CfL’s Composition Program for University Students
In 2005, the Centre for Languages (CfL), previously known as the English Language Programme, was created to improve the English Language skills of the BRAC University students. The uncomplicated goal of CfL has been to assist the students in developing the language skills that they need to be successful in graduate schools or the professional life. CfL does this by using student centered and creative language teaching techniques and by developing modules based on students’ proficiency level. This not only eliminates the possibility of having mixed ability classes, where some students flourish and some fail, but also ensures small classes with excellent interaction between teachers and learners. In addition to the university classes, CfL offers pre-university classes, for students who need extra help with their English language skills to be successful university students.
CfL offers a number of College Composition Courses for university students to fulfill their English language requirement. Students are required to take at least two English language courses. These courses are designed based on students’ proficiency level. Recognizing that mixed ability classes are obstacles to students’ language learning progress, CfL has divided its courses into the following levels:
1. Pre-University English Course-previously known as
Foundation Course: For Pre-Intermediate level students
whose English language skills are not up to the university
standard.
2. Intermediate Level
3. Upper-Intermediate Level
4. Advanced Level
5. Proficiency Level
In addition, specialized courses, such as, Business English
and Advanced English are offered for students who want
to pursue further interest in English language.
Intermediate Level
The primary goal of this course is to improve students’
academic English skills up to a suitable standard for
university studies. It aims to develop students’
critical thinking and analytical skills, to encourage
collaborative teamwork for advanced studies and professional
world, and to increase students’ awareness and knowledge
of the present world.
Upper-Intermediate Level
The general objective of this course is to introduce new
ideas, critical thinking and academic writing to Upper
Intermediate level students. In addition, this course
aims to prepare students to read academic prose in their
respective disciplines and to give students practice with
critical reading skills throughout the semester. Students
learn various social expressions and employ them in their
interpretations to different genres of texts. This course
is designed to foster collaborative learning through individual/group
presentations and written assignments. Students are also
exposed to argumentative presentations.
Advanced Level
The advanced level students are quite confident in their
language skills. It is assumed that they are able to analyze
the systems of language in use. In this course, they are
guided in enhancing their use of English language. Students
are exposed to a variety of situations where they will
express themselves. This course aims to mark the beginning
of advanced academic writing. It focuses on developing
and integrating students’ reading, writing and diagnostic
competence suitable for research and advanced academic
work. In essence, this course aims to provide students
with the opportunity to identify and explore different
topics/issues and incorporate their findings/questions
in their written work.
Proficiency Level
The purpose of this course is to bring students’
reading, writing, and analytical skills up to the academic
standard suitable for future university work, and to teach
students how to incorporate original research into their
writing. This course introduces students with the conventions
of academic writing and research, which prepare them for
graduate studies, as they will be equipped with skills
and techniques essential for higher university work. Realizing
the importance of arguments in academic culture, this
course emphasizes specifically argumentative essays, and
their diverse facets. Most academic writing is essentially
argumentative in nature, as it gives writers a platform
to participate in ongoing debates on various issues. Hence,
this course undertakes Argumentative Essay as a specific
genre, and explores its various components and their inherent
complexities. Moreover, this course develops students’
close reading and critical thinking skills by paying specific
attention to a cluster of texts, which serve as models
for them. Applying these skills students will be able
to employ a number of techniques and skills employed by
renowned authors in their own writing.
Business English
The course provides a thorough treatment of current English
usage needed in the business office environment. One of
the most important skills students need when entering
the business world, is communication skills. The aim of
the course is to introduce the basic principles of business
writing. Students are expected to comprehend the style
and rhetoric of communication in the corporate world.
This includes the application of English language in a
politically correct and grammatically sound discourse
in both writing and presentation.
Special Advanced Writing
This course is designed to provide the gifted students
of language with an option to help them prepare for advanced
research and writing. It aims to develop students’
knowledge to translate their language skills into new
context, interpret facts, compare, contrast and analyze
critically. It offers students to learn the usage of different
methods, concepts, and theories so that they can illustrate
critical thinking in both structured and creative writing.
Students should be able to classify the different styles
of writing, experiment with them and apply those in a
literary context.
BRAC University Writing Centre
Center for Languages (CfL) will be operating the BRAC
University Writing Centre (BUWC) with an objective to
help students prepare their term papers, technical write-ups,
project reports and other writing assignments related
to their respective disciplines. The specific objective
of BUWC is to instigate and encourage students to develop
their writing skills in accordance with the university’s
academic standard. The George Washington University Writing
Center, USA, has agreed to collaborate with the BUWC in
pursuit of excellence in academic writing. In August 2008,
two faculty members of CfL, Sheikh Fazle Shams and Sadra
N. Siddiky, are visiting some well-known Writing Centres
of Washington DC including that of George Washington University.