In the SU and the University, we are always striving to break down barriers and strengthen our inclusive community.
One way that we have been working to do this is by addressing the language barriers some students face while studying at the University through the creation of the Accents Training Course (working name).
Feedback from international students and other language learners is that they often struggle to understand native English speakers, or those who also have English as an additional language. This makes it difficult from them to follow lectures, interact with peers, participate in SU Groups and other activities that are important for a positive student experience.
Using this student feedback, former Postgraduate Officer Sid Singh assembled a team of colleagues from The SU, The Skills Centre and PoLIS to find a solution. The team settled on a self-directed Moodle course containing resources and activities to support students with their accent comprehension. This project was funded by the Teaching Development Fund (Seed) in 2021/22. As the resources are therefore very new, the aim of the first phase of this project was to explore and evaluate if this was the correct approach to accent comprehension. This evaluation was completed by staff and student beta tests.
Three weeks’ worth of activities were created for the beta tests, focusing on top-down listening, stress patterns, and features of connected speech. Two students were employed to create resources for these topics with support from the Peer Support Team. Many resources are based on activities and support services available within the SU and University, so that new students completing the course at the start of their studies can learn more about the opportunities and support available while they’re here.
The module also signposts to
English Pal, a student-led study programme helping students to practice their speaking and listening, in an informal and supportive environment, giving students more opportunities to practice listening to different accents. All students are welcome to join these sessions, which take place at different points in the year.
The student beta test took place in February 2023 with students from a range of programmes and levels of study. Overall, the design, interactive elements and ease of use were received positively. 75% of respondents stated that the course was helpful and that they would recommend it to a friend. Student beta testers also provided suggestions for improvements to the course including a new course name, in line with their feedback that the focus of the course is on listening skills.
We are now exploring the next stages of the project. If you work with students who would benefit from this project, or have ideas for the future of the project, please contact
Leah McCue.