English as a Foreign Language

Individual tutorials are available during the academic year. The primary objective of the tutorials is to help students to be sure that the English that they use in their assignments is clear, and that what they are writing is what they really want to express. Another aspect is help with understanding, for example, with assignment briefs.

PSEL courses run over the summer, lasting either 10 weeks (PSEL1) or 5 weeks (PSEL2). The aim is to prepare students whose level is slightly below the normal College requirements. Content includes English for Academic Purposes (study skills) as well as General English (grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation). The focus is increasingly on English for Academic Purposes as the course progresses. PSEL includes a 1,000 word assignment, work on listening skills and note-taking, and an introduction to plagiarism and referencing. PSEL students also give individual and group presentations and a poster display. There is a strong cultural orientation element, which includes study visits to cities, castles and gardens. There are more details about the next PSEL courses on the College website.

Over a two year period, a number of students were placed in primary schools in the Chelmsford area. These students volunteered for one afternoon per week to share some aspect of their course, for example, gardening or floristry with the children, the aim being to reduce a feeling of isolation from the wider local community. This was combined with a credit-bearing element to the English classes to encourage participation. For more details, please see the report on the project.

The English Language Coordinator advises and liaises with International Admissions on the English language level of applicants to courses at Writtle.

Contact details:
Nik Barrall
Writtle College
Lordship Road
Writtle, Essex
CM1 3RR
United Kingdom

01245 424200 ext. 26058
Nikolas.Barrall@writtle.ac.uk