Course programme
What you'll study Overview The programme is made up of the following modules: English for Academic Purposes (2 x 30 credits). Interdisciplinary modules (2 x 15 credits). Option modules – choose two modules offered by academic departments (2 x 15 credits). English for Academic Purposes modules (30 credits each) Students on all IFC Pathways take both of these core modules, designed to develop your ability and confidence in the four key areas of writing, reading, listening and speaking. English for Academic Purposes modules Module title Credits. Academic Reading and Writing Academic Reading and Writing 30 credits The course covers the key aspects of writing an essay. These include features of academic style, the planning process, structuring an argument, summarising, paraphrasing techniques, referencing, avoiding plagiarism, and drafting and editing. Emphasis is given to the logic underlying Western academic writing conventions, rather than simply looking at the procedural aspects. This is supported by work on the main areas of English grammar, with a particular focus on improving grammatical range and accuracy in students’ writing. Reading skills are also developed. Textual analysis enables students to learn about cohesion, extend their vocabulary, read for gist and specific information, infer meaning, as well as develop summary skills. The texts generally focus on a background to Western thought and culture, taking into account ancient Greeks and Romans, the Renaissance, the Enlightenment and the influence of modernity, feminism and Marxism. There is an emphasis on how to use reading in writing: to learn from other writers’ style and using their points as evidence for students’ arguments. 30 credits. Academic Listening and Speaking Academic Listening and Speaking 30 credits To enhance listening skills, the course makes use of a wide range of texts, drawing firstly on commercially produced EAP materials to help students acquire the skills of listening for gist and specific information and taking useful notes. Later, the course moves on recordings from Goldsmiths library as well as BBC radio shows. Students are exposed to a range of challenging and interesting recordings related to the arts, current affairs, media, education and aspects of British culture. Many of the recordings are relevant to subjects studied at Goldsmiths, for example race and ethnicity, representation, identity and culture. Where possible, the recordings are exploited for vocabulary development. To develop speaking skills, students will have to research and give seminar presentations and lead the class through discussion of their chosen topic. They will receive input on effective seminar techniques and functional language. There is also ongoing feedback on their presentations. 30 credits. Interdisciplinary modules (30 credits each) All students on the Arts and Humanities, Social Sciences, and Media, Culture and Society Pathways select one of these modules. The interdisciplinary modules introduce some basic ideas and theories that are important within many of Goldsmiths’ academic subjects, and integrate study skills and language development. Interdisciplinary Modules Module title Credits. Globalising Cultures Globalising Cultures 15 credits This module will address the nature of Globalisation across cultures. Globalisation is one of the most far-reaching and widely discussed phenomena of modern times. It affects all our lives and has an impact on all areas of study. The globalisation module will give students an overview of the main theories regarding globalisation, and they will consider how it influences cultures across the globe as well as their own countries, their academic subjects and the world at large. By taking this module, students will be able to develop their English in a genuine academic setting, and they will practice the key skills of reading academic texts, researching and writing assignments, listening to lectures, discussing theory and giving academic presentations. They will also develop vital study skills such as evaluating the strengths of competing arguments and discussing their project proposal in tutorials with the supervisor. 15 credits. Understanding Images Understanding Images 15 credits The intention of this introductory module is to provide students with some of the basic tools available in interpreting the kinds of images that surround us in our everyday life. As such, it is relevant and adaptable to many of the disciplines students will go on to study in both the humanities and social sciences. The module will have both a practical and a theoretical approach. For example, students will be asked to examine advertisements such as those advertising women’s perfume and to consider what ‘myths’ they represent in terms of power relations in western culture. Students will also be actively encouraged to bring in and discuss advertisements and images from their own culture to consider the connotations of such images. The concept of ‘myths’ relates to the theoretical work of Roland Barthes, a key and influential thinker on the science of signs and systems of representation. Further texts will be drawn from the work of the well-known cultural theorist, Stuart Hall. 15 credits. Option modules (15 credits each) You select two of these modules. The option modules are taught in different departments and allow you to explore your particular area of academic interest and get a taste of the various disciplines that can be studied at Goldsmiths. At least one option should relate to your intended area of future study. Some modules may be required for progression onto certain degree programmes. The list of IFC option modules here is indicative. Options may change and not all modules will be available each term. For full information contact the English Language Centre. Option modules Module title Credits. Nations and Nationalisms Nations and Nationalisms 15 credits This course, jointly offered by the Politics and the History Departments, is an examination of the continued salience of nationalism and the nation-state form in the modern world. In the 18th and 19th C, many thinkers expected the nation-state to be superseded by more ‘universal’ forms of political organisation. As recent history demonstrates, however, that expectation has been dramatically falsified. Indeed, the nation and nationalism, once exclusively European phenomenon, became globalised in the course of the 19th and 20th C. Through a series of case studies which introduce students to a variety of nationalisms, this course asks why that was so. What are the distinctive features of nationalism, and why has it proved so resilient and so adaptable to different circumstances? Are the nationalisms of the non-Western world repetitions of an original template, or are they fundamentally different? 15 credits. London: Arts Capital London: Arts Capital 15 credits This course explores London as a diverse and vibrant capital of the arts. Students will be introduced to a range of musical, theatrical and visual art activities taking place in well-known institutions, as well as in smaller alternative venues. Visits to events in the city are put in context in follow-up discussions. 15 credits. Contemporary Art Worlds Contemporary Art Worlds - By embarking directly into the complex and colourful landscapes of present-day practices, this course aims to familiarize students with the vocabularies and context of visual culture as it has developed from art history. The first half focuses on particular artists and the various inflections that situate their work within modernity and Postmodernity; concentrations on case studies will yield fundamental skills of reading and thinking the visual. The second half then shifts attention to spaces of exhibition and display, whilst also introducing students to wider topics such as (inter)nationalism and its impact on contemporary theory. Importantly, by laying these specific foundations, Contemporary Art Worlds will prepare students for the first year of the BA history of Art programme. -. Introduction to Literary Criticism Introduction to Literary Criticism 15 credits This course introduces a range of works from 1800 to the present day. The emphasis is introducing students to reading primary texts in the way in which undergraduates study literature. The lecture/seminar format encourages student to consider contrasts and dialogue between texts. Cohesion is also supplied by the fact that many of the texts articulate literal and metaphorical ‘explorations’, quests and searches. 15 credits. Assessment The two core English for Academic Purposes units are assessed by coursework, written examination and an oral examination. The remaining module units are assessed via a variety of methods which include, for example, essays and reflective journals. Successful completion at the required level will guarantee you a place on a relevant Goldsmiths degree programme. Download the programme specification for this degree to find out more about what you'll learn and how you'll be taught and assessed. Please note that due to staff research commitments not all of these modules may be available every year.