English communication skills - for life and work (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 also help you express yourself in both writing and speaking so you can deal with difficult situations and be sure you can get your viewpoints across. You will discuss lots of different topics and use these to help you improve the key elements of your reading and writing. 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 and finding information and details. You will work with computers to help improve your reading and writing.

This is a live online course. You will need:
- Internet connection. The classes work best with Chrome.
- A computer with microphone and camera is best (e.g. a PC/laptop/iMac/MacBook), or a tablet/iPad/smart phone/iPhone if you don't have a computer.
- Earphones/headphones/speakers.
We will contact you with joining instructions before your course starts.

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. Each topic will help you develop specific areas of English, 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.

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 and in your personal life
• combine ideas by using and writing 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 creatively 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.

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 writing and reading: by using grammar (entry 3-level 1)
• Develop your writing and reading: spelling, punctuation, vocabulary (entry 3-level 1)
• Picture this: develop your English through art and photography (level 1)
• Develop your English for the workplace: letters, emails, memos, notes, meetings and presentations (level 1)

We also have a lot of maths and digital skills and computer courses you could do, such as:
• Maths for life and work (foundation)
• 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
• Becoming confident on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: for complete beginners
• Becoming confident on Twitter and Instagram: for complete beginners
• Becoming confident in digital skills: Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook (beginner)

Ask your tutor for more details or contact Universal.skills@citylit.ac.uk / (telephone temporarily unavailable).