MM0ELS: English Language Skills for Business Studies

Module code: MM0ELS

Module provider: Henley Business School

Credits: 40

Level: F

When you’ll be taught: Semester 1 / 2

Module convenor: Dr Dan Luo, email: dan.luo@henley.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: 8 January 2025

Overview

Module aims and purpose

The module teaches English language for students studying at the undergraduate level. The module assists students to develop and apply their English language skills for academic purposes. The module works to develop the language skills of students in the four areas of listening, reading, writing and speaking.

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Apply core academic words and discuss areas related to the topic of their degree in different academic situations.

2. Take good quality notes with an effective use of abbreviations and symbols.

3. Show understanding of lectures, seminars and international conferences and identify a speaker’s intention and grasp the main ideas presented.

4. Apply spoken English on a wide range of topics, including those related to specialized fields.

5. Summarize, synthesize and use the information in in-depth, academic discussions with accuracy and fluency.

6. Show critical thinking and use proper strategies in cross-cultural communication.

Module content

The module will focus on the development of students’ English listening, reading, speaking and writing skills needed for academic purpose.  

Listening: understanding specific academic words and general spoken English; using informal outline for note taking; identifying key and supporting points; recording and organising important information using scientific numbering and indentation; inferring meaning from the context; 

Reading: reading for academic purpose; understanding the writer’s viewpoint; text analysis; comprehension of different types of articles; deduction and inference; 

Writing: planning, preparing, and drafting a piece of academic writing; an introduction of the structure of academic research; referencing, paraphrasing and the avoidance of plagiarism; summarising and interpretating figures/tables; argument construction and writing critically; 

Speaking: expressing opinions and participating in discussions; presenting; communicating in an effective manner;  

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

This module is taught with a combination of lectures and seminars. Students are provided with readings and/or essay titles to prepare before seminars. Class discussions in tutorials will take place in small groups, which also form the basis for the exam preparations. 

Study hours

At least At least 66 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person each term, 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 that the hours listed below are indicative and for guidance purposes only. 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

A minimum of 40%

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

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.

Formative assessments are available for all topics in the module to enable students to gain the necessary practice. In addition, exam-style questions will be practiced during workshops. Marking guides and feedback are provided where appropriate so that students can assess their own performance. 

Reassessment

Additional costs