2016/2017 - university of the west indies at st. augustine

2016/2017

@CLLUWI www.sta.uwi.edu/fhe/cll/

EFL/ESL STUDENT HANDBOOK 2016/2017 Page 1

CONTENTS

Welcome…………………………………………………………………………2

About the Centre for Language Learning………………………………………..3

About the EFL Programme………………………………………………………4

Academic Calendar………………………………………………………………4

Registration………………………………………………………………………5

Course outline……………………………………………………………………6

Course objectives………………………………………………………………...7

Course content…………………………………………………………………...8

Language functions………………………………………………………………9

Assessment………………………………………………………………………10

Resources………………………………………………………………………...12

EFL policy……………………………………………………………………….14

Immigration……………………………………………………………………...16

Timetable…….…………………………………………………………………..18

Public holidays…………………………………………………………………..18

FAQ’s……………………………………………………………………………19

WELCOME Campus Principal

Professor Brian Copeland

Deputy Principal Professor Rhoda Reddock

Dean, Faculty of

Humanities &

Education Dr. Heather Cateau

Director, Centre for

Language Learning Dr. Beverly-Anne Carter

Coordinator

EFL/IELTS

Administrator Dr. Amina Ibrahim-Ali

Administrative

Assistant (Outreach) Ms. Vanessa

Williams


EFL STUDENT HANDBOOK 2014

FACES TO REMEMBER

The University of the West Indies welcomes students from all

over the world. The St. Augustine Campus is one of the four

campuses that make up the UWI. The other two campuses are

located in Barbados (Cave Hill) and Jamaica (Mona); while the

third, is the web-based campus (Open Campus).

The St. Augustine Campus is an attractive campus situated 15

kilometres east of Port of Spain (the capital of the Republic of

Trinidad and Tobago), with a distinctive mix of early 20th

century and modern architecture and rich landscape of

indigenous and introduced trees and shrubs.

It comprises seven (7) faculties:

Engineering • Medical Sciences

Food and Agriculture • Science and Technology

Humanities and Education • Social Sciences

Law

Its graduate institutions are the Arthur Lok Jack School of

Business, the Institute of International Relations and the Sir

Arthur Lewis School of Economics.

For information regarding the University’s research units and

centres, visit: www.sta.uwi.edu/research/

WELCOME TO

THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES

EFL STUDENT HANDBOOK 2016/2017

www.sta.uwi.edu/fhe/cll

@CLLUWI


EFL STUDENT HANDBOOK 2016/2017 Page 3

ABOUT THE CENTRE

The Centre for Language Learning (CLL) is a department under the Faculty of

Humanities and Education. It was established in 1997. We offer courses in Arabic,

(Mandarin) Chinese, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese,

Spanish, and Yoruba and English as a Foreign Language. With our state-of-the-

art facilities, small, highly interactive classes, dynamic staff and supportive

learning environment, we invite you to embark on a journey of a lifetime.

WELCOME

TO

THE CENTRE FOR LANGUAGE LEARNING (CLL)

https://mail.sta.uwi.edu/owa/redir.aspx?C=dnAvGr9bhEqcH6Vv238wUF2LcyXPP9AIBaerpTPoityogk5yDSSE_jRyBpk6F_H6oA4WaEFqz6Q.&URL=http%3a%2f%2fsta.uwi.edu%2ffhe%2fcll%2fcourses_english.asp

The English as a Foreign Language (EFL) Programme has provided international

students with quality English language tuition for over twenty years. In the last ten

years, it has expanded to facilitate the English language learning needs of the

Caribbean and South America.

Our qualified and experienced EFL staff members are specialists who are committed

to providing learners with a high standard of English language proficiency to serve

their student and career goals. As learners develop all four skills – speaking, listening,

reading and writing – through cultural immersion and diverse opportunities to practice,

they emerge as more confident language users of the English language.



ABOUT THE PROGRAMME

English as a Foreign Language at the University of the West Indies,

St. Augustine

EFL ACADEMIC CALENDAR 2016/2017

September 5 – November 11, 2016

January 9 – March 17, 2017

March 27 – June 2, 2017

June 12 – August 18, 2017

September 4 – November 10, 2017

CHECKLIST

BEFORE COMING TO TRINIDAD

Submit completed registration form by email: [email protected] OR

in person: at the Centre for Language Learning

Provide copies of:

Bio-data page of your passport (ID page)

Certificates from previous English course(s)

You will receive a LETTER OF INVITATION to show to immigration authorities upon entry into Trinidad and Tobago.

