ESOL Wood Street ESOL Intensive courses (Entry1/2/3) Student Handbook 2012 - 2013
Contents Page A Short Welcome Message
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College Dates
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ESOL courses at Barnet College - ESOL National Standards
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Will I get a certificate?
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Individual tutorials
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What do I do if I move house, am late or cannot come to college?
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Information about Wood Street and other college centres
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Barnet College Computer Network
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E-Learning
10 - 12
E-ILP
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What we expect from you
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Student Code of Conduct
15 - 17
Appendix
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Dear student,
Congratulations on enrolling on your ESOL course at Barnet College. The ESOL Intensive course team welcomes you to Wood Street. We want to make sure you get the most from your course of study. You will meet students from all over the world, and there is a wealth of cultures to share in: this makes the ESOL Intensive course a very special opportunity indeed. We the teachers on your course will do our very best to ensure you succeed in your studies. However, success does depend to a great extent on your own commitment to your studies. Good attendance and punctuality are vital for your success. Please remember that if your attendance drops below the accepted college target, you will be withdrawn and not allowed to take your examinations. Your progression and re-enrolment at the college will also be affected. Please bear in mind, however, that the staff are here to support you in your studies and wish you all the best this year.
Yours sincerely
ESOL Intensive Teaching Team Wood Street
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ESOL Wood Street
Welcome to Barnet College!
Barnet College in Wood Street is a recent build, opened to students for the first time in September 2010. We hope you will enjoy using our new facilities and have a successful learning experience with us.
Do well and enjoy your course at Barnet College!
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ESOL TERM DATES 2012 – 2013
Term Dates Autumn Term 2012
10 September – 21 December (Half-term 29 October – 2 November)
Spring Term 2013
7 January – 28 March (Half-term 18 – 22 February)
Summer Term 2013
15 April – 5 July (Bank Holiday Monday 6 May) (Half-term 27 – 31 May)
Additionally, there will be a small number of staff training days during the year, when classes will be closed. The first of these is on Friday 26 October 2012, and you will be reminded of this and advised of any further dates nearer to the time.
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ESOL COURSES AT BARNET COLLEGE
All students will be working to ESOL National Standards: ESOL Levels Pre-Entry Entry 1 Entry 2 Entry 3 Level 1 Level 2 All students will do tests during their first week at college, to check their level of English and help their teachers to decide what things they need to work on. We will make sure that you are on a course suitable for your language learning needs. In your ESOL classes, you will work on all four language skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking. You will work on different things, including: Grammar Vocabulary Pronunciation Spelling Communication Conversation Personal & Social Development (PSD) We will help you improve your English language skills to help you use the language in everyday life in the UK, in your work and for further study. In addition, you will have sessions to strengthen your numeracy (maths) and ICT (computer) skills. It is important to note that these modules of the course are also crucial in helping to consolidate and reinforce your language skills. 4
ESOL Skills for Life
ESOL Skills for Life
Will I get a certificate? You will work towards the Edexcel ESOL Skills for Life Qualifications, to be taken between December 2012 and June 2013. These consist of three different exams in: Reading Writing Listening and Speaking Intensive E1 students will generally aim to take these exams at Entry Level 1, Intensive E2 students at Entry Level 2 and Intensive E3 students at Entry Level 3. The exact exam profile may however vary from student to student, with exam entries at the discretion of the course tutor and dependent on individual progress and records of attendance and punctuality. Additionally, you will be working towards Edexcel Functional Skills qualifications in Numeracy and ICT, and an Edexcel Foundation Learning certificate in PSD. Please be aware… All exam entries are by teacher recommendation based on coursework, attendance (target 90%) and mock exam results (minimum 65%)
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INDIVIDUAL TUTORIALS
Your teacher will make an appointment to see each student one-to-one for a 30 minute tutorial every term. You and your teacher will discuss your progress and you will make a list of things you should do after classes to help you learn. This is called an Individual Learning Plan, or ILP. Make your long-term goals clear on your ILP. Here are some examples of longterm goals given by other ESOL students at Barnet College: I am a highly qualified and experienced hairdresser. I want to teach hairdressing and for this, I need to do a teaching course (PTTLS) but before I can enrol on this course I need to have a Level 2 certificate in ESOL. I passed all my Level 1 exams in June and I am now enrolled in a Level 2 class.
