Preparation Course # 13

 

1.0 Introduction

1.1 The Mubarak Al-Abdullah Joint Command and Staff College (MAJCSC) Preparation Course* is a full-time, intensive English as a Foreign Language (EFL) programme that lasts for 26 weeks. It is designed to prepare students for entry and success on the Advanced Command and Staff Course (ACSC).

1.2 The ACSC is taught almost exclusively in English so this means that language is a major challenge for most students. But, it is important to note that the Preparation Course is not a General English course. It is expected that students already know basic English grammar etc before they take the Preparation Course.

*(which used to known as the English Language Course)

2.0 Educational Approach

2.1 The Preparation Course is an intensive EFL programme. However, it also has other unique features. It is an English for Academic Purposes (EAP) course with a strong English for Specific Purposes (ESP) component. This is reflected in both its teachers and the course content.

2.2 Preparation Course teachers are civilian native English speakers, because all instruction is given in English. Translation into Arabic is used as a last resort. These well qualified teachers not only have extensive experience in TEFL, but are also specially trained in teaching English for EAP/ESP.

2.3 The ACSC is very demanding and students must be able to manage a very heavy workload. Therefore, Preparation Course students must learn effective study skills.  They are also encouraged to work independently both in class and by themselves at home. This together with the ability to think freely and question facts, opinions, etc is very important for success on the ACSC.

3.0 Course Content

3.1 The Preparation Course – like most EFL courses -focuses on all four language skills: Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing. But, its English for Specific Purposes (ESP) component is shown by the very large amount of military vocabulary which is introduced throughout the course.

3.2 Students must also master academic research and study skills. At this point they meet the English Academic Purposes (EAP) aspect of the course is met.  Speed reading techniques such as skimming and scanning are taught to help students to get through the large number of texts that they will be expected to read.

3.3 Students also learn how to write a variety of texts from notes on a lecture to whole compositions. By the end of the Preparation Course they are expected to submit an academic Research Paper on a supplied military topic. They then give a formal briefing (oral presentation) about it to their Syndicate colleagues. It is at this point that the EAP aspect of the course is fully developed.

3.4 Information Technology (IT)/Computer lessons have formed an important part of the Preparation Course (since course #8). Here professional computer teachers, (with specially written materials), take students through: computer architecture, the Windows XP operating system, Word processing, PowerPoint and other Ms application packages.

3.5 These important IT skills enable the students to understand and apply modern IT knowledge on the Preparation Course and later on the ACSC.  For example, the use of MS PowerPoint © is encouraged when students make their oral briefing on their Research project in Cycle 6.

4.0 Course Materials

4.1 A variety of teaching materials are used in class. These have been specially written for the Preparation Course. Currently, they include a Course Book together with Supplementary Units for each Cycle. These are normally updated annually, (and at shorter intervals), to include current geopolitical and military material from real-life sources. Listening materials include taped lectures, recorded radio and TV broadcast, dialogues and videos on military subjects/topics, taken from an approved list.

4.2 Students are taught how to read military handbooks, briefs, notes, articles and other documents including internet web pages of a military nature. The Preparation Course materials are mainly based on or taken from the types of materials used on the ACSC. They materials give students the required skills to master the intense nature of the ACSC itself.

4.3 During Course #11 a new Multi-media computer based system shall be introduced, in parallel with the existing teaching programme and its materials. The aim is to first supplement and then replace most of the Course Book materials and all the Progress and Exit tests, make it easier to teach the IT/Computing classes.

5.0 Teaching Method

5.1 The ‘Communicative Approach’ to language teaching is the main method used by Preparation Course teachers. This approach is used because it focuses on enabling students to communicate in English effectively and appropriately in required situations. To this end students are actively involved in a variety of class listening and speaking activities such as brainstorming, paired, group and class discussions and oral briefings.

5.2 Most Preparation Course students will have studied English using the American Language Course (ALC) at some time in their military careers. However, as noted above the Preparation Course’s Educational Approach and Teaching Method is very different to the ALC.

