Tutored English: Crystal clear comprehension
Tutorial™
Includes a pre-course Zoom meeting between the tutor and the student for level assessment and needs analysis.
Before the start of the course, the student is sent an assignment to be completed before the course and a short reading list.
All students who successfully complete this course are eligible for a Course Certificate.
Course aims
This course provides students with strong comprehension skills to enable them to interact fully in professional or academic situations.
A very complete programme of comprehension skills
This course gives the learner the advanced comprehension skills needed to be able to interact effortlessly with native speakers.
The tutor guides the learner through listening, reading and editing exercises which develop accuracy in understanding and processing information.
The recommended total number of lessons is 15 lessons (5 modules each of 3 lessons).
Each module focuses on a specific aspect of the skills required for authentic listening. All 5 modules form a programme of 15 hours which gives the learner the ability to listen, understand and process information quickly and accurately.
All students who complete the course are eligible for a course certificate.
-
Course Content
Module I - Vocabulary
- Reading tasks to develop a wide vocabulary
- Critical analysis of a literary text and journalistic text
- Mini creative writing workshop to build vocabulary
Module 2 - Précis
- Students listen to a talk or podcast and write a short summary of it
- Students read a literary text and write a short summary of it
Module 3 - Collaboration
- Tasks which practise comprehension under timed conditions to replicate fast-paced environments, such as meetings or group discussions
- How to interject and participate and bring a point of view into the discussion
Module 4 - Rhetorical devices
- Read an unfamiliar text aloud to practise the use of stress
- Listen to a speech from politics or history to understand the rhetorical devices used by the speaker
Module 5 - Intonation and meaning
- Formal listening exercises to develop an understanding of intonation and how it affects meaning
Learning outcomes
By the end of this course, the student is expected to be able to:
- Listen to a talk and write a précis of it.
- Read a long-form text and summarise it into a shorter text.
- Demonstrate an understanding of how intonation and stress influence meaning.
- Identify words in a speech stream.
- Lead a critical analysis discussion of a literary text.
- Understand and extract information from a written document.
Accommodation
Staying in a homestay gives participants the chance to be fully immersed into the local culture of the destination, whilst also being able to practise the language in a relaxed and natural setting. Many homestays have been welcoming our students into their homes for many years, offering their hospitality and expanding our students cultural horizons. Homestay arrivals are on the Sunday before the course begins, and departures are on the Saturday after the course ends.
The experience of living in Oxford
For almost a millennium Oxford has been a hub of learning and academia.
A small university city, Oxford is easily navigable and students are quickly able to settle in and feel comfortable. The city has a bustling centre, with numerous shops, restaurants and cafes, as well as opportunities to explore the rich history and culture through museums, galleries and theatres. The centre of the city is also close to several parks and open spaces, allowing students to spend time outdoors and enjoying nature.
Price includes
Tuition, homestay accommodation and course certificate.