Student Handbook Part-Time ESOL, Grahame Park
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Student Handbook Part-Time ESOL & ESOL Numeracy, Grahame Park CONTENTS Page College Dates
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My Details
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Will I take an examination?
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Course Information
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What do I need to bring?
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Tutorials and Individual Learning Plans
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What do I do if I’m late?
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What do I do if I can’t come?
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Student activities and speakers
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About Grahame Park: College Facilities
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About Grahame Park: First Aid & Fire Exits
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Other College Centres and Facilities
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Using the Barnet College Computer Network
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Barnet College E-learning
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How to use your E-ILP
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ESOL Student Code of Conduct
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ESOL Learning Agreement
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Safeguarding
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Appendix
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We wish you success at Barnet College and hope you enjoy your course! 2
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 Please note that if attendance levels drop below the accepted college target, you will be withdrawn and not allowed to take your examination.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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Part-Time ESOL & ESOL Numeracy Grahame Park Welcome to Barnet College! Our Grahame Park centre in Colindale is a large and exciting place to learn. You will meet students from all over the world. You will study with students from many different cultures. The centre has courses on many subjects and has very good facilities for students.
Enjoy your course at Grahame Park!
12 September, 2011 – 6 July, 2012 Term 1: 12 September – 16 December Half Term Holiday: 24-29 October Term 2: 03 January – 30 March 2012 Half Term Holiday 13-17 February Term 3: 16 April – 6 July 2012 Half Term Holiday 4-8 June My Course Details Name
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Student Number …………………………………………………………………………….. Course
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Classroom(s)
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Teacher’s name(s)……………………………………………………………………………. Tutor’s number ………………………………………………………………….........
Moving home? If you change your address or telephone number, you must tell your teacher. 4
Cambridge ESOL Skills for Life
Will I take an exam? ESOL & Numeracy Courses Entry 1-Level 2 You will work towards the Cambridge ESOL Skills for Life Qualification on your course. There are three exams:
Speaking & Listening
Reading
Writing
You will also work towards a City & Guilds Numeracy qualification. E3/L1 ESOL for Work Course You will work towards an English Speaking Board qualification. The exam includes Speaking, Listening, Reading & Writing.
Your teacher will decide which exams you are ready to take. Every student will take at least one ESOL exam.
During the year you will have tasks and tests to check your learning and progress. You must organise and file your work to show your learning and progress. Students who do not attend classes regularly or who are often late for class may lose their place on the course. If you have any special need in class or for exams, please let your teacher know at the beginning of the course. 5
Course Information: Part-time ESOL courses You can study English at these levels: Pre-Entry
Entry 1
Entry 2
Entry 3
Level 1
Level 2
You will have an interview and test at the beginning of the year to choose the correct course for you. Your tutor will also give you a test during your first week at college to check your language learning needs. Your tutor will check your progress regularly during the year and you will take at least one ESOL exam at the end of your course. If your tutor decides that you need a higher or lower level or a different course, you may have to change your class. If you need more help or advice about your courses you can make an appointment at Reception to come to an Advice and Guidance session but you should always speak to your teacher first. Types of Part-time Courses ESOL Pre-entry: Speaking, Listening, Reading & Writing. Students on this course do not take an exam. This course helps students with basic reading and writing especially. ESOL & Numeracy Entry 1-Level 2: Speaking, Listening, Reading & Writing, with Numeracy. All students on this course will take at least one ESOL exam at the end of the course – Speaking & Listening, Reading or Writing. If your teacher thinks that you are ready, you may be able to take more than one exam. Many Part-time students need more than one year to pass all the exams, especially reading and writing. Your teacher will give you tests during the year to check your progress and decide which exams you are ready to take. All students will also take a Numeracy exam. Your teacher will check your numeracy level and decide which exam is good for you (Entry 1-Level 2). E3/L1 ESOL for Work: Speaking, Listening, Reading & Writing. This course helps prepare students for using English in the workplace. There is an exam at the end of the year – your teacher will decide which level is right for you, E3 or L1.
