Foundation English 1 (10130.2)

Please note these are the 2024 details for this unit
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Foundation English 1
Available teaching periods Delivery mode Location
View teaching periods On-Campus
 UC College, Bruce, ACT
EFTSL Credit points Faculty
0.125 3
Discipline Study level HECS Bands
University Of Canberra College Level 1 - Undergraduate Introductory Unit Band 1 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan 2021)
Band 1 2021 (Commenced Before 1 Jan 2021)
The content of this unit will be organised into three modules of learning based on the following Australian themes:
- Communication and Culture
- The Australian People
- Leisure - Time Pursuits

In order to support the learning outcomes of this unit, the context of each module allows for the scaffolding of content, language structures, and functions in the four key macro skills of language learning.

Learning outcomes

On successfully completing this unit students will be able to:
1. Utilise knowledge of the writing process, cohesion, synthesis, and argument to produce an essay that responds to a specific question;
2. Collaborate on presentation structure, turn-taking, and oral cohesion, and use communication strategies to deliver a detailed presentation using comprehensible pronunciation;
3. Recognize main ideas and paraphrase and follow lines of an argument to understand a linguistically complex presentation; and
4. Apply reading skills to take notes on main ideas, specific information, argument, and purpose and check factual information in the writer's sources.


Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - work collaboratively as part of a team, negotiate, and resolve conflict
2. UC graduates are global citizens - behave ethically and sustainably in their professional and personal lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - communicate effectively in diverse cultural and social settings
2. UC graduates are global citizens - make creative use of technology in their learning and professional lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - understand issues in their profession from the perspective of other cultures
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - be self-aware
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - evaluate and adopt new technology


Skills development

Through the themes, Foundation English 1 will focus on grammar and on vocabulary development so as to create a solid foundation on which you may build as you move further into your course.  Before entering your Foundation course, you will already have studied and become familiar with some aspects of English grammar.  In Foundation English 1, therefore, you are not being exposed to the more basic language structures for the first time, but are revising them, in order to consolidate your understanding and confidence in using them.  We have found that many international students in Australian universities have a limited English vocabulary and that this severely impedes their ability to communicate with their fellow students, in social as well as academic settings.  For this reason, vocabulary is an aspect of language to which we will give considerable attention, beginning in Foundation English 1 and continuing throughout the sequence of units.

Foundation English 1 will also give attention to the study skills needed for success in academic programs.  In particular, you will be encouraged to become more independent learners, taking responsibility for your own learning. There is a place for some flexibility within this unit to allow for the different needs of individuals and of groups from particular language backgrounds.  We will select pronunciation work, in particular, to take into account the language backgrounds of the students taking the course this semester.

Students will be expected to use UC’s Learnonline management system (Canvas) to access learning resources which will support their formal study. 

Foundation English 1 is, in summary, a unit that will give you the opportunity to consolidate your knowledge of the essential structures of English, to build up your vocabulary, to develop a range of important study skills and, most importantly, to become more confident in your ability to use English to communicate in both academic and social contexts.

 



Prerequisites

None.

Corequisites

Enrolment in 100CC University of Canberra International Foundation Studies.

Incompatible units

None.

Equivalent units

None.

Assumed knowledge

None.
Availability for enrolment in 2025 is subject to change and may not be confirmed until closer to the teaching start date.
Year Location Teaching period Teaching start date Delivery mode Unit convener
2024 UC College, Bruce, ACT UC College Trimester 1 05 February 2024 On-Campus Ms Carol Drew
2024 UC College, Bruce, ACT UC College Trimester 2 03 June 2024 On-Campus Ms Carol Drew
2025 UC College, Bruce, ACT UC College Trimester 1 03 February 2025 On-Campus Ms Carol Drew
2025 UC College, Bruce, ACT UC College Trimester 2 26 May 2025 On-Campus Ms Carol Drew
The information provided should be used as a guide only. Timetables may not be finalised until week 2 of the teaching period and are subject to change. Search for the unit timetable.

Required texts

Resources

Students should purchase the following textbooks for this unit:

  • Mooney-Smith, P., & Goss, C. (2014). Key to EAP foundation: A complete English for Academic Purposes Program. Oxford Univesity Press.  
  • Mooney-Smith, P., & Goss, C. (2014). Key to EAP: A complete English for Academic Purposes Program. Oxford Univesity Press.  
  • Oshima, P., & Hogue, A. (2014). Longman Academic Writing Series: Essays. (Third Edition). Pearson Education, Inc., Longman.
  • Students will also be provided with unit materials for this unit.

You will also be expected to have:

  • an English-English dictionary, such as the Collins Cobuild Students English Dictionary
  • an English thesaurus, such as The Essential English Thesaurus
  • an exercise book (A5) in which you will be expected to complete various tasks assigned by the lecturer and to submit them as required.
  • An electronic device such as a laptop or a tablet to bring to classes when needed.
  • Students must be able to access the internet both during and outside of class; and will be expected to regularly check Canvas, the UCC online learning platform.
  • to complete various tasks assigned by your lecturer and to submit them as required.

You may also find it helpful to have your own copy of:

  • Murphy, R (2015) English Grammar in Use. (Fourth edition). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

Students must submit ALL assessment items to pass this unit. Requests for extension of assignment deadlines must be accompanied by a documented, compelling reason.

Special assessment requirements

The allocation of marks and grades is a matter for the exercise of academic judgment by teaching staff.  This applies both to the marks awarded for individual assignments and to the grade for the unit as a whole.

