Learning and Teaching Day 2013

Show and tell – The London Project

  • Amanda Adorni: Language Tutor
  • Conrad Heyns: Pre-sessional and Modern Languages Course Leader

Brief description of session and activities

International students, who study at the Language Centre on either the Pre-sessional Academic English Programme (PAEP) courses or on the general language courses, often arrive in UK with little or no idea how to study at a creative arts university.

After gaining a bursary of studies from CLTAD (2008), Amanda Adorni undertook action research to investigate how to enable overseas students to 1. Become familiar with London, especially the area they live in, 2. Use and understand a studio style brief, and 3. Practise their English in a holistic and realistic task.

The project ‘My London’ was used for a year by the commercial English Language Programme students of the Language Centre. Then it was taken up by Conrad Heyns and used as part of the course design/assessment for the PAEP classes. So far over 2000 students have used this task and it is a firm favourite with students and teachers.

How will students be involved in the session?

This will be an opportunity for those interested to find out more about the project – how it was set up, developed and also how it was assessed. We will be asking some of the winter Pre-sessional students to attend so that they will be able to give feedback on the project. We will be bringing artefacts from the project as well as digital imagery.

What will participants take away from the session?

This fits the theme of Accessible Learning/Assessment because it introduces overseas students (who have no previous UK university experience) to following a brief; understanding learning outcomes; methods of assessment and also helps them to participate fully in UAL life by helping them become familiar with their local area; work with others creatively and then take part in crits/presentations about work in progress.

Those interested will have a better understanding of: - The Pre-sessional course and how it helps prepare students for their main courses. - The ‘London Project’ as a task for preparing students for life at UAL. - The ‘London Project’ as a measure of the speaking ability of the students. - How the London Project is assessed. - How the assessment ties in with IELTS scores.