Program Overview

Erasmus+ Advanced English Skills for Higher Education Professionals

Overview

This course is designed for higher education professionals in various roles, including auxiliary staff, administrative staff, early-career lecturers, and researchers. The program focuses on developing functional language necessary for effective communication with multiple stakeholders in an academic setting.

Course Details

• Duration: 1 week
• Timetable: 20 lessons per week
• Fees: €525.00
• Key Start Dates 2025: 11th May, 6th July, 22nd September
• Delivery: In person at Dorset College
• Minimum Level of English: B1 on the CEFR (Intermediate)

Course Objectives

• To navigate communicative situations in the workplace confidently and effectively
• To identify the purpose, structure, tone, and perspective of an oral or written text
• To manage conflicts in a professional setting while accounting for the different needs and perspectives of multiple stakeholders

Learning Outcomes

This course provides a professional development opportunity for participants, aiming to enhance their transversal skills, particularly intercultural and language competences, critical thinking, and media literacy.

Course Structure

Day 1: Functional Language in the Workplace

• Identifying communicative situations in the workplace
• Comparing and contrasting interactional and transactional communicative purposes
• Matching communicative situations with the appropriate language functions
• Language aspects considered: Classifying language functions, expressing degrees of (dis)agreement or (dis)satisfaction

Day 2: A Structured Approach to Communicative Success

• Determining a text’s purpose and structure
• Inferring intent and profiling the target audience
• Evaluating communicative success and formal accuracy
• Language aspects considered: Signposting and sequencing, organizing events by time frames

Day 3: Stance and Perspective

• Recognizing the difference between fact and opinion to assess how evidence is presented to support an argument
• Exploring academic tone and stylistic nuances
• Demonstrating cultural awareness while considering both the national culture and the company culture
• Language aspects considered: Using persuasive and emphasizing communicative strategies

Day 4: Adapting Language in Context

• Effective note-taking during meetings and based on reading texts from one’s specialized field of knowledge
• Expanding notes into a written text or an oral presentation
• Paraphrasing a text to emphasize different elements
• Language aspects considered: Reported speech

Day 5: Conflict Management Workshop

• This final-day workshop will provide participants with a holistic and practical toolkit to effectively manage conflict in the workplace
• Identifying diverging stakes and/or perspectives to reach a compromise by setting new goals that facilitate the transition from the comfort zone to the growth zone
• Dramatising real-life scenarios of conflict in a higher education setting in pairs and developing a strategy to respond appropriately both orally and in writing
• Individual feedback focusing on style, register, and overall communicative effectiveness

Assessment and Awards

• STT Invitation
• Certificate of Completion
• Europass
• Work Plan (On Request)

What is Erasmus+?

Erasmus+ is the EU's programme to support education, training, youth, and sport in Europe for the period. It plays a significant role in promoting European mobility, fostering innovation, and enhancing the quality of education and training in Europe.

Eligible Countries for Erasmus+ Funding

All EU Member States are eligible to participate fully in the Erasmus+ Programme. Additionally, the following third countries are associated with the programme:

• Members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) which are members of the European Economic Area (EEA): Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein
• Acceding countries, candidate countries, and potential candidates: Republic of North Macedonia, Republic of Türkiye, and Republic of Serbia

How Can Dorset College Help You with Your Application?

After receiving your application, you will be contacted shortly thereafter by the Dorset College team. You will also receive the programme details and all information you need for the mobility agreement as well as your stay in Dublin.

How Much is an Erasmus+ Grant?

Erasmus+ grants provide a contribution to your costs for travel, subsistence, and training, and the amount will vary depending on:

• The receiving country (the country to which you are travelling)
• The level of demand from staff from your country who intend to train abroad
• The distance between your country and the receiving country
• The availability of other financial sources in your country or region

Please ask your Erasmus+ coordinator in your organisation, institute, or school for information about the grant provided in your region.