I want to be able to get a part-time job when both my children are at school. Also, I want to be able to talk to their teachers, the GP and other people without taking a relative along to translate for me.
I would like to do an Electrical Installation course at Southgate College but before I can enrol, I need at least a Level 1 certificate in ESOL.
You will need to access your Individual Learning Plan (ILP) regularly, on the college Moodle website. There is more information about this on page 13 of this handbook. If you need help, advice or have a problem with your studies, please ask for help. Your tutor may be able to help or tell you where you can get help in the college. Student Services for example, can also help you with any personal or welfare problems. 6
What do I do if I am late?
It is important to come to class on time and your lateness will be monitored. If you are late, go into the class quietly and tell the teacher why you are late at the end of the lesson. If lateness is a persistent problem, your tutor will discuss this with you in tutorial.
What do I do if I cannot come to college?
As far as possible, you must arrange your appointments and other commitments to be outside your college hours. However, if on occasion you cannot come to college for whatever reason, it is important that you tell your tutor before the lesson. Please ask for your tutor’s college telephone number and email address. Remember, you may lose your place on the course if you do not tell your tutor that you will be absent. Copies of all appointment letters etc must also be provided to your tutor. Please be aware‌ YOU WILL LOSE YOUR PLACE IF YOU DO NOT COME TO COLLEGE FOR 3 WEEKS
What do I do if I move house? You must tell your teacher your new address and telephone number. Also, check with your tutor that your up-to-date details are correctly recorded on the college computer system. 7
About Wood Street Wood Street Barnet College is easy to reach by underground or bus but there is NO car parking for students. However, there are many other facilities and local services.
First Aid Ask your teacher what to do and who can help in an emergency at college. Fire Exits Make sure you know where all fire exits are in the building. These are signposted around the building. If you hear the fire alarm, go with your class to the nearest fire exit. Wait together with the other students from your class and make sure your teacher can find you.
Barnet College Centres Wood Street Centre, High Street, Barnet, EN5 4AZ Grahame Park Centre, Grahame Park Way, Colindale, NW9 5RA Southgate Centre, High Street, Southgate, N14 6BS Edmonton Green Centre, South Mall, Edmonton Green, N9 0TS There are Learning Centres at all sites of the college, where you can borrow books, use computers and find resources to help you study. Maps to all centres are available in the college prospectuses or from Reception desks. Your college ID card will allow you to use facilities at any centre 8
Using the computer to improve your English
There are computers in the Learning Centre and many classrooms and other areas. We have special software for learning English and a list of many websites that will also help you to learn. To use a computer, you must have a User ID (your student number) and a password. During your induction to the Learning Centre, you will register on the computer system and set up a password. You will also be given an allowance of print credits. When you have finished your credits you must pay for printing. Keep your password safe and make sure you can remember it. You will need to change your password every 6 weeks. You will have an ICT session once each week, and you will need to know your password to use the computer in this session. You can also use the Barnet College website to practise your English at home. Go to: www.barnet.ac.uk
You will need to enter your User ID (this is your student number) and password. Then you can use the practice materials on the ESOL website. There are many websites to help you with your English including: www.english-grammar-lessons.com www.englishbanana.com www.esolcourses.com www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise 9
Barnet College ELearning The College IT Network gives you new opportunities to learn online, anytime, anyplace. You must use the college network for learning and study only. Be responsible and professional. Respect the privacy of everyone else using the college system Do not post material that might upset others online.
Remember to stay safe
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Moodle - Your course page Moodle is an area on the college network where students can find important information about their course and extra practice for reading, writing, listening, speaking, grammar and vocabulary. You will find out more about Moodle during the first weeks of your course.