UPON ARRIVING IN TRINIDAD

On the first day of the scheduled course, you present your passport to the Administrative Assistant (Outreach). You will take a placement test in

order to determine your level of English. If you miss this test, there is no

guarantee that you will be formally tested before being placed into a level.

You will be placed into a level according to your results in the evaluation examination.

ALL course fees must be paid by the start of the course. Please ensure that you meet the stipulated deadline for Hall fees (if these apply).

Placement scores determine what courses are offered. If your score is

much lower or higher than that of the majority, it may be that we will

not be able to offer you a place in the programme.

How do I register for an EFL course?

Page 5

REGISTRATION



mailto:[email protected]


EFL STUDENT HANDBOOK 2016 Page 6

COURSE OUTLINE

Each course comprises 150 contact hours. To ensure that learners

benefit from the total number of hours, there are seventeen (17)

hours of classes per week for a period of ten (10) weeks.

A skills-based syllabus is employed where the following

components are equally weighed: Grammar, Listening,

Speaking, Reading and Writing.

Skills are practiced in classes under the guidance of a tutor. It is

important however that the learner take charge of his/her learning

in an appealing, varied and supportive environment.

Courses in General English are offered to those who have either

completed the pre-requisite course, or so qualify after placement.

satisfactorily on a given placement test.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Both inductive and deductive strategies are employed in the EFL

classroom. The teacher’s role is that of a guide and it is expected that

students take responsibility for their own learning, i.e. students are

expected to use their own initiative, asking questions to seek

clarification, promoting discussion as well as speaking to English-

speakers outside of class time in order to maximize the learning

process.

TEACHING STRATEGIES



COURSE OBJECTIVES

Page 7

By the end of a course, students will be able to do the following:

ELEMENTARY PRE-INTERMEDIATE INTERMEDIATE UPPER INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED

Use simple phrases

and sentences to

describe what they

do, where they live,

people and places

they know.

Use spoken English in a

more natural way.

Begin conversation on

various topics.

Communicate effectively

in everyday situations –

personal and factual

topics.

Analyze the

systems of

language in use.

Ask and answer

simple questions on

familiar topics and

in areas of

immediate need.

Extend and build on the

bank of already acquired

vocabulary.

Communicate with native

speakers in the

appropriate register.

Compose and understand

texts on personal and

factual topics.

Read and listen to a

variety of

challenging and

interesting text-

types.

Interact using simple

topics once the other

person is prepared to

repeat or rephrase

ideas at a slower rate

of speech.

Produce paragraphs using

grammatical structures

learnt.

Write longer personal

letters and simple

business letters.

Compose and understand

texts on non-technical

narrative and description

appropriate to this level.

Give opinions and

participate in

discussions and

role-plays.

Write a short, simple

messages and

postcards, fill in

forms with personal

details.

Become cognizant of

techniques and strategies in

second language acquisition.

Summarize short

selections of text.

Develop writing

skills in a variety of

genres.



COURSE CONTENT

Page 8

Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing classes will either highlight/reinforce grammatical structures taught, or other structures

and themes considered relevant to this level and drawn from independent sources.


Verb ‘to be’ with

possessive adjectives,

possessive ‘s, questions

and negatives and short

answers.

Present Simple

Present Continuous

Present Perfect

Auxiliary Verbs

Present Simple

Present Continuous

Past Simple

Past Continuous

Review of the tense

system

Present Perfect

Present Perfect

Continuous

Avoiding

Repetition

Tense Review

Adverb

Collocations

The Present Simple

There is/are,

prepositions of place

Past Simple

Past Continuous

Modals of Obligation and

Permission

Future Forms (going to

and will)

Narrative Tenses

Passive Voice

Question Formation

Discourse Markers

Ways of adding

emphasis

Distancing the facts

How many?

