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Student Handbook

ESOL 16-18 Pathways to Training

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Student Handbook

Pathways to Training ESOL 16-18 Foundation, Wood Street

CONTENTS Page College Dates 3 My Details 3 Will I take an examination? 4 Course Information 5

What do I need to bring? 6

What do I do if I’m late? 7 What do I do if I can’t come? 7 About Wood Street 8 About Wood Street: First Aid & Fire Exits 8 Other College Centres and Facilities 8 Using the Barnet College Computer Network 9 Barnet College E-learning 10-12 How to use E-ILP 13 My Course, Be Prepared to Learn! 14 Trips and Activities 15 ESOL Student Code of Conduct 16 – 17 Appendix

We wish you success at Barnet College and hope you enjoy your course!

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Dear Student, Congratulations on enrolling on to your Pathways to Training 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 Please note that if attendance levels drop below the accepted college target, you will be withdrawn and not allowed to take your examination.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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Pathways to Training 16-18 Wood Street

Welcome to Barnet College!

Our Wood Street centre in High Barnet is a large and exciting place to study. You will meet students from all over the world. You will learn with students from many different cultures. The centre has courses on many subjects and has very good facilities for students.

Enjoy your course at Wood Street!

ESOL Course Term Dates 12 September, 2011 – 6 July, 2012

Term 1: 12 September – 16 December Half Term 24-29 October Term 2: 03 January – 30 March 2012 Half Term 13-17 February Term 3: 16 April – 6 July 2012 Half Term 4-8 June

If you change your address or telephone number, remember to tell your tutor.

If you have passed any exams in the UK before this year, please remember to tell your tutor. These could be ESOL exams or anything you did at school. We will need to see certificates or results. Thank you!

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Cambridge ESOL Skills for Life Functional Skills Mathematics

Functional Skills ICT

You will work towards the Cambridge ESOL Skills for Life Qualification

on your ESOL course. There are three examinations:

Speaking & Listening

Reading

Writing

You will also take Functional Skills exams in ICT and Mathematics. Depending on your ability this will be from Entry 1 to Level 2.

Students who do not attend classes regularly or who are often late for class will

lose their place on the course.

If you have any special needs in class or for exams, please let your teacher know at the beginning of the course.

Your teacher will decide which exams you are ready to take. You must attend at least 90% of your classes to be entered for

exams.

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THE PATHWAYS TO TRAINING 16-18 COURSE

Our 16-18 ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) courses are for young people whose first language is not English and their level of English is beginner to upper intermediate (national standards Entry 1, 2, and 3 and Level 1)

The course will help you to:

Combine your English with vocational pathways to prepare you for

mainstream college courses, training and work.

Improve your speaking and listening, reading and writing, grammar and punctuation

Improve your study skills

Improve your mathematical skills by measuring, using data and money, shape and space

Improve your computing skills through word processing, spreadsheets, databases and using the internet

You will also have regular one to one tutorial sessions to discuss your progress with your personal tutor who will help you to prepare for your progression on to an academic or vocational course or for employment.

You will be able to use the College facilities on all sites, go on educational trips and take part in extra-curricular activities.

We will encourage you to take part in work experience through volunteering.

There are three 16-18 classes:

Higher beginner: Entry 1/2. Your course tutor is Margaret Bryant Pre-intermediate: Entry 2/3 Your course tutor is Ozlem Olcay Intermediate/higher-intermediate Entry 3 / Level 1: Your course tutor is Deborah Koder Your course leader is Deborah Koder Deborah.koder@barnet.ac.uk or telephone 0208 275 3920 The curriculum manager for your course is Joanna Bahri

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What do I need to bring?

As part of your course you will need to be prepared for learning.

Things you will need include:

a ring binder file A4 paper pens, pencils, highlighters and a rubber headphones an English dictionary writing books for your class-work

You must organise your work.

File your work in a ring binder and use the dividers to organise it. Your folder of work will be used to check your progress.

You must concentrate in your lesson.

Please switch your mobile phone off before you go into your classroom.

Tutorials and Individual Learning Plans

Your teacher will meet with each student individually – one to one - every term. Your teacher will make an appointment for a tutorial with you to talk about your learning. You and the teacher will make a list of things you should do after classes to help you learn. This is called an Individual Learning Plan, or ILP. 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.

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What do I do if I am late?

It is important to come to class regularly and on time, but if you are late, go into the class quietly. The College has an e-registration system so you must remember to swipe your card in all your lessons. All lateness is recorded by the e-registration system.

What do I do if I cannot come to college?

You must tell your tutor if you cannot come to college.

You may lose your place if you do not tell your tutor. It is important that you tell your teacher before the lesson if you have an appointment or other reason for not attending. If you cannot come to class and you did not tell your teacher before, phone the college and leave a message. Say your student number, your name, your teacher’s name, and the date you are absent and why you are absent. Ask your teacher for the phone number and write it below.

My tutor’s direct number is

…………………………………………………..…………………...

If you do not attend the course, you will lose your place. Also, if you do not attend regularly, come to class on time or complete all homework on time, you may lose your place.

** If you need help – please ask your tutor.

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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, EN4 5AZ

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. Sports Facilities are at Grahame Park.

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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Be Prepared to Learn! Studying at College is a very different experience from compulsory education that you may have received so far. For a start, every student has chosen to remain in education and classes are smaller than secondary school so the tutors have more time for each student. We respect your maturity and give you more freedom than schools to develop as an individual. We know however, that it is easy to misuse freedom so we have disciplinary procedures to make sure this does not happen. You will see your tutor regularly and they will help you and advise you as well as monitor your progress and behaviour, both in class and around College.

Your tutor can write you a reference for any courses or jobs you apply for in the future so do remember your attendance and behaviour are a very important part of your learning, as well as your final exam results. Home / College Agreement In the same way as many schools, we want to build good home / College relationships not just with our students but with their families and carers too. Your parents and carers will be invited to meet the tutors at an Open Afternoon in October and we look forward to working together. Our aim is to give you the best possible opportunities for your future. Student Services can also help you with any personal problems or welfare (money) problems. More information is in this handbook and you will meet the Student Services team during Induction week.

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Trips and Activities

During the year we will go on educational visits and take part in extra-curricular activities. These are an essential part of your course and will help you in your exams. All students are expected to attend. If you are under 18 you will have to complete a short form and have this signed by your parent / guardian / adult carer in order for you to attend lessons off site. This is a very important College document and your tutor will give you one before each trip. Please ALWAYS bring it back, signed, as soon as possible.

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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 day - 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 in class.

- Do my best.

- Always wear my ID card and show it to tutors and security when they ask. If you are asked to give your ID to any member of staff or leave the College building, you must agree.

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 , do my classwork

- help others if they need it

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

- No smoking anywhere in College buildings - No spitting anywhere in College buildings

- Switch off mobile phones in the classroom FINALLY

No students are allowed to stay in classrooms during breaks without a

teacher.

Students must NOT use the teachers’ computers in classrooms.

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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