Finding your course on Moodle Open the Barnet college Moodle site http://moodle.barnet.ac.uk/ or via the MLE. After entering this address Moodle will appear with a Login box on the top left that looks like this:
Enter your Username and your password here then click the Login icon and you will then be logged on to the Barnet College Moodle network.
After logging on, you will be directed to a new page listing the courses you are enrolled on: Click the course you wish to enter.
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Mahara is a student’s personal learning space. It should show all the hard work that you do in college. To access Mahara click the Mahara icon on you Moodle course page: You will then see your Mahara homepage, showing you the different sections of your personal account:
On Mahara you can write about yourself, list your skills/your goals, write blogs and upload assignments set by your lecturers, and so build an eportfolio. You can submit work for your teachers on Mahara, to do this, upload the necessary file and place it in a ‘View’ – a page that can be shared with teachers/lecturers etc.
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How to see your e-ILP On Moodle you will find your Individual Learning Plan.
Click on the ‘My ILP’ link and you will be taken to your ILP page.
From here, you can: Enter your courses, qualifications and goals on ‘My Information’ Set targets for yourself on ‘My Targets’ Discuss progress with your lecturer on Progress Reviews Keep a record of your progress on Celebrations and Concerns Summarise your achievements in Progression Using the E-ILP gives you a new way to show your progress through your time in Barnet College. At the start of the year your teacher will show you how to use Moodle, Mahara and your E-ILP.
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What we expect from you: Come to all your classes Come to class on time Bring a file with you Bring paper, pen and pencil Take an active part in the class Switch off your mobile phone during classes Do your homework Tell your tutor if you cannot come to class Speak to your tutor if you are unhappy about any of your classes Write your learning plan Talk about your learning in tutorials
How we will help you: We will help you improve your English We will make your lessons useful and interesting We will speak to you one-to-one about your English We will help you with your goals in your Individual Learning Plan
We want you to feel happy learning English at Barnet College. We want you to tell us if you are not happy!
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Student Code of Conduct I agree to:
- respect other people in my class and College. This includes their views, religion and culture
- arrive on time
- come to class every lesson - tell my tutor if I cannot come to class - make appointments at times when I do not have classes.
In English please
- use English in the classroom - remember the more I use English the faster I will learn it.
- listen to the teachers and listen to other students when they speak in class.
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-do my best -always wear my ID card and show it to tutors and security if they ask.
- look after books and College resources and property and keep the classroom clean - always put rubbish in the bins. - not chew chewing gum in lessons. It looks horrible, sounds horrible and makes a mess of our beautiful new college.
- do my homework regularly
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- help others if they need it
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- ask my tutor for advice and help if I need it
- No smoking anywhere on the college site - No spitting anywhere in College buildings
- Switch off mobile phones in the classroom 16
Barnet College Student Code of Conduct
These rules will make sure the College is a safe and enjoyable place to work and learn in.
You should: -
Be kind and polite to all people and respect others and their belongings
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Look after the College buildings and the equipment you use
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Wear your ID card and never give it to anyone else
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Never do things which upset other people; do not be unkind to people about the way they look, their sex, their age, their beliefs
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Not smoke in the College buildings
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Not bring drugs and alcohol into the College
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Keep the College clean and tidy
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Only eat and drink in the snack bar and canteen areas
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Never cheat when you are trying to learn
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Be careful and safe at College so you do not hurt yourself or others
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Come to every class and arrive on time
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Never use mobile phones where it might disturb other people
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Use computers only to help you learn; do not use the Internet in a way which breaks the College IT rules. You must sign the IT Agreement.
If you break any of these rules you will be disciplined - this may mean having to leave the College. Signed by Student…………………………………. Print Name …………………………… Signed by Tutor …………………………………… Print Name ……………………………
Date.....................................................................
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Appendix Personal Tutor Absence & Punctuality Fire Procedures First Aid Additional Support College Charter Student representative Barnet College Policies External assessments/tests Student appeals Disciplinary procedures Computer access Level functions (separate document to be handed out by tutor) All college student information can be accessed via this link
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