Some, any

Much, many

A, some

This, that, these, those

Can, can’t, could

Quantity

Articles

Future (going to and will)

Comparative and

Superlative Adjectives

Verb Patterns

Present Perfect Simple

Phrasal Verbs

First, Second and Zero

Conditional

Time Clauses

Forming negatives

Future Forms

Expressing Quantity/

Count Nouns

Modals

Phrasal Verbs + Get

Modal Auxiliary

Verbs

Real and Unreal

Tense Usage

Verb Patterns

Past Simple

Adverbs

Count and uncount

nouns

Comparatives and

superlatives

Present Continuous

Going to

Question forms

Time and Conditional

Clauses

Verb Patterns

Second Conditional

Modals of Probability

Present Perfect

Continuous

Time Expressions

Indirect Questions

Question Tags

Reported Speech

Relative Clauses and

Participles

Expressing Habit

Conditionals/

Hypothesizing

Prepositions

Intensifying

Adverbs

Relatives and Past

Participles

Linking Devices



LANGUAGE FUNCTIONS

Page 9

The following language functions will be developed over the course of the semester:


Giving Directions.

Describing habits and

routines.

Describing people,

places, food, the

weather.

Asking and answering

personal questions.

Exchanging information

about various activities.

Asking questions, using

negatives and giving short

answers.

Talking about sports and

leisure activities.

Talking & writing about

events in the past, using

regular & irregular verbs.

Asking & answering

questions about life

experiences.

Following the main

points in

linguistically

complex academic

and professional

presentations,

reports and lectures.

Giving personal

information.

Talking about events in the

past using regular and

irregular verbs.

Storytelling.

Talking about events in the

past using regular and

irregular verbs.

Giving opinions.

Using passives to describe

processes or systems.

Recognizing & using

technical vocabulary.

Interacting fluently

on general matters

and in his/her field

of specialization.

Greetings.

Making polite requests.

Making suggestions.

Asking for information and

providing answers in

“shopping” situations.

Talking about hopes and

ambitions.

Making requests and

offers.

Making suggestions.

Hypothesizing.

Summarizing &

paraphrasing a text.

Giving advice & making

deductions.

Expressing wishes &

regrets.

Using synonymous

words and

expressions.

Expressing spoken

and written points of

view explicitly or

implicitly.

Telling the time.

Understanding and

using numbers.

Understanding and

using prices.

Giving opinions.

Making suggestions.

Making plans.

Hypothesizing.

Presenting oral and written

discourse on everyday

topics.

Summarizing ideas.

Giving written views for/

against a subject.

Using connecting

sentences in texts.

Listening for the gist & for

specific information.

Manipulating

connectors in

spoken and written

discourse with ease.

Producing clear,

well-structured

detailed texts on a

wide range of

topics.



ASSESSMENT

EVALUATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

This ten-week course is evaluated

through 100% continuous in-course

assessment. Evaluations will take

place on two Fridays, in Weeks Five

and Nine. Students who are absent

for testing, will be allowed to sit the

tests in the coming week ONLY if

there is documented proof of illness

or an emergency. The student will

also be required to pay $100TTD per

hour to compensate the staff who will

be called in to invigilate the tests.

EVALUATION DATES

1st Quarter 7 October 2016

4 November 2016

2nd Quarter 10 February 2017

10 March 2017

3rd Quarter 28 April 2017

26 May 2017

4th Quarter 14 July 2017

11 August 2017

1st Quarter 6 October, 2017

3 November, 2017



ASSESSMENT

How to study for this course:

Other than using the prescribed texts for the purposes of study and consolidation,

reading newspaper/magazine articles and other texts in English no doubt improves

the student’s comprehension and written skills. Communication skills can be

practiced by consistently engaging in conversation with English speakers.

STUDENTS WILL BE ASSESSED IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS:

GRADING SYSTEM

AREAS OF

ASSESSMENT

PERCENTAGE

ELE. –

ADVANCED

NUMBER OF

ASSESSMENTS

Grammar & Vocabulary 10% Two

Listening 10% Two

Speaking 10% Two

Reading 10% Two

Writing 10% Two

GRADE MARKING RANGE

A+ 90-100

A 80-89

A- 75-79

B+ 70-74

B 65-69

B- 60-64

C+ 55-59

C 50-54

F1 45-49

F2 40-44

F3 0-39



RESOURCES

In class -

The text required for these courses is the New Headway Elementary/Pre-

Intermediate/Intermediate/Upper-Intermediate English Course

(Student’s Book) and accompanying workbook. These will be made

available to students.

