Griffith University

The English Language Enhancement course is one component of Griffith’s English Language Enhancement Strategy developed to boost the oral and written English language skills of international students and other students whose first language is not English and to maximise their chances of succeeding in their academic studies. It comes into effect from Semester 1, 2010.

Key elements of the English Language Enhancement course include:

• compulsory 10 credit point course taken in a student’s first semester of study
• for all international students admitted to Griffith with an IELTS (Academic) less than 7.0 and sub-scores below 6.5 (or equivalent) subject to certain exemptions
  
• completed as part of a student’s program within the standard annual academic load
• there are no fees additional to those already paid by students for completing their degree
  
• does not add to the length of the program
  
• English language skills relevant to the academic culture of Griffith University
• intensive English language practice and language immersion activities applied to a student’s degree
• laying a foundation for improving language skills throughout all years of study.

From 2010, all bachelors degree programs that:

• are delivered on-shore;
• admit international students for whom English is not their first language via standard University English Language Entry requirements;
• admit international students into the first or second year of the program;

have been restructured to include an English Language Enhancement course as part of degree requirements.

The English Language Enhancement course has been customised to meet the specific needs and requirements of Business and Commerce, Health, Science, Environment, Engineering and Technology, and the Arts.

English language support for international students

Universities are responsible for ensuring their students are sufficiently competent in the English language to participate effectively in their university studies. Poor English is associated with weaker academic outcomes, lower success in academic course work, poor progression and retention. English language proficiency and communication skills are key graduate attributes for our students. Importantly students need to be made aware they have responsibilities for further developing their English language proficiency during their study at Griffith and are advised of these responsibilities (DEEWR 2008).

As a pivotal feature of the Griffith English Language Strategy, the English Language Enhancement Course aims to assist students whose first language is not English to be well prepared for their university studies in terms of English language skills by:

• providing English support in their first semester of study.
• providing immersion experiences that encourage integration between domestic, “native” English language speakers and international students, and
• demonstrating that our international students graduate with strong English language competency.