AB INITIO LANGUAGE II: DEVELOPING SKILLS - 2023/4

Module Overview

This module builds on the language skills acquired in semester 1 across all four skills (reading, listening, speaking, and writing), and enables students to attain a level of advanced competency roughly equivalent to B2 on the CEFR. A course book is used in class, and additional activities focus on developing language skills for the professional world, e.g. writing a CV and cover letter, and practising interviews. This enables students to start preparing for the PTY abroad and feeds into their Level 5 language module, where they are integrated with the rest of the cohort.

Module provider

Literature & Languages

Module Leader

ARCHER Leona (Lit & Langs)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 4

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

Successful completion of LAN1XXX Ab Initio Language I: Foundations.

Module content

Indicative content includes:

• Delivering a presentation, e.g. body language, visual aids, handling questions


• Negotiating: making suggestions, accepting and rejecting proposals and suggestions, bargaining, summarizing results


• Making phone calls


• Handling complaints and giving advice


• Listening comprehension


• Workplace writing genres, e.g. e-mails and letters


• CVs and cover letters, academic writing


• Intonation, stress, pitch


• Grammatical terminology in the language


• Grammar topics (e.g. range of tenses, subjunctive)

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

n/a

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate:

• knowledge and understanding of the use of the target language


• ability to analyse and interpret texts through in-class discussion, tasks, and independent reading


• ability to select and synthesise information from written and oral texts through in-class activities and homework tasks


• ability to use IT skills to find and present relevant information


• subject-specific knowledge of the culture and society related to the language

• a written assignment, to be handed in as coursework during the semester (30%)


• an oral assignment, to be completed in class time during the semester (30%)


• a final exam of two hours, usually consisting of two of the tasks practised during the semester (within a 4 hour window) (40%)

• a written assignment, to be handed in as coursework during the semester


• an oral assignment, to be completed in class time during the semester


• a final exam of two hours, usually consisting of two of the tasks practised during the semester

• Students will be provided with detailed written feedback following coursework assignments.


• Verbal feedback will also occur in class and individual appointments if required.

Module aims

• This module aims to help sudents develop the linguistic skills across the four skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) to enable them to participate and communicate effectively in a range of contexts, with a particular focus on the professional world.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

• enable students to acquire explicit knowledge of the linguistic structures, grammar and stylistic registers through attending classes and reading in the target language


• encourage student participation and learner autonomy, through small group classes, reading outside contact hours and participating in seminars


• develop ability to use linguists' tools, such as dictionaries and IT resources


• develop research skills, through reading and presenting findings, through informal class presentations and in the assignments


• enable students to engage in analytical and evaluative thinking, to analyse and interpret texts and other cultural products, through attending classes and engaging in individual study


• develop communication skills through interactions in class

• teaching will be delivered in a combination of lectures, seminars and workshops. there will be opportunities for class discussion, group work and peer evaluation


• further guidance for independent study will be provided by the class tutor


• there will be opportunities for formative feedback on a practice presentation and from written and spoken tasks set as homework

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: LAN1008

Other information

Surrey's Curriculum Framework is committed to developing graduates with strengths in Employability, Digital Capabilities, Global and Cultural Capabilities, Sustainability and Resourcefulness and Resilience. This module is designed to allow students to develop knowledge, skills and capabilities in the following areas:

Employability: This module enables students to develop their language skills for use in a range of professional contexts, with a particular focus on placements. Consequently, employability is at the heart of the module, and is embedded in weekly in-class activities and homework tasks. This will enable students to feel well prepared for the PTY and the world of work more broadly, and equip them with the proficiency to undertake roles in the companies and institutions of the target language culture. Students produce cover letters and CVs for their written coursework assignment, which they can adapt for their placement applications. Students also gain experience in interviewing in the target language, as a mock placement interview forms the speaking assessment for this module.

Global and Cultural Capabilities: In this module, students develop their understanding of the professional world and professional language. Students examine the similarities and differences between work cultures in an international context, specifically related to the target language. Students have the opportunity to reflect upon and compare their own experiences and backgrounds. Students also develop their linguistic abilities across the four skills more broadly, enhancing their comprehension and production in listening, reading, speaking, and writing. By the end of this module, students are enabled to develop their language proficiency to a level commensurate with the post-A Level cohort, with whom they join from FHEQ Level 5 onwards.

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2023/4 academic year.