ILMAMTN: Academic English for Meteorologists

Module code: ILMAMTN

Module provider: International Study and Language Institute

Credits: 0

Level: Postgraduate Masters

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Mr James Wylie, email: j.wylie@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Ms Gill Kendon, email: g.b.kendon@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module focuses on the academic language and communication skills needed to perform more effectively at postgraduate level in Meteorology. It is primarily designed for students whose first language is not English and aims to support the transition to the UK HE context and academic culture.The module focuses on the key academic language and skills needed to successfully complete a Master’s level dissertation and to engage effectively in lectures and spoken interactions and tasks.

The module is non-credit-bearing and designed to support students’ disciplinary study, the expectation being that students will apply the skills they have learnt on ILMAMTN in their credit-bearing work. Therefore, for the module itself, there is no assessment or expectation of independent study hours.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Recognise what is expected, structurally and linguistically, in the different elements of a dissertation i.e. Abstract, Introduction, Literature Review, Methodology, Results, Discussion, Conclusion.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of academic integrity through appropriate use of referencing conventions, including the paraphrase and summary of source material.
3. Deploy task-appropriate language (grammar and lexis) in their writing.
4. Explain meteorology concepts to peers.

Module content

Classes will focus on:

• Organisational patterns and key language for the following aspects of dissertation writing:
  • Introduction: establishing the relevance of your research focus, identifying your research niche, and outlining the purpose and structure of your thesis.
  • Literature Review: comparing/contrasting and synthesising the ideas of other scholars; establishing your own stance within an ongoing academic debate.
  • Results: describing and analysing research findings.
  • Discussion: interpreting and evaluating results and engaging with the wider scholarly debates related to your research project.
  • Conclusion: identifying key research outcomes, and talking about implications, limitations, and potential future research.
  • Abstract: succinctly and accurately summarising the key points of your dissertation text.
• Building discipline-specific vocabulary and grammar knowledge.
• Listening skills and strategies for lectures including analysing stretches of connected speech.
• Speaking skills for short talks.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module takes a discipline-specific, genre-based approach to language and literacy development using example student texts and published Meteorology specific sources in classroom tasks.The module will also use spoken texts from meteorology lectures to develop students’ receptive and productive disciplinary language knowledge and listening skills. 

Teaching and learning is facilitated in a generally task-based approach, through a combination of reflective and productive activities, guided analysis of texts and peer and tutor feedback. The guided analysis of texts involves 'noticing' of key organisational and linguistic features in context and exercises to practise the use of relevant language. 

Interactive tasks are regularly included and are appropriately scaffolded to build students’ confidence in participating in discussion. The in-person delivery of the module will be supported by digital tools in the classroom where appropriate (e.g. short interactive learning tasks and/or quizzes). 

Study hours

At least 16 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

There is no assessment on this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

There is no assessment on this module.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Sessions will take a task-based approach, enabling students to receive feedback from the instructor and from other students during class discussions. 

Reassessment

Additional costs