EIM offers a new course to improve English speaking skills

 

These initiatives are part of the Languages Plan of the UB, approved in March 2010, which promotes multilingualism within the institution as a result of the context established by the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) which gives priority to English as it is considered the main language used in most academic fields and institutional relations.

 

 

In order to improve University graduatesʼ language skills, EIM offers a new English course Oral Presentation Skills, addressed to students with an intermediate (B1) or an upper-intermediate (B2) level who want to gain confidence and fluency when speaking in públic. EIM satisfies the high demand of this type of courses, which answers to a real need: to prove their level.

 

It is a 20 hours course which takes place from 5th April to 31st May. It aims at developing the ability of students to make oral presentations in English. Therefore, active participation of students is fostered. It also includes some grammatical aspects, especially, the vocabulary needed to improve speaking skills. In this sense, the course is focused on a series of useful strategies to structure presentations (speech introduction, expressions to identify its parts and transitions, conclusions, how to use visual support, etc.) and some specific questions related to speaking (intonation, connected speech, weak forms, word and sentence stress).

 

According to the Language Plan of the UB, this initiative aims at providing language support to those students who want to write and defence their bachelorʼs degree final project in a third language, for example in English.

 

 

In March, EIM makes a new call to take the English examinations of the University of Cambridge at the UB.

 

For one year, EIM offers to students the possibility of taking an exam to obtain a Cambridge certificate: First Certificate in English (FCE, upper intermediate level-B2), Certificate in Advanced English (CAE, advanced level-C1) and Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE, professional level-C2).

 

This service comes from an agreement between EIM and International House Barcelona, one of the authorized centres by the University of Cambridge to carry out the English examinations for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). There are three calls: in May, June and December. Mayʼs one is aimed at obtaining the certificates FCE and CAE. Enrolment can be done from 11th March to 1st April in the secretaryʼs office of EIM (582 Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes) or on EIMʼs website. The examination to obtain the FCE will take place on Saturday 11th May and the one to get the CAE on Saturday 18th May.

 

More information on EIMʼs website.