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.