International Foundation Certificate in Media, Culture and Society

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). Subject specific modules (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 (15 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. Introduction to Cultural Studies Introduction to Cultural Studies 15 credits This course is offered as an option in the Media, Culture and Society pathway in the Spring term. It introduces students to Cultural Studies as a discipline, with particular reference to Western cultural production. The main content is delivered in first year Media and Communications lectures, which students audit. As students will have to attend and understand lectures on their undergraduate degree programmes, this course enables students to audit a real undergraduate lecture course and supports this with structured pre-reading and feedback classes. This is so that students can learn to get the most out of their lectures, and so the content is properly contextualised and students prepared. The lecture content is relevant to social sciences in general and provides students with a broad awareness of developments in contemporary Western culture. As an integrated skills course, it allows students to make practical use of the skills developed in the Academic Speaking and Listening and Reading and Writing courses. 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.