IL1BIT1: Beijing Institute of Technology PSE Course

Module code: IL1BIT1

Module provider: Global Academy

Credits: 0

Level: 4

When you’ll be taught: Summer (vacation) semester

Module convenor: Mr Sebastian Watkins, email: s.a.watkins@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2026/7

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 16 April 2026

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module is an optional additional intensive summer school specifically for BA Accounting students based at BIT (Beijing) who require a ‘pass’ in their AC112 English Language progression requirement to remain on the BA Accounting programme. The module represents an adaptation of the Pre-sessional English programme run by the Global Academy.

The course is open to students who have already achieved 5.5 in IELTS, with no sub-score below 5.0. The overall module aim is to improve the students’ ability in relevant English skills in an academic context such that they can study comfortably through the medium of English.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Write a source-based academic argument essay, demonstrating clear and logical organisation of ideas into paragraphs and section.
2. Give a clear, logically structured oral presentation
3. Fully collaborate in a real time organised discussion about an academic topic with other students whose first language is not English by for example presenting ideas, furthering the discussion, and responding appropriately.

Module content

The module will help students to develop the skills and knowledge to engage effectively with spoken and written tasks common to university study, primarily through analysis and practice of:

• a range of reading skills and strategies
• paraphrasing, summarising and citation skills
• text-level coherence and cohesion
• functional language for effective oral presentations and interaction
• strategies for effective participation in group discussions

There is an ongoing emphasis on guided planning and formative feedback on written and spoken output.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module lasts for four weeks between July and August at the Â鶹´«Ã½â€™s UK Whiteknights campus, with exact dates fixed in April each year by BIT. There is an additional preparatory two-week course that takes place at BIT Beijing, independent of the UK delivery, delivered by BIT staff, to ensure that the students get an understanding of academic English expectations before starting the module.

The module takes a task-based, contextualised approach which integrates practice and development of receptive (listening, reading) and productive (speaking, writing) academic English communication skills around accessible themes.

The module consists of daily interactive classes, and guided independent study tasks which include preparation for the next class or a review of material taught.

Study hours

At least 40 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Grade 6.0 minimum in the TEEP and coursework.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each calendar day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three calendar days;
• where the piece of work is submitted up to three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in you Individual Learning Plan), the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three calendar days of the deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

Where a piece of work is submitted late after a deadline which has been revised owing to an extension granted through the Assessment Adjustments policy and process (self-certified or otherwise), it will be subject to the maximum penalty (i.e., considered to be more than three calendar days late). This will also apply when such an extension is used in conjunction with a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

The module provides practice of working on formative tasks collaboratively, on a daily basis. The default format of classes is workshop style.

Reassessment

Additional costs