grammar in Use 5th edition. Cambridge CUP.
  • Cullen, P., French, A. and Jakeman, V. (2014). The official Cambridge guide to IELTS student’s book with answers. Cambridge CUP