Assessment will be based on:

  • grades obtained for set tasks and assignments;
  • contributions to tutorials;
  • and in-class tests.

NOTE: To satisfactorily complete the unit, students must:

  • satisfactorily attempt ALL assessment components, and
  • achieve 50% overall, and
  • achieve 50% on the combined scores of the test and exam.

End of unit results will be awarded on a five-point scale:

High Distinction - HD - (85 - 100)

Distinction - DI - (75 - 84)

Credit - CR - (65 - 74)

Pass - P - (50 - 64)

However, all test and exam scores will be moderated across each unit group to ensure consistency. In the event that the student receives a FAIL grade (below 50), one of the following may be used in the final grading:

NX -      Fail result based on failure to reach a pass grade in the unit having completed all assessment.

NC -      Fail result based on failure to complete one or more of the assessment requirements. 

NN -      Fail result based on non-participation.

Others include:

WH -     Withheld result

Additional information for assessment:

  • Dates for submission of continuous assessment will be set by your lecturer. 
  • Presentation of assignments: Please ensure that your assignments are typed using 1.5 line spacing and that on the first page of your assessment item you include your name, student number, course name, lecturer's name, assignment title, topic, and due date. You may use the cover page included in this outline or you can design your own.
  • Please retain a hard copy of all assignments submitted. Do not rely on computer files, which can be lost or corrupted or emails which can be lost.
  • Extensions will only be given for valid, documented reasons such as serious illness. An approval for an extension must be obtained from the lecturer in writing before the due date and must accompany the assignment when it is submitted.

Academic integrity

Students have a responsibility to uphold University standards on ethical scholarship. Good scholarship involves building on the work of others and use of others' work must be acknowledged with proper attribution made. Cheating, plagiarism, and falsification of data are dishonest practices that contravene academic values. Refer to the University's Student Charter for more information.

To enhance understanding of academic integrity, all students are expected to complete the Academic Integrity Module (AIM) at least once during their course of study. You can access this module within UCLearn (Canvas) through the 'Academic Integrity and Avoiding Plagiarism' link in the Study Help site.

Use of Text-Matching Software

The University of Canberra uses text-matching software to help students and staff reduce plagiarism and improve understanding of academic integrity. The software matches submitted text in student assignments against material from various sources: the internet, published books and journals, and previously submitted student texts.

Learner engagement

No additional information

Inclusion and engagement

Illness

In the event that illness adversely affects your formal assessment you must contact the University of Canberra College within 3 working days of the assessment date. You will be required to complete an Application for Special Consideration form and supply supporting documentation, such as a medical certificate which must state the nature of the illness and that the illness would have affected your performance in the relevant assessment task.

Participation requirements

Course participants on Student Visas are required to attend more than 80% of all classes. The College will check student attendance every fortnight and is required to inform the Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) of any students who breach the attendance regulation. In cases where a student is unable to provide appropriate documentation and a satisfactory explanation, the Student Visa may be canceled.

All absences are counted over the three terms of the course. This means that if you had many absences in term 1 and less in the other terms (or none in the other terms) the absences in term 1 are still counted. This also means it is very easy to get below the 80% unless you are very careful.

In addition, there is a strong correlation between poor attendance and failure in a unit because students who have a poor attendance record find it difficult to keep up with the work being presented. Since Intercultural Communication includes a continuous assessment component as part of its overall assessment, poor attendance means that students will not be in class to participate and this will make it difficult for a student to fulfill the requirements of this part of the assessment.

Required IT skills

You must have the use of a computer to complete assignments. 

In-unit costs

Please take advice from the UC College administration.

Work placement, internships or practicums

None

Additional information

Academic integrity

Students have a responsibility to uphold University standards on ethical scholarship.  Good scholarship involves building on the work of others and use of others' work must be acknowledged with proper attribution made. All assignments submitted must be your own work. 
 

Plagiarism includes

  • reproducing (copying word for word)
  • paraphrasing (without sufficient acknowledgement)
  • summarizing (without sufficient acknowledgement) or
  • otherwise presenting in altered or unaltered form, another person's ideas or arguments without acknowledgement.

This means that cheating, plagiarism and falsification of data from other sources, whether from published texts, Internet sources or from other students' work will result in FAIL grades. Please see UC's Academic Integrity Policy

To enhance understanding of academic integrity, students may complete the LearnOnline Academic Integrity Module (AIM). The module is automatically available as a listed site when students log into LearnOnline. The Study Skills Centre provides opportunities to enhance student understanding of academic integrity.Under normal circumstances, illness (with a medical certificate) is the only valid reason that will be considered for extensions for major written assignments and absences from oral presentations and examinations. In the case of illness, you will be given the opportunity to submit work at a later date or give oral presentations within the term dates, at a time convenient to both you and the lecturer. If you are unable to attend classes due to illness or other serious cause, you will need to obtain from the lecturer the material used, and to familiarise yourself with it before the next class you attend. In addition, you will need to contact the University of Canberra College to fill in a notification of absence form together with supporting evidence (for example, medical certificate). Please do not delay seeking medical advice in the case of illness because the sooner you receive treatment, the sooner you will be able to return to class. You will need to present a medical certificate to UC College as soon as possible to explain your absences from class.

Use of text-matching software

The University of Canberra has available, through LearnOnline (Canvas), text-matching software that helps students and staff reduce plagiarism and improve understanding of academic integrity. Known as Turnitin, the software matches submitted text in student assignments against material from various sources: the internet, published books and journals, and previously submitted student texts. 

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