5.3 With the higher Syndicates, approved Supplementary Units will be covered in addition to the Course Book itself. The lower Syndicates will study exactly the same Course Book together with perhaps a few Supplementary Units. These are specially written to help them.

6.0 Course Objectives

6.1 There are five target objectives for the Preparation Course.  These objectives should enable students to participate to the fullest in all aspects of the ACSC.

Reading: to read and understand authentic military documents including glossaries, handbooks, technical manuals, briefs, notes, standing operating procedures, journalistic articles and historical textbooks.

Listening: to listen to and understand lectures, presentations, briefs, instructions, TV and radio broadcasts.

Speaking: to be able to speak accurately and fluently in a range of situations including oral presentations, briefs, and instructions; and to actively participate in seminars, meetings, discussions, and in social situations.

Writing: to write a variety of texts including: briefs, notes from aural and written sources, reports, visual aids, instructions, and research.  These texts should follow the accepted conventions of the genre and exhibit a high degree of accuracy in the language.

Research Skills: to be able to demonstrate a range of study skills to a sufficiently high level to achieve the above aims.  These are to include for language purposes the effective use of language reference books; and for military purposes the organization of work according to priority, and research skills.

7.0 Tests

7.1 Placement Test - this was held on two days in June 2005 and on 2 days in September 2005. It is skills based test, evaluating reading, listening, speaking and writing.

7.2 Entry Test - this test is held at the start of the Preparation Course. It is designed to allocate students by their language level (ability) to their respective Syndicates. For Course # 11 the Entry Test shall be held in early 2006.

7.3 Progress Tests – these 5 tests are taken at the end of each Cycle. Students’ success in them should not be adversely affected by omitting the occasional Unit from their Course Books, provided that a Supplementary Unit is substituted in its place.

7.4 Exit Test – this test is taken at the end of the Preparation Course. It is scheduled to take place on 6th July 2005.

7.5 All test on the Preparation Course are marked in percent out of one hundred.

8.0 Homework

8.1 Homework is set according to the current MAJCSC policy, so that all Syndicates can expect to be given one task most evenings. It is not unusual for homework to be set over weekends too. Students in lower syndicates should expect to spend more time working outside the classroom to help make up their general level of English. They will need to spend a lot of time working each evening and at weekends as well.  

8.2 Much of the homework is in composition writing and reading and in preparing for listening Units, for Speaking Tests or regular Syndicate level discussions.  Being able to work independently is an essential skill for students to succeed on both the Preparation Course and the AJCSC, and this in part is developed by the homework policy.

9.0 Project

9.1 An important feature of the Preparation Course is the development of individual study in the form of a project.  This aims to foster independence in the student, namely independence of the instructor, of the timetabled lesson, and of the materials.  Three weeks are given for project research, preparation and writing in Cycle 6.

9.2 During the last week of this period all students are released to continue their research and to finish writing their project and to prepare for an oral presentation (briefing) to their Syndicate. Then they come back to the MAJCSC to hand in their finished project and make their oral presentation. Marks for the oral presentation count as the final (Exit) speaking test.

10.0 Records Of Work

10.1 All student work is recorded on the weekly record of work sheet.  In this way, individual progress can be monitored closely.

 

11.0 Class Schedule

11.1 The Entry Test results are used to allocate about 10-12 students to their respective Syndicates. Students take five lessons each day. The first lesson starts at 8:00 am and the last one ends at 12:40 pm.  Computer classes are fitted into this schedule with students in each Syndicate receiving the appropriate hours of IT instruction each week.

 

12.0 Conclusion

12.0 Upon completion of the Preparation Course, students should be confident, competent users of English who can cope with conversational, academic and military language at a high level of proficiency. Although the Preparation Course is certainly demanding, requiring high standards, teachers and students are able to develop a friendly and professional rapport and certainly to enjoy their classes.