English communication for life and work - with maths and digital skills (entry 3)

What is the course about?

This course is about improving your reading and writing of English so that you can be confident in most daily activities. It will help you express yourself in both writing and speaking so you can deal with difficult situations and get your viewpoints across in a constructive way such as a work or with friends. You will discuss different topics and use these to help you improve your reading and writing and express opinions. For example, you will learn to how write whole sentences and paragraphs, organise your writing, make notes and complete drafts, use adjectives effectively, spell important common words and use punctuation correctly. You will focus on reading different types of texts such as news articles, short stories and forms so you can enjoy reading and and find information and details. You will work with computers to help improve your reading and writing and also to be able to research topics. You will also develop your maths so you can manage your money better and improve your budgeting skills.

What will we cover?

You will decide your topics in discussion with your tutor. These will include British values and law, the environment, news, Black history, and well-being. You will also visit places of interest. Each topic and visit will help you develop specific areas of English, as well as develop your maths and digital skills, including:
• writing compound sentences
• combing sentences into paragraphs
• writing whole texts including letters and emails
• planning and drafting your writing
• using a range of adjectives effectively
• using punctuation to clarify meaning
• checking your writing for errors
• reading to find details e.g. train times or personal information
• reading for general gist e.g. news articles, Facebook stories, short stories
• expressing your opinion with reason e.g. when discussing current affairs or TV programmes
• expressing your feelings and thoughts
•using the internet to research topics
•using social media to express yourself
•using maths to manage your money and budget successfully.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

• communicate and express yourself with more confidence and skill about important topics at work, at home, in your personal life and in the news
• combine ideas in writing using compound sentences
• combine ideas successfully by joining sentences into paragraphs
• write whole purposeful texts such as formal and informal letters and emails
• plan and draft your writing
•add creativity to your writing by using a range of adjectives effectively
•write clearly by using punctuation to clarify meaning
• check your writing for errors
• find important details in different types of text
•identify the gist of different types of text so you can summarise what the texts such as news stories or emails are about
• express your opinion with reason on important topics
• express your feelings and thoughts more clearly
• engage in discussions and respond to other points of view
•use the internet to research topics
•use social media to express yourself
•use maths to manage your money and budget successfully.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

This course is for people who are fluent speakers of English at Entry 3. This means you can read and write sentences but you are now ready to write in more detail and read more complicated things such as short news articles and stories. It is especially suitable to those who wish to study but do not feel ready take an exam.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

You will learn in a supportive and welcoming environment with an emphasis on your discovering how to do and complete tasks, with guidance from the tutor. You will work on your own and with other students on different tasks so you are always practising important in-demand life and work skills such as problem-solving, decision-making, prioritising, negotiating, collaborating and independence. You will learn in a step by step manner so you can complete challenging tasks in enjoyable and relaxing ways. Your tutor will also work with you individually so you know how to improve and how to work in a way that improves your learning. You will need to do work outside the classroom and use Google Classroom to help you.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

You will need a pen, some lined A4 paper and a folder to keep your work in. Your tutor will provide handouts and worksheets and give you links to some useful websites to reinforce and extend your skills outside the class.

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

When you successfully complete this course you may join the next part of the course. There are other courses you can do before, at the same time and after this course. These include:
• Develop your confidence in English: how to express yourself in speaking and writing inside and outside work (entry 3-level 1)
• Workplace communication skills: how to be confident in meetings and in groups (entry 3-level 1)
• Becoming an environmental citizen: how to read, research and understand data (entry 3-level 1)
• Workplace communication skills: letters, emails, memos, notes, meetings and presentations (level 1)
• Workplace communication skills: how to write a successful CV and be confident in interviews (entry 3-level 1 )
• Workplace communication skills: how to be confident and do well in interviews (level 1-level 2)
• English communication skills - for life and work (level 1)

We also have a lot of maths and digital skills and computer courses you could do, such as:
• Discover the maths in the world around you: from nature to buildings (entry 3-level 1)
• Maths skills for life and work - getting ready for functional skills (foundation 1)
• Getting started: becoming confident on your computer and online (complete beginner)
• Becoming confident with digital skills: on your computer and online (beginner)
• Complete beginners: becoming confident on your computer and online
• Becoming confident with online communication: Zoom (beginner)
• Becoming confident with online communication: Zoom and Teams (beginner)
Getting started: becoming confident on Instagram and TikTok (complete beginners)
Getting started: becoming confident on Facebook and Twitter (complete beginners)

Ask your tutor for more details or contact universal.skills@citylit.ac.uk / 020 4582 0423.