English for Academic Purposes (EAP) & Academic Skills Development (ASD) Workshop (28-30 April 2017)

Overall Aims To prepare for the experience of online language learning and to provide intensive interactive language practice.

Preparation for the online programme

To incentivise involvement in and commitment to the online support programme.
To provide a taster of the kind of activities which will be used in the online programme providing examples of activity types and establishing expectations with regard to the programme
To discuss the challenges of and establish good practice with regard to online language learning
To sort out potential technical difficulties with accessing materials and communicating with tutors
To formalise commitment by requiring a commitment to a formal learning agreement

Language learning

To provide interactive activities pitched at the appropriate level with appropriate academic content to raise confidence in language use, especially in speaking
To provide on task and delayed feedback on English language competence and performance
To activate previous language learning
To generate a sense of a supportive learning / study community
To produce of a tangible outcome / project from the weekend – e.g. poster presentation

ASD Workshop objectives

To provide a structure and stimulus for participants to reflect upon their academic identities and aspirations
To facilitate the sharing of insights and experiences
To identify academic development priorities in the short and longer term
To elicit insights and ideas relating to how these priorities might be addressed
To gain insight and information that can be used to shape the design and content of the CARA Syria academic development strand
To gauge the level(s) of English language ability within the group, and the implications of this for the pedagogic approach

To provide opportunities for participants to practice and gain confidence in the English language comprehension and communication skills