English language centre

(Muscat College awards a certificate after successfully completing  each level)

1.      English Language Programme

1.01.        Importance

v     The English Language Programme is to prepare students to gain the necessary English Language skills and to equip them with critical and analytical skills required to cope with the demands of the degree programmes.

v     To develop and improve written as well as oral proficiency skills which are vital in today’s society and job market.

v     To enable students to get a band score 5.5 in the IELTS test at the exit of the programme.

1.02.        Study Plan

·        This programme is offered to students who do not get the required score in the respective placement tests that enable them to start their degree programme.

·       The normal duration for this programme is two semesters, but some students could complete the programme earlier or may need extra semesters depending on their performance.

·        Additional to the normal English Language classes, students study:

-         Communication Skills in English - CSE: This course is designed to help students improve their communication abilities as related to English which is necessary for both the workplace and society.   It employs a practical and purposeful approach that a general English course may not offer.   Because the activities are open-ended and students can perform them according to their own abilities, experience and knowledge, this course is suitable for a wide variety of learners including mixed-ability classes.  The students are required to work together in groups to create needs assessments, perform tasks, solve problems, present outcomes and make recommendations.

-         English Study Skills – ESS: This module strives to integrate the skills of reading and writing in a systematic, cohesive, engaging and mutually enriching manner. More over, it works in concord with the grammar objectives of the given level. The guiding principle is to provide a holistic learning experience to the students by seamlessly blending the various aspects of English language learning.

-         Grammar In Context: This module presents grammar in a contextualized manner. It stems from the belief that language acquisition proceeds as an organic whole. Hence, it combines overt grammar instruction with contextualized reading, writing and communicative activities which will enable students to practice and internalize new language structures.                     Each lesson would follow four steps; grammar in context-where new structures are shown in the context of reading passages, articles, dialogues; grammar presentation of structures through notes, charts and examples; focused practice of form and meaning through writing and controlled exercises and; communication practice-where students use the new structures in motivating and open-ended activities.

-         Class Readers: This module prepares students for extended readings. It is an other opportunity for students to practice reading outside the classroom setting. Acquiring more vocabulary, enriching their language with more structures will be only some of the learning outcomes of this module. Each level will be required to go through a number of given short stories.

1.03.        Exiting Levels of Foundation Programme

 There are two levels in the English Language Programme. To move from one level to another in the Foundation Programme, students must score a total of 60 marks out of 100. However, students who score below 60 are allowed to take a re-sit exam (single attempt). All students who fail to achieve the minimum of 60 in the re-sit will have to repeat the level. The re-sit exams will be taken only after a three-week remedial course. Students who pass will automatically join level 2. Those who fail will have to retake the semester.

11.04.  Assessments

According to the new English Language Course, the break up of marks is as follows:

11.05. There is a large scope for regular assessment 5% in every individual module or skill. Emphasis is given to a student’s class participation, homework, activity, assignments, and group work and not only to the final score obtained.

11.06. Students who fail in one or two out of three language units will be requested to attend the remedial classes and obtain a pass in the re-sit assessments. The 3-week remedial course will be an intensive one in which weak areas identified in students will be dealt with extensively.  

11.06. To maintain a high standard, students who secure below 40% at the end of Semester One should repeat the semester as the 3-week remedial work will not be adequate for such extremely weak students.

12. Exit of the English Language Programme:

In semester two students will sit for the ELT test. The components will be the same as the IELTS test components. Students will sit for Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking. They will be required to get a minimum of 5.5 band score as an average score of all the units.

13.Grading system:

Grade               Percentage

A+               (96 – 100)

A                 (90 – 95)

A-               (85 – 89)

B                 (75 – 84)

C                 (65 – 74)

D                 (60 – 64)

E                 (40 – 59)

G                 (0 – 39)

-               The minimum pass mark is 60. Thus E or G is fail.