ESOL Wood Street

ESOL Intensive courses (Entry1/2/3 and Level 1)Student Handbook

2013 - 2014

Contents

Page

A Short Welcome Message 1 - 2

College Dates 3

ESOL courses at Barnet/Southgate College - ESOL National Standards 4

Will I get a certificate? 5

Individual tutorials 6

What do I do if I move house, am late or cannot come to college? 7

Information about Wood Street and other college centres 8

Barnet & Southgate College Computer Network 9

E-Learning 10 - 12

E-ILP 13

What we expect from you 14

Student Code of Conduct 15 - 17

Appendix 18

Dear student,

Congratulations on enrolling on your ESOL course at Barnet & Southgate 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 Please remember that if your attendance drops below the accepted college target, you will be withdrawn and not allowed to take your examinations.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 and Southgate College!

Barnet & Southgate 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 & Southgate College!

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Term Dates

Autumn Term 2013

10 September – 20 December(Half-term 28 October – 1 November)

Spring Term 2014

6 January – 4 April(Half-term 17 – 21 February)

Summer Term 2014

22 April – 4 July(Bank Holiday Monday 5 May)

(Half-term 26 – 30 May)

Additionally, there will be a small number of staff training days during the year, when classes will be closed. You will be informed of these dates as they approach.

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ESOL TERM DATES 2013 – 2014

ESOL COURSES AT BARNET & SOUTHGATE COLLEGE

All students will be working to ESOL National Standards:

ESOL Levels Pre-Entry

Entry 1Entry 2Entry 3Level 1Level 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

Employability – skills for work Communication

Conversation skills

We will help you to improve your English skills to be able to use the language in everyday life in the UK, in your work and for further study. A two week work experience programme during March 2014 (Entry 3 and Level 1 students only), will give you the opportunity to practise and develop your language skills in a real working environment.

In addition, you have the option of studying numeracy (maths) and ICT (computer skills). It is important to note that these additional modules can be crucial in helping to consolidate and reinforce your English language skills.

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Will I get a certificate?

You will work towards the Edexcel ESOL Skills for Life Qualifications, to be taken between December 2013 and June 2014. 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, Intensive E3 students at Entry Level 3 and Intensive L1 students at Level 1. 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 a nationally recognised certificate in Employment/Employability skills.

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ESOL Skills for Life

Please be aware…

All exam entries are by teacher recommendation based on coursework, attendance (target 90%) and mock exam results (minimum 65%)

ESOL Skills for Life

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 long-term goals given by other ESOL students at Barnet & Southgate College:

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.

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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 Barnet & Southgate College but before I can enrol, I need at least a Level 1 certificate in ESOL.

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.

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About Wood Street

Wood Street Barnet/Southgate 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 AidAsk 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 & Southgate 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.

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Your college ID card will allow you to use facilities at any centre

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 and Southgate College website to practise your English at home. Go to:

www.barnetsouthgate.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

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Barnet & Southgate College E-Learning

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.

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Remember to stay safe

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 & Southgate college Moodle site: http://moodle.barnetsouthgate.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 & Southgate 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 showall 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 e-portfolio.

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 & Southgate 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 & Southgate 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.

- 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.-do my best

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In English please

-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

- help others if they need it

? - 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

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Barnet and Southgate 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

- Look after the College buildings and the equipment you use

- Wear your ID card and never give it to anyone else

- Never do things which upset other people; do not be unkind to peopleabout the way they look, their sex, their age, their beliefs

- Not smoke in the College buildings

- Not bring drugs and alcohol into the College

- Keep the College clean and tidy

- Only eat and drink in the snack bar and canteen areas

- Never cheat when you are trying to learn

- Be careful and safe at College so you do not hurt yourself or others

- Come to every class and arrive on time

- Never use mobile phones where it might disturb other people

- 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 & Southgate 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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