ENGLISH PROFICIENCY

The framework of academic writing and literacy support offered at WSU is that of an enriched language learning environment. What this means in practice is that academic literacy practitioners, Reading & Writing Centre staff and faculties work together to create a literacy environment which allows students to access focused opportunities for literacy learning both within their core study areas and in a wider holistic literacy environment. Classroom teaching, e-learning, independent reading, and Reading & Writing Centre academic writing support as well as information literacy are combined to create such an environment.

In practice students from participating faculties attend academic literacy lectures that provide core elements of language usage which are then practiced by students through subject centred learning materials. These materials take the form of general English language proficiency manuals and subject specific work books. In addition they attend e-learning language labs which focus on reading and comprehension skills utilizing the L-100 language software. They are also issued with dictionaries (Oxford Advanced learners) and are required to read two graded readers, one per semester. A book report is written for each. Furthermore, students will be assisted by the reading and Writing centres with workshops related to specific reading and writing requirements and individual support measures.