Learn English at MLLC

 

The Modern Languages and Learning Centre (MLLC) has recently been remodelled along modern lines to cater to your various language-related needs. Two Language Labs (Location: A5 and E5), equipped with latest computers and audio-visual aids, have been set up to help UOG faculty, staff and students improve their English language skills. Initially, the MLLC would offer its services only to the faculty, senior staff and MPhil students of various disciplines (MA English students also allowed). However, with time, the Centre would reach out not only to other UOG students, but also to the public at large. Similarly, the range of languages being offered would also be expanded to include Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Malay, Norwegian, Spanish, etc. Importantly, services of senior foreign instructors would also be available to the MLLC.

The Centre plans to undertake the following activities until June:

1)      Writing Sessions: From the first week of February, a two-hour interactive session aimed at improving writing skills of the participants would be held every Saturday afternoon. The participants would have to register through email and also mention the areas they are particularly interested in. The participation is subject to confirmation email by the MLLC Director. The classes would be held in Language Lab 1 (Location: A5) for the faculty, senior staff and MPhil students (MA English students also allowed). Elaborate resource material would be provided to all the participants (for which they would have to bring their own USBs). You would be informed about the first writing session through email a week in advance and would have to register before the announced deadline.

2)      Language Lab: The Language Lab 1 (Location: A5) would be opened for the faculty, senior staff and MPhil students (MA English students also allowed) from the third week of February. A lab assistant would always be there to assist you with the material that best suits your needs. In the Language Lab 1, initially you would be able to:

• Improve your writing skills by taking language tests (involving grammar, collocation, pleonasms, parallelism, prepositions, prefixes, suffixes, brevity, redundancies, etc) of Basic to Advanced levels;

• Improve your listening skills by taking notes of conversations and lectures and then responding to related questions;

• Improve your speaking skills by increasing your vocabulary and knowing the correct pronunciation of words;

• Improve your reading skills;

• Prepare for IELTS and TOEFL and take random tests;

• Watch English DVDs with Urdu sub-titles to improve your translation skills; and

• Watch hit English comedy serials such as Mind Your Language and listen to a whole range of English music.

3)      Short Courses: From March, short courses of one to two days each would be offered to the faculty, senior staff and MPhil students (MA English students also allowed)in Language Lab 2 (Location: E5). To attend these courses, the participants would have to first register and pay a nominal fee. Elaborate resource material would be provided to all the participants (for which they would have to bring their own USBs) and the successful ones would also be given certificates. On average, two to three short courses would be offered each month. The short courses would be offered in the following areas:

• Writing and Editing Skills;

• Academic Writing;

• Writing for Newspapers;

• Common Mistakes in English;

• Translation Skills;

• Presentation Skills;

• English for Specific Purposes;

• Communication Skills;

• Spoken English; and

• Business Communication.

In addition, the MLLC would offer need-based training courses to UOG departments and offices on request; however, a fee would be charged depending on the duration of the assignment.