Material will be drawn from the abovementioned text as well as from other

sources to ensure that the syllabus is covered. It is up to the students to

complete grammar exercises in their workbooks and check these against the

answer keys.

Purchasing a monolingual or bilingual dictionary is recommended, although

for the higher levels a monolingual dictionary is preferable.

The required text does not represent a course outline, and therefore does not

require completion.

Supplementary material for skills classes will be provided by the tutor(s) in

the form of handouts.

The Alma Jordan Library -

It is recommended that students make

ample use of the Alma Jordan Library,

located on the St. Augustine Campus. At

the Reading Room, daily newspapers are

available. Borrowing texts in English

pertinent to students’ particular interests

or professional fields, is encouraged.

EFL STUDENT HANDBOOK 2016/2017 @CLLUWI

www.sta.uwi.edu/fhe/cll/

Page 13

Self-access Facility -

The Self-Access Facility is located at the south-eastern end of the first floor

of the Centre for Language Learning.

Resources are provided which students may use for individual language

practice. Materials include CDs, textbooks, workbooks, reading and

pronunciation practice material.

Internet access allows for exploring the recommended websites, which

contain a myriad of activities designed for language practice.

Materials may not be taken out of the facility but students may visit before

and after classes to engage in language practice quietly and at their own pace.

RESOURCES

Online Resources -

The following are recommended websites that students may visit for the purposes of

practicing English:

1. http://www.englishjobmaze.com/ejmlinks2.htm

2. http://www.answerenglish.co.uk/

3. http://www.tnellen.com/cybereng/

4. http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/esl/eslstudent.html

5. http://www.scc.losrios.edu/~langlit/esl/practice.htm/

6. http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswis/

7. http://www.learnenglish.org.uk/

8. http://towerofenglish.com/

http://www.englishjobmaze.com/ejmlinks2.htm

http://www.answerenglish.co.uk/

http://www.tnellen.com/cybereng/

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/esl/eslstudent.html

http://www.scc.losrios.edu/~langlit/esl/practice.htm/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswis/

http://www.learnenglish.org.uk/

http://towerofenglish.com/



EFL POLICY

Communication Policy -

It is recommended that student issues not be dealt with during class time.

Individual teachers will inform students of their preferred method of contact, i.e. by telephone, email or in person.

Lengthy and confidential matters to be discussed with the EFL Coordinator will be conducted at the EFL Office with at least one day’s notice either by email

([email protected]) or telephone (662-2002 ext. 82343).

Attendance policy -

Students are asked to be punctual.

Student attendance will be noted daily by course lecturers.

In order to be eligible for a certificate, a student can miss NO MORE THAN 15 contact hours overall. This does not include visits to the immigration

authorities, in which case, the teacher should be informed.

Students who arrive more than 20 minutes late will be recorded as ABSENT for that session.

Students should inform the relevant teacher if they are going to be absent or late for class by email, telephone or note.

Students are responsible for getting all class material from peers or teachers upon return after an absence.

Students will be offered make-up examinations at the discretion of the EFL coordinator. A medical certificate or reasonable explanation (preferably prior

to the scheduled date) for the absence is, however, essential.

mailto:[email protected]



EFL POLICY

Classroom Etiquette

It is expected that cell phones be turned off during class time. This is in

accordance with a directive taken at the Academic Board at the

University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus dated 05 April

2002, which states, “All mobile/cell phones must be switched off

before entering lecture rooms for lectures/seminars, tutorials.”

Students should arrive punctually to class. This minimizes the chance of

lost time and is a mark of respect for both the teacher and fellow

classmates.

Students are asked to maintain appropriate behaviour and language in the

classroom.

All assignments including homework are to be duly completed.

It is expected that assignments be handed up on white folder pages and

not on pages torn out of a notebook. Students are reminded that

assignments should either, be typed and double-spaced, or be clearly

written in pen and not pencil.

Eating and drinking are not allowed in the spaces designated for class.

Students must not open classroom windows.



