Page 36 - ELG1705 May Issue 447

Writers re-treat

Setting up a magazine can help students get to grips with English, but you
have to think of imaginative ways to motivate them. Claudia Civinini talks to

experts Jane Sjoberg and Sean Gardner

T’S A TRUTH universally supervised, students
acknowledged that getting are running the show.
a magazine to press requires ‘I am always impressed
Ilarge amounts of sugar. by how effectively and
University of Birmingham professionally students
EAP team Jane Sjoberg and [get organised] and I
Sean Gardner know that well, am extremely proud of
too. To successfully get their what they produced,’ said
student-led magazine ready for Sean. Students on this
publishing they confessed to programme develop many
employing all sorts of ‘bribies’, useful skills: group work,
apparently a code word for time management and
brownies chocolate. technical and presentation
However, judging by their skills, to name just a
interviews – and most Students take charge of magazine production few. However, surely
importantly, by their students’ words – it seems the world: China, Nigeria, Hong Kong, Cyprus, journalism is different from academic writing
it’s high motivation and enthusiasm that did the Rwanda, Ivory Coast, and most Gulf states. – how does a magazine fit into an EAP course?
trick, not the treats. How does the project work? ‘We start out ‘What’s great is that most students have actually
Their magazine project was born in by canvassing for student interest near the come away with a much better understanding
2012, at the same time as the launch of the beginning of term,’ said Jane, ‘and we sort out of genre – they can see how and where a
international foundation pathways programme a core team of editors.’ The team, coordinated chatty journalistic style is more appropriate,’
of the Birmingham International Academy, by the tutors, then meets once every couple explained Jane. Beyond this, students also learn
the English language unit of the University of weeks to discuss ideas, write and design the about plagiarism and copyright, and of course
of Birmingham. It was the brainchild of Jane, magazine. The finished product is The Key (see practise their written English by writing and
who is an EAP tutor and the presessional CPD bottom right) a web magazine published on proofreading.
coordinator. She wanted her foundation level the online platform Youblisher. The content Should other providers try a similar initiative?
students to have ‘the opportunity to engage follows students’ ‘It’s great fun,’ said Jane. ‘Students get a sense
with an extra-curricular activity in a supportive interests and ‘other of achievement and practise skills as
teacher-guided environment’, with the chance things they think independent learners.
to develop their writing and other skills. Sean, foundation students For teachers, it’s
another foundation programme tutor and EAP will appreciate’, said a lovely way to see
coordinator joined soon after the creation of Jane. Sometimes it students in a less
the magazine, when there were 75 students includes issues such formal context. For
enrolled on the foundation programme, many of as alcohol abuse or institutions, it’s a great
whom were involved in the project. Now there obesity. marketing tool that
are well over 200. Students come from all over Although parents and prospective
students can enjoy.’

Students ‘develop a love of writing’

Jean Bosco Nsabimana, a BSc geology student, said working on The to writing that she now employs when preparing academic essays.
Key magazine not only improved his spoken and written English but Another team member, Zehra Jazim Ali, who had been taught
gave him the ability to communicate effectively with a diverse group English as a first language during her school career, added that the
of students. This ‘intercultural understanding’ is what he values magazine has helped her learn more about ‘formal’ writing. Most
the most. Tsu Yun Shih, one of the editors of the magazine, said importantly, she has learnt to develop a love of writing which she
that proofreading and editing gave her a more ‘conscious’ approach didn’t have before.

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