English Language Skills Development

Communicative and Cultural English

Oral Communication Skills and Seminar Skills

In term 3 you can continue your oral communication skills development with our popular Current Issues course. These discussion skills sessions help you to hone your fluency and confidence. We have two courses running: one in May and the other in July.

Our Conversation Café is also returning in term 3 - scroll down for more details.

Current Issues - Seminar Discussion

Six independent discussion sessions giving participants the opportunity to express themselves on complex topics. This course is very useful for practicing and improving seminar discussion skills. A different topic of current importance in the world is chosen each week. 

Sign up using the links below.

Current Issues 1

Current Issues 2

Conversation Café

Conversation Café gives you the opportunity to develop spoken fluency in a relaxed, informal atmosphere. People from Exeter come along to these sessions and we sit in small groups where you can talk with them on any topics you like. It is an excellent and stress-free opportunity to develop spoken English fluency. Free hot drinks and biscuits are provided! 

Sign up below:

 

 

Pronunciation Workshops

In term 3 we run a course of 6 workshops designed to extend strategies for clarity of expression by focusing on sound, stress and intonation in English. These workshops can improve communicative effectiveness, and also have an impact on listening comprehension and interpretation of meaning beyond that given by choice of vocabulary and grammatical structures. 

Sign up by clicking on the links below. Signing up for one workshop will automatically sign you up for all subsequent workshops. You may join the workshops at any point during the course.

Pronunciation term 3 (PW T3)

Intercultural Communication

The University of Exeter is a hugely diverse campus with staff and students from many different cultural and linguistic backgrounds. This brings with it a wealth of rich experience and opportunities for learning important skills for the future. Cultural competence and the ability to work in diverse teams is highly prized by employers. 

Our intercultural communication workshops aim to raise your awareness of the ways in which cultures differ and provide a forum for discussing practical strategies for increasing cultural competence and improving communicative skills. 

In term 3 we will be running three workshops:

Workshop 1: Understanding cultural differences (Tuesday 20th May, 10.35-12.25)

This workshop explores what we mean by culture and considers how cultures differ. Using a theoretical lens, and drawing on examples as well as our own experiences, this session aims is to provide a space for students to reflect on their experiences in Exeter and to build relevant knowledge and skills for future study and the workplace. Sign up

Workshop 2: Developing cultural competence (Tuesday 27th May, 10.35-12.25)

In our globalised world, being able to work effectively and appropriately with people from a range of backgrounds is vital. The focus of this workshop is on exploring what it means to be culturally competent, whether we can ever really be culturally competent, and what practical strategies we can put in place to improve cultural awareness and communicative skills. This is a really useful workshop for any student going on a year abroad, doing an industrial placement, undertaking Grand Challenges or just wanting an opportunity to reflect on their experiences at an international university. Sign up

Workshop 3: Working in culturally diverse teams (Thursday 29th May, 10.35-12.25)

This practical and discursive session aims to develop participants understanding of the benefits and challenges of working in international teams, and consider practical ways in which we can improve our approach. There will be opportunities to reflect on past experiences as well as build a toolkit of strategies for the future. Sign up

“Going forwards in your career you can apply this anywhere, in an ever-growing society where we are given the luxury to experience so many different cultures, having the confidence and talent to approach someone in a certain manner will increase your value as an employee and most importantly as a person” (Quote from a past student)

 

 

 

Preparation for Work

Learn appropriate English lexis and grammar for writing a more effective CV, cover letter or application form. We also provide sessions on oral fluency for interviews. Sign up for the sessions on Handshake by clicking on the date and time.

Workshops running in term 3

There will be 4 workshops in term 3 and one-to-one appointments will also be offered. To arrange a one-to-one appointment, please speak to the course tutor (Emma Sweeney)

Day & time: Wednesdays, 10.35-12.00; Dates: 14th and 28th May, 4th & 11th June; Room: INTO 0.07

Articulating your Employability Attributes in English: Building useful vocabulary and oral skills. Using the VIPER framework to talk about your skills. Sign up

English Language Skills for CVs, Application forms and Cover letters: Structure, cohesion and lexis. Sign up

Oral Fluency for Employability: Understanding the barriers and building strategies for better participation. Sign up 

Interview Skills in English: An opportunity to practice answering commonly asked questions. Sign up

 

 

 

Family Class

This is a course on cultural and communicative English offered to the partners of international students and staff members who have come to Exeter but are not studying at the University. The focus is very much on communication, culture and how to get the most from your stay in Exeter. There are 9 weeks of classes with sessions being held twice each week. 

Course information
Class Time  10.35-12.25 
Dates  Tuesdays: 29th April - 10th June;  Thursdays: 1st May - 12th June
Location  Tuesdays: INTO 0.10; Thursdays: INTO 0.02
Tutor  Jo Hughes

If you would like to join the Family Class, please email insessional@exeter.ac.uk