Individual Learning Plan

Studying English at UCC Language Centre allows students to develop their English language communicative ability in an international university setting in small classes with a mix of student nationalities from around the world.

The programme follows the principles of UCC’s connected curriculum to foster real-world usage of the English language in contexts relevant to students’ interests and aims.

Your course begins with a Placement Test, Needs Analysis and the creation of your individual learning plan. This helps us to understand and plan for the support you will need to reach your educational targets.

English Language Course options

General English Courses

• General English Programme
• Study and Work General English Programme

Assessment

Your language skills will be tested on arrival and you will be given a calendar of formal and informal assessments to take place through your programme.  You will receive regular feedback on your performance and your final exam will be an academic IELTS examination.  On completion, you will also receive a Certificate and an academic report from UCC Language Centre.

• Academic English classes use information from the needs analysis to provide personalised lessons to fulfil identified student needs and introduce students to the language and study skills expected in an English-medium academic environment.
• General English classes use information from the needs analysis to provide personalised lessons to fulfil identified students' needs to live, work or travel in an English-speaking context.
• Students receive continuous support, assessment and progress tutorials throughout their course to allow them the opportunity to monitor and discuss their progression and individual English Language learning needs with their tutors.
• Tutors are all qualified to a minimum Level 9 and/or Delta and all have extensive experience teaching at the university level as well as in international contexts.
• Free to all full-time students is a weekly teacher-led Communicative Language Enrichment and Activation Programme.

Benefits of being a fulltime student at UCC Language Centre?

Students have free access, with their UCC Student ID Card, to the computer centre, Boole Library, campus Wi-Fi, student HUB and Mardyke Arena Sports Complex and they can also join one or more of the many student clubs and societies on campus. The UCC ID Card can also be used for discounts in many stores, restaurants and travel.

• Support Services offers a wide range of student services and support. 
• Student Health  & Well Being Departmentservices on campus.
• Careers Service UCC Language Centre offers all its full-time students access to careers advice – how to write CVs and cover letters, apply for jobs, prepare for interviews etc. You can go to careers to make an appointment with a careers expert who can offer one-to-one advice to you.
• Peer Support Service is a special student-led service to support new international students at UCC.
• Student Engagement Officer to assist you in getting the most from your university experience. The officer will help you to connect to our online learning platform, introduce you to services across the university, and will keep you informed of our free weekly social programme and workshops.
• Safety and Welfare offers our students a welcoming, inclusive and multicultural learning space.

Opportunities to practise outside the classroom

Our University setting provides lots of opportunities for you to practise both your academic and general English. There are many free events on campus that you can attend and there are over 200 clubs and societies available for you to join as a UCC student. Our Student Engagement Officer can help you access all of these opportunities.

Conversation Exchange

We provide a free language exchange service whereby you can be put in touch with one of our English speaking students who will speak with you in English in exchange for learning your language.

If you're interested in conversing with Irish UCC students needing to practise their Chinese, French, Spanish, German, Italian and other languages, and willing to speak in English with you, please call to G.29 O'Rahilly Building to register.  Alternatively, email Rita Flynn at r.flynn@ucc.ie to enquire.

ILEP Table (Interim List of Eligible Programmes)

 If you have any further queries please email infolang@ucc.ie

IT Requirements: 

All students are required to bring to class a fully-charged laptop (with audio and video) and headphones to ensure full participation and access to course materials and a more valuable student experience.  A reliable internet connection is required (this is provided by UCC for on-campus students). You should download Microsoft Teams to your laptop before starting your course. UCC recommends the use of Chrome browser for best interaction with all its applications.  Please note that a laptop is a device that is suitable for study purposes and students who use another device such as a tablet will not be able to access some functions. A smartphone is not considered to be a suitable device for study purposes.