IMMIGRATION

Upon arriving at the Customs area in the

airport, your passport will be stamped

allowing you to stay in Trinidad for two to

four weeks. During this approved period you

are expected to apply for your student permit,

which is required for all students desirous of

studying in Trinidad.

You will need to take the following

documents to the Immigration Department, Frederick Street, Port-of-Spain:

1. Completed immigration forms:

Application for Extension of Landing Certificate/Change of Status

Application for Student Permit Form P & I 34

Information/Interview for Student Permit

Student Assessment Form (for continuing students)

2. A copy of your return ticket.

3. A copy of your rent receipt. Please note that if you are being accommodated by a

relative/friend where you are not required to pay rent, a letter from that person,

saying that he/she is allowing you to stay at his/her residence for the duration of

your English course, can be submitted in lieu of this. Those students staying at

the University’s student residence can request a letter from the residence office.

4. A copy of an acceptance letter addressed to The Immigration Department. This

is not the invitation letter that was sent electronically to you and allowed you

entry into Trinidad, but one that you will need to request at the EFL

Administrative Office at the Centre for Language Learning after you have paid

for your course.

APPLYING FOR YOUR STUDENT

PERMIT

WHEN YOU ARRIVE



IMMIGRATION

5. A copy of your receipt for payment of course fees.

6. A copy of the bio-data page of your passport. This is the page with your

passport picture.

7. Evidence of funds/financial support.

8. Please note that as many as three (3) visits to the immigration office may

necessary. On the first visit, you are required to make an appointment; on

the second, you will be interviewed and on the third, your passport will be

stamped. Getting to the immigration office before 7:00 am may help to

shorten the length of your visits.

APPLYING FOR YOUR STUDENT

PERMIT CONT’D…

TIME

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDA

Y

FRIDAY

9:00 –

11:00 a.m.

G R A M M A R

G R A M M A R

G R A M M A R

GRAMMAR PRONUNCIATION

(10.00 am – 12.00

noon)

L

B

U

R

N

E

C

A

H

K

1:00 – 2:30

p.m. SKILLS SKILLS SKILLS SKILLS

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

Please note that on public holidays in Trinidad & Tobago, no classes will be held.

The timetable has been adjusted to ensure the total of at least 150 hours is

delivered. Public holidays in Trinidad & Tobago for 2017 are listed below:

DATE HOLIDAY DATE HOLIDAY

1 January New Year’s Day 26 June Eid-ul-Fitr

27 & 28 February Carnival Monday

and Tuesday 1 August Emancipation Day

30 March Shouter Liberation

Day 31 August Independence Day

14 April Good Friday 24 September Republic Day

17 April Easter Monday 19 October Divali

30 May Indian Arrival Day 25th December Christmas Day

15 June Corpus Christi 26th December Boxing Day

19 June Labour Day


TIMETABLE



FAQ’s

Page 19 @CLLUWI

www.sta.uwi.edu/fhe/cll/

1. When can I apply for a refund of caution money?

The Caution Money is refundable only when you are leaving The University and will

be returned at that time after the amount of any outstanding liability to The University

has been deducted.

2. How do I apply for a refund of caution money? You must complete an Application for Refund of Caution Money form, have it signed

by the Library and the Faculty in which you were registered and return it, along with

your UWI Student ID Card, to the Customer Service Centre at The Lloyd Braithwaite

Student Administration Building.

3. How is Caution Money used?

Caution Money may be applied to cover library fines, charges to breakages, or Hall

charges during a course of study. If it becomes exhausted before the end of an academic

year, you will be called upon to replenish it.

4. When can I expect to receive the refund of Caution Money?

Caution Money will NOT be refunded until three (3) months after the completion of

studies or withdrawal from the University, providing that an “Application for Refund of

Caution Money” form was submitted.

https://mail.sta.uwi.edu/owa/redir.aspx?C=yWmJM-Z2IUWP59DzotH1u79LUse7HNEID4GHLkfSWAmjsKBxxTtGTlyzQQ-OuRv4NDhWkogdfy0.&URL=http%3a%2f%2fsta.uwi.edu%2fresources%2fdocuments%2frefundOfCautionMoney.pdf

2016/2017 - university of the west indies at st. augustine

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