BRITISH STUDIES: LANGUAGE, LITERATURE AND LIFE

Comenius/Gruntvig Code: UK-2012-1329-004

The course is intended for:

• English teachers who want their students to develop a parallel awareness of language and culture, but want to avoid a static "British Life and Institutions" approach.
• Teachers who wish to update their own knowledge and teaching skills in the focus areas of this course.
• Teachers with a minimum language level corresponding to B2 on the Common European Framework

Aims and Objectives:

• To familiarise participants with contemporary currents in British life, language and literature
• To examine current shifts in the use of English in relation to issues such as language and social
  class, attitudes to correctness and the languages of subcultures
• To explore methodological approaches to teaching British Studies

All course participants receive a pre-course questionnaire, which should be returned prior to the course. This is to ensure that the areas of most relevance to participants are covered. However, topics are likely to be drawn from the following:

• Aspects of contemporary British life, particularly in relation to language
• Language and social class
• The concept of "standard English" and its relationship to English as an International Language
• Attitudes to prescriptiveness
• Current social trends
• Recent/contemporary political developments, both within the UK and in relation to the
  European Union
• Aspects of popular culture

Time will be built into the course for reflection and for participants to consider how to adapt ideas from the course to classrooms in their own professional contexts.  The course involves a significant element of English language improvement and/or development of language awareness.

The 50-hour course provision includes intensive tuition by trainers who are experts in the field of British studies, as well as opportunities for reading and research and guest lectures from well-known figures in the field of ELT.  Classes will be practical and ‘hands-on' but with reference to relevant theory.

Dates and fees:

Prices in euros are approximate.  The actual cost in any currency other than sterling will reflect the exchange rate on the date of payment.  To check rates, consult www.xe.com/ucc

Please note that these prices do not include airport transfers.

The school was established in 1995 by directors with extensive experience of ELT worldwide.  It was set up as a specialist teacher development institute to provide courses of the highest quality for teachers from all over the world. The number and range of these courses continues to grow, and the range of work has been extended to cover the following main areas:

• Professional development programmes for EL teachers and trainers
• Professional development programmes for CLIL teachers (using English as a medium of instruction), including vocational teachers
• Modular postgraduate courses up to Masters level for second or foreign language teaching professionals under a programme validated by Leeds Metropolitan University
• CELTA and DELTA training (as an accredited centre for Cambridge ESOL)
• BEC and TKT exam preparation courses by arrangement
• International consultancy
• International project management
• Delivery of short courses, seminars and workshops worldwide
• One-to-one and executive language training

The school has grown to become the biggest single provider of professional development courses for EL teachers and trainers in Europe. It was the first institute to be accredited by the British Council for the provision of teacher development courses and all these courses qualify for either Comenius, Grundtvig or Leonardo funding. It is a member of EnglishUK and an official examination centre for Cambridge exams. It is also one of the very few independent UK organisations accredited to run courses offering qualifications up to Masters level, through a modular programme allowing teachers to choose to go for a PG Cert., PG Dip., or an MA. It also runs BEC and TKT exam preparation courses by special arrangement. Its Cambridge CELTA courses have a 99% pass rate.

Hundreds of courses for thousands of participants from over 60 different countries have been run. As well as running open-enrolment courses, the school works closely with education ministries, regional authorities and institutional partners around the world to design and deliver tailor-made courses. Consultants and trainers are also sent all over the world to help with practical advice and training in the field of English language education.

Homestay accommodation is provided in single study-bedrooms with carefully selected hosts. It comprises bed, breakfast & evening meal each day and light lunch (or packed lunch, as appropriate) at weekends.

Residential accommodation is provided on campus at the University of East Anglia in single study-bedrooms with private bathroom. The accommodation is on a bed & breakfast (B&B) basis in university houses or flats with a shared kitchen/dining room, fully equipped for self-catering.