ESOL Wood Street

Part-time Student Handbook

2011 - 2012

Contents

Page

Welcome 1-2 College Dates 3 ESOL courses at Barnet College - ESOL National Standards 4 Will I get a certificate? 5 Tutorial 6 What do I do if I’m late? 7 Wood Street 8 Barnet College Computer Network 9 E-Learning 10-12 E-ILP 13 What we expect from you 14 Student Code of Conduct 15 - 17 Appendix 18

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Dear student, Congratulations on enrolling on to your ESOL course at Barnet College. The teachers on your course will deliver their best to ensure you succeed in your studies. However, success actually depends on your commitment to your studies. Attendance and punctuality are key to your success. Please note that if attendance levels drop below the accepted college target, you will be withdrawn and not allowed to take your examination. Progression and re-enrolment at the college will also be affected. Please remember we are here to support you in your studies and wish you luck this year.

Yours sincerely

Shahin Khan Head – School of Skills for Life

E-mail Shahin.khan@barnet.ac.uk

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ESOL Wood Street

Welcome to Barnet College!

Barnet College in Wood Street is a brand new building opened to students for the first time in September 2010. We hope you enjoy using our new facilities and have a successful learning experience with us.

Enjoy your course at Barnet College

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ESOL TERM DATES 2011 - 2012

Term Dates Half Term Holiday

Autumn Term 2011

12 September – 16 December

24 – 28 October

Spring Term 2012

3 January – 30 March

13 – 17 February

Summer Term 2012

16 April – 5 July

4 – 8 June

Please note Summer Term 2012 end date will be variable depending on the day of the course. Bank Holidays: Staff Development Days: (classes closed) 2nd January 2012 11 November 2011 7th May 2012 27th January 2012 4th June 2012 5th June 2012

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ESOL COURSES AT BARNET COLLEGE

All students will be working to ESOL National Standards

ESOL Levels

Pre-Entry

Entry 1

Entry 2

Entry 3

Level 1

Level 2

Each student will have a test to check your level of English and help your teachers to decide what things you need to work on. We will place you on a course suitable for your language learning needs. In all ESOL classes, you will work on all four skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking. You will work on different things: - Grammar Vocabulary Pronunciation Spelling Communication Skills development Conversation We will help you improve your English language skills to help you use the language in everyday life in the UK, in your work and for further study.

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TUTORIAL

Your teacher will make an appointment to see each student one-to-one for a tutorial, every term. You and your teacher will discuss your progress and you will make a list of things you should do after classes to help you learn. This is called an Individual Learning Plan, or ILP. Make your long-term goals clear on your ILP. Here are some examples of long-term goals given by other ESOL students at Barnet College:

You will need to access your Individual Learning Plan (ILP) regularly, on the college Moodle website. There is more information about this on page 13 of this handbook. If you need help, advice or have a problem with your studies, please ask for help. Your tutor may be able to help or tell you where you can get help in the college. Student Services for example, can also help you with any personal or welfare problems.

I am a highly qualified and experienced hairdresser. I want to teach hairdressing and for this, I need to do a teaching course (PTLLS) but before I can enrol on this course I need to have a Level 2 certificate in ESOL. I passed all my Level 1 exams in June and I am now enrolled in a Level 2 class.

I want to be able to get a part-time job when both my children are at school. Also, I want to be able to talk to their teachers or the GP, etc without taking a relative along to translate for me.

I would like to do an Electrical Installation course at Southgate College but before I can enrol, I need at least a Level 1 certificate in ESOL.

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ESOL Skills for Life

Will I get a certificate?

You will work towards the Cambridge ESOL Skills for Life Qualification. There are three different exams in:

Reading

Writing

Listening and Speaking

At different levels: Entry 1, Entry 2, Entry 3, Level 1, Level 2 Exams Students will take examinations in June at the level of language they have achieved. All exam entries are by teacher recommendation based on coursework, attendance (85%) and mock exam results (65%).

ESOL Skills for Life

All exam entries are by teacher recommendation based on coursework,

attendance (85%) and mock exam results (65%)

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What do I do if I am late?

It is important to come to class on time and your lateness will be monitored. If you are late, go into the class quietly and tell the teacher why you are late at the end of the lesson. If lateness is a persistent problem, your tutor will also discuss this with you in tutorial.

What do I do if I cannot come to college?

You must tell your tutor if you cannot come to college. Please ask for your tutor’s college telephone number and email address. You may lose your place if you do not tell your tutor that you will be absent. It is important that you tell your teacher before the lesson if you have an appointment or other reason for not attending.

What do I do if I move house?

You must tell your teacher your new address and telephone number. Also, check with your tutor that your address and telephone numbers are correctly recorded on the college computer.

YOU WILL LOSE YOUR PLACE IF YOU DO NOT COME TO COLLEGE FOR 3 WEEKS

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About Wood Street

Barnet College, Wood Street, is easy to reach by underground or bus

but there is NO car parking for students.

However, there are many other facilities and local services.

First Aid Ask your teacher what to do and who can help in an emergency at college.

Fire Exits Make sure you know where all fire exits are in the building. These are signposted around the building. If you hear the fire alarm, go with your class to the nearest fire exit. Wait together with the other students from your class and make sure your teacher can find you.

Barnet College Centres

Wood Street Centre, High Street, Barnet, EN5 5UJ

Grahame Park Centre, Colindale, NW9 5RA

There are Learning Centres at Grahame Park and Wood Street where you can borrow books, use computers and find resources to help you study. Maps to all centres are on the notice board or at Reception.

