International students

English Language help and guidance is available to all Keele international students from the English Language Unit (ELU).  We can recommend classes for you to take and offer you individualised language assistance to help you succeed with your studies.

English Language Classes

Undergraduate Students

Undergraduate modules (classes) in English for Academic Purposes and British Cultural Studies are available to you through Keele’s Electives Programme and count towards your year 1 credit.

Postgraduate Students

Specialised English classes are offered for postgraduate students.

The English Language Unit also offers these individualised and one-to-one services and a wealth of on-line materials and resources, free to all international students:

• 30-minute ‘One-to-One’ sessions with an ELU tutor - A booked, 30-minute private session with an English Language Unit Tutor for individual help or guidance with language queries related to your academic studies, for example essay writing, grammar, pronunciation, presentations, reading strategies, exam preparation, self-study, etc. 

• On-line materials and links for self-study via the ELU Noticeboard on Keele’s Virtual Learning Environment (KLE) - Sign up for the ‘ELU Noticeboard’ on the KLE and for access to resources, links, information, listening material, quizzes, games and exercises any time you log on to the KLE.  Send your name, Keele ID number and IT user name to the ELU administrator at eluadmin@keele.ac.uk to get access to the ‘ELU Noticeboard’

• Materials and resources for loan from the ELU library - Specialised dictionaries, reference and practice books, CDs and CD-roms for loan 

• Advice and guidance on self-study for language improvement - Book a one-to-one session to discuss your concerns and get advice on what you can do to improve your English skills. 

• Open conversation classes on Wednesday afternoons - No need to register, no need to come to every class and no homework! These classes are fun and are open to all members of the Keele international community.  Classes meet 2 - 4 pm on Wednesdays during term time.
  

In the end, improving your English is a one-person struggle, and you have to constantly push yourself if you want to improve. Some recommended techniques are:

Notebook: but a small notebook and write all new words in it (and nothing else) make sure you learn at least five new words everyday and test yourself on them on the following day - a 24 hr gap between first learning a word and then looking at it again is ideal and will help you remember 70% of all new words (if you don't look again at them after 24 hours you will only remember about 30%!)

Internet radio: go to BBC Radio 4 and choose a programme you are interested in from their 'Listen Again' section. You can rewind and listen again until you can hear all the words and there is a good choice of subjects, you could even listen to 'natural English' in the dramas and plays.

Buy an interesting grammar practice book: like 'How English Works' by Michael Swan and Catherine Walter or 'English Usage' by Michael Swan and look at it once a day.

For more advice talk to the International Student Support Officer or the English Language Unit at eluadmin@keele.ac.uk.