The General Foundation Programme in ICT aims at developing students’ linguistic proficiency and caters to the need of the students who aspire to pursue their post foundation studies by promoting active learning and use of English through extensive practice in all language skills needed in various academic situations and labour market. The curriculum in FP is designed in accordance with the learning outcomes stipulated in OAAA standards for Foundation Programs.
It also aims at enabling students to attain an advanced level of competence in critical thinking skills, communication skills and learning skills. The students are placed in different levels on the basis of their performance in the placement tests and the level exit exams administered by the centre at the beginning and at the end of every semester. Formative and summative assessment schemes are used to evaluate the students throughout the sessions. This program is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills in English language, Study Skills, Information Technology and Mathematics.
Encode and decode language forms (grammar, phonology and vocabulary) of oral and written English at an advanced level of proficiency.
Express themselves in different registers of English language according to different situations.
Demonstrate communication skills to an advanced level of fluency, accuracy in English.
Develop social competence including the ability to work in a team.
Develop personal competence and methodological competence including abstract and logical reasoning, problem solving strategies and critical thinking.
Students who score up to 20% in the Placement Test enter Level1. The principle behind the English courses in all the levels is the view that fluency precedes accuracy. That is, students should be encouraged to use the language, have fun with it and experiment with it.
In Level 1, like in the other levels, students learn Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing and Grammar with specific learning outcomes to achieve by the time they finish the level. The syllabi are designed in such a way that students will be able to achieve the learning objectives of this course by the end of the semester. Level 1 course gives due importance to the acquisition of required vocabulary and spelling also.
Apart from the language skills, students are expected to learn certain General Study Skills such as to know and follow the university policies on attendance and punctuality, to know the importance of bringing the required materials (pens, pencils, folder, etc) to class, to date one’s class work, to know, organize and maintain a portfolio with the help of the teacher and to know & prepare a feasible study schedule and a term planner with the help of the teacher. It is expected that by the end of the semester, students will acquire these important Study Skills which will be helpful in all other areas of their future education. Students who get 50% in the Level 1 exams will move to Level 1.
Students should pass Level 1 or a placement exam to be enrolled in to Level 2. They need to obtain 50% in the Pre Elementary Level Exams to progress to Level 2.
Throughout the course the students study Grammar Skills (including General Study Skills), Writing Skills, Listening & Speaking Skills, Reading Skills and Multi Media Skills.
The pre-requisite to enter Level 3 is a score between 51%-70% in the Placement Test or 50% in Level 2 Exams. The principle behind the English courses in all the levels is the view that fluency precedes accuracy. That is, students should be encouraged to use the language, have fun with it and experiment with it.
In Level 3, like in the other levels, students learn Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing and Grammar with specific learning outcomes to achieve by the time they complete the level. The syllabus is designed in such a way that students are be able to achieve the goals of this course by the end of the semester. As a continuation of the Level 2, they learn to deal with higher order of language skills like pparaphrasing, analysing and criticising facts, opinions, ideas etc., Comprehending high frequency idiomatic expressions or symbolic language and thus, up to Essay Writing.
Apart from the language skills, students also master Learning Skills such as Note-taking Strategies, Summarizing and Writing Book Reports. Therefore, by the end of the semester, students will acquire these important Study Skills which will be helpful in all other areas of their future education.
Students who get 50% in the Level 3 exams will go on to Level 4.
Students should pass levels 1, 2, 3 and a placement exam before they are admitted to Level 4. Over the semester, students attend comprehensive lessons in listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
In lieu of the general study skills, project and presentation is being offered where students are required a group research to be presented to the teacher or a panel at the conclusion of the semester. The 18- hour average contact classes per week also covers multi-media laboratory period as part of CALL or computer aided language learning.