The aim of Guided Autonomous Study (The GAS Project) is to develop your ability to improve your English on your own. Independent language learning far outweighs any time you will spend in the language learning classroom explicitly learning English with the help of your peers and the lecturer. The GAS Project is worth 0.75 ECTS and represents 22.5 hours of self-study throughout the semester. Completion of a total of 10 portfolio tasks will ensure that you reach this required amount of self-study outside the classroom. In summary, you will be asked to do some focussed reading, listening and viewing tasks with an accompanying writing task. Detailed information about these 10 tasks will be provided at the start of the semester. Important: This course is done in combination with the Advanced English Programme: Year One – Part Two. The GAS Project has three main aims: - to increase your out-of-class exposure to English, particularly in terms of the variety, complexity, and frequency of the listening, reading and writing you do outside of the classroom - to use this out-of-class exposure as input for in-class work and/or for further practice and consolidation - to improve your written communication skills over the short- and long-term via practice (=improving via noticing and feedback) and engagement with diverse and authentic resources
If you have any questions about the GAS Project and/or any of the 10 portfolio tasks, you will have the opportunity to arrange a one-to-one consultation with your lecturer on Fridays between 09:00 and 10:00 or 12:00 and 13:00. Please make an appointment with the lecturer in advance. Evaluation: You will receive a final grade for your GAS Project based on the content, organisation and language demonstrated in the various 10 writing tasks, as well as the overall presentation of your completed portfolio. All 10 portfolio tasks are due at the end of the semester and should be submitted in a single Word document. You will also be encouraged to submit your portfolio (tasks 1-5) approximately halfway through the semester. Progress made from the midway submission will also be considered in your final grade. |