Your college ID card will allow you to use facilities at any centre

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Using the computer to improve your English

There are computers in the Learning Centre and many classrooms. We have special software for learning English and a list of many websites that will also help you to learn.

To use a computer you must have a User ID (your student number) and a password. Speak to your teacher or Learning Centre staff to get a password. You will also be given 500 print credits. When you have finished your credits

you must pay for printing. Keep your password safe and make sure you can remember it. You will need to change your password every 6 weeks. Your teacher may ask your class to use computers in a lesson and you will need to know your password. You can also use the Barnet College website to practise your English at home. Go to:

www.barnet.ac.uk

You will need to enter your User ID (this is your student number) and password. Then you can use the practice materials on the ESOL website. There are many websites to help you with your English including: www.english-grammar-lessons.com www.englishbanana.com www.esolcourses.com www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise

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Barnet College E-Learning

The College IT Network gives you new opportunities to learn online, anytime, anyplace. You must use the college network for learning and study only.

Be responsible and professional.

Respect the privacy of everyone else using the college system

Do not post material that might upset others online.

Remember to stay safe

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Moodle - Your course page Moodle is an area on the college network where students can find important information about their course and extra practice for reading, writing, listening, speaking, grammar and vocabulary. You will find out more about Moodle during the first weeks of your course.

Finding your course on Moodle

Open the Barnet college Moodle site http://moodle.barnet.ac.uk/ or via the MLE. After entering this address Moodle will appear with a Login box on the top left that looks like this:

Enter your Username and your password here then click the Login icon and you will then be logged on to the Barnet College Moodle network.

After logging on, you will be directed to a new page listing the courses you are enrolled on: Click the course you wish to enter.

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Mahara is a student’s personal learning space. It should show all the hard work that you do in college. To access Mahara click the Mahara icon on you Moodle course page: You will then see your Mahara homepage, showing you the different sections of your personal account: On Mahara you can write about yourself, list your skills/your goals, write blogs and upload assignments set by your lecturers, and so build an e-portfolio. You can submit work for your teachers on Mahara, to do this, upload the necessary file and place it in a ‘View’ – a page that can be shared with teachers/lecturers etc.

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How to see your e-ILP

On Moodle you will find your Individual Learning Plan. Click on the ‘My ILP’ link and you will be taken to your ILP page. From here, you can:

Enter your courses, qualifications and goals on ‘My

Information’

Set targets for yourself on ‘My Targets’

Discuss progress with your lecturer on Progress

Reviews

Keep a record of your progress on Celebrations

and Concerns

Summarise your achievements in Progression

Using the E-ILP gives you a new way to show your progress through your time in Barnet College. At the start of the year your teacher will show you how to use Moodle, Mahara and your E-ILP.

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What we expect from you:

Come to class every lesson

Come to class on time

Go to all your classes

Bring a file with you

Bring paper, pen and pencil

Take an active part in the class

Switch off your mobile phone

Do your homework

Tell your tutor if you cannot come to class

Speak to your tutor if you are unhappy about any of your classes

Write your learning plan

Talk about your learning in tutorials

How we will help you:

We will help you improve your English

We will make your lessons useful and interesting We will speak to you alone about your English We will help you with your goals in your Individual Learning Plan

We want you to feel happy learning English at Barnet College.

We want you to tell us if you are not happy!

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Student Code of Conduct I agree to:

- respect other people in my class and College. This includes their views, religion and culture

- arrive on time

- come to class every lesson - tell my tutor if I cannot come to class -make appointments at times when I do not have classes. - use English in the classroom - remember the more I use English the faster I will learn it.

- listen to the teachers and listen to other students when they speak in class.

-do my best.

Always wear my ID card and show it to tutors and security when they ask.

In English

please

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- look after books and College resources and property and keep my classroom clean

- Always put rubbish in the bins. - Not chew chewing gum in lessons. It looks horrible, sounds horrible and

makes a mess of our beautiful new College.

- do my homework regularly

- help others if they need it

? - ask my tutor for advice and help if I need it

- No smoking anywhere on the college site - No spitting anywhere in College buildings

- Switch off mobile phones in the classroom

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Barnet College

Student Code of Conduct

These rules will make sure the College is a safe and enjoyable place to work and learn in.

You should: - Be kind and polite to all people and respect others and their belongings - Look after the College buildings and the equipment you use - Wear your ID card and never give it to anyone else - Never do things which upset other people; do not be unkind to people

about the way they look, their sex, their age, their beliefs

- Not smoke in the College buildings - Not bring drugs and alcohol into the College - Keep the College clean and tidy - Only eat and drink in the snack bar and canteen areas - Never cheat when you are trying to learn - Be careful and safe at College so you do not hurt yourself or others - Come to every class and arrive on time - Never use mobile phones where it might disturb other people - Use computers only to help you learn; do not use the Internet in a way which breaks the

College IT rules. You must sign the IT Agreement. If you break any of these rules you will be disciplined - this may mean having to leave the College. Signed by Student…………………………………. Print Name …………………………… Signed by Tutor …………………………………… Print Name …………………………… Date.....................................................................

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Appendix Personal Tutor

Absence & Punctuality

Fire Procedures

First Aid

Additional Support

College Charter

Student representative

Barnet College Policies

External assessments/tests

Student appeals

Disciplinary procedures

Computer access

Level functions (separate document to be handed out by tutor)

All college student information can be accessed via this link