Thursday, February 24, 2011

Students’ Support Services

You have witnessed the courses and workshops conducted by the Centre for Language Studies to improve English language. Please post your comments.

11 comments:

  1. I was wondering whether there is any particular reason why Sussex does not have a Writing Centre. Perhaps, the standard of English is higher than in the U.S.
    It would be interesting to know the proportion of international students in the total student population at Sussex.

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  2. The level of language required for admissions to the degree programmes of University of Sussex is minimum IELTS score 6.5 or TOEFL score 90. Those who do not fulfill this requirement are required to successfully complete different English Language courses offered by the University. The language courses are offered as per the level of students in language at the time of entry.
    Overseas students are 20%. Some of them do two years Foundation degree programme or one year International students programme.

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  3. One of the issue we have is in our curriculam science students write far less than arts students. How is the situation at Sussex? does the curriculam require them to write more? It would be interesting to know their level of English as compared to arts students.

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  4. I find the students of science degree programmes write less as compared to the students of arts degree at Sussex. The assessment methods in arts degree programmes demand more writing in the form of essays. Our science students write more as compared to the science students of Sussex. The University of Sussex expects the same level of language for arts and science at the entry point.

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  5. Sir
    How many sessions do the tutors have with students who need help with their writing?

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  6. Dear Monica,
    The students get English language support through tutorials,workshops and weekly drop-in sessions. Those who require help need to register online or send an email to the tutor. The number of sessions may vary.

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  7. Sir
    Can you tell us what are the major grammar issues
    faced by Sussex University students,and which are
    the common grammar workshops conducted by the
    Language Learning Center?

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  8. Dear Monica,
    I do not know.I will find out.

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  9. Dear Dr. Gaonkar,
    Many universities overseas run credit-based courses on 'Writing'. Both Dr Sadoshima & Prof. Witmer, visiting faculty at our Writing Centre, teach such courses. Does Sussex University run any such 'Writing courses'?
    - Ranjit

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  10. Dear Ranjit,
    The School of English offers following courses related to writing.
    1.Writing and the Great War- for level 2 and credits are 12. This course explores a variety of creative responses to World War I and examines the issues which emerge from a comparison of the different kinds of literary strategies which authors have used to explore, order and understand their experience of the war. At the end of the course, successful participants will be able to: 1) explain how texts create or enact their meaning; 2) display an understanding of the ways in which texts 3) communicate effectively, in critical and/or creative modes, an understanding of the ways in which texts are re-presented creatively through acts of reading, interpretation and performance.

    2.Renaissance Creative Writing- for level 2 and 18 credits. The course is organised around the following topics. 1. Introduction: Renaissance education. 2. Legal arguments: copying Cicero. 3. Letters and speeches. 4. Aristotle and the Good Life 5. Forensic oratory 1: Julius Caesar. 6. Forensic oratory 2: Troilus and Cressida. 7. What is literature for? Sidney and Puttenham. 8. Writing Poetry 1: sonnets 9. Writing Poetry 2: soliloquies and dramatic speeches 10. In utramque partem, arguing on both sides. Creative Writing in the Renaissance is designed to teach students about education and writing in early modern England. By the end of the course, a successful student should be able to: 1) understand how school and university education functioned in early modern England; 2) think more critically about their own university education; 3) understand about Renaissance ideas of argument; 4) read and write in more sophisticated ways; 5) demonstrate a wider understanding of the humanities.
    I do not know how far this information is useful to you.

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  11. Many thanks, Sir, for taking the trouble to find out and respond. Your response was helpful, in that the final objectives of the courses you mentioned helped me understand how they plan and aim such courses.
    Ranjit

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