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What do I need to bring?
You need:
a ring binder file dividers A4 paper pens, pencils and a rubber a notebook
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 and put it in your bag or pocket.
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. You will be able to see your ‘e-ILP’ on a computer – see page 15 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. 7
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. Your teacher will ask you to sign the Late Register – you will need to say why you are late.
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. You can find a form in every class room for you to fill in and give to your teacher before you are absent. 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, the date you are absent and why you are absent. Ask your teacher for the phone number and write it on page 3.
You must attend a minimum of 85% of the course. If you miss many classes, you may lose your place on the course. Also, if you do not 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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STUDENT ACTIVITIES & SPEAKERS TRIPS Students will have the opportunity to go on many trips during the year, such as: The British Museum The Victoria &Albert Museum The Natural History Museum St Albans Kenwood House Houses of Parliament And many more….
SPEAKERS Speakers will be invited to help you with life in the UK, such as: CAB (Citizens Advice Bureau) Voluntary Work Police (safety talk) Barnet Refugee Service
EVENTS There will also be many events during the year, where you can have a lot of fun, as well as learn English! Black History month… Story teller, African Drumming, and more… End of term parties Careers Fair to help you think about next year International Day Your suggestions are also welcome!
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About Grahame Park ......... Barnet College, Grahame Park, is easy to reach by train, underground or bus. There is also a large car park for students who drive, but please arrive early to make sure you can find a place. There are also many other facilities and services, such as:
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The Learning Centre which has excellent ESOL learning materials, including a large number of computers for the use of students.
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A Gym and Sports Hall – there are a number of sporting activities throughout the year.
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Good offers for haircuts and other treatments in the Hairdressing and Beauty Section.
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If you’re hungry, you can go to the Refectory for a hot meal or get a quick coffee and snack at the shop in the Students’ Common Area. Also, the Pavilion restaurant serves excellent food at set times during the term.
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Students can get help and advice about many different things like childcare and benefits at the Student Services Office. In addition, they can get guidance for their future study plans from the Careers Advisors.
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There is a crèche for young children but you must book early to get a place for your child.
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Look at the notice board for student activities organised for Grahame Park students. Your teacher will also give you details throughout the year.
FIRST AID & FIRE 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.
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Barnet College centres 
Grahame Park Centre, Colindale, NW9 5RA
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Wood Street Centre, Graseby House, High Street, Barnet, EN5 5UJ
There are Learning Centres at Grahame Park and Wood Street where you can borrow books and cassettes, 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 both centres.
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 250 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 term. Your teacher may ask your class to use computers in a lesson and you will need to know your password. Speak to the Learning Centre staff to book a computer there. 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 WEST website.
There are many websites to help you with your English including: www.english-grammar-lessons.com
www.esolcourses.com
www.englishbanana.com
www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise 12
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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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 possessions
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look after the College buildings and the equipment you use
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wear your ID card and never give it to anyone else
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show your face to security staff if you are asked to
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never do things which upset other people; do not be unkind to people about the way they look, their sex, their age, their beliefs
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not smoke in the College buildings
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not bring drugs and alcohol into the College
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keep the College clean and tidy
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only eat and drink at break time
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never cheat when you are doing tests or exams
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be careful and safe at College so you do not hurt yourself or others
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come to every class and arrive on time
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never use mobile phones where it might disturb other people
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use computers only to help you learn; do not use the Internet in a way which breaks the College IT rules.
If you break any of these rules you will be disciplined, you might have to leave the College. Signed by Student
Print name
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Signed by Tutor
Print Name
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Date
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ESOL Learning Agreement
` What we expect from you: Come to class every lesson. Come to class on time. 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. Look at your e-ILP and try to achieve the targets from your tutor.
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 one-to-one about your English.
We want you to feel happy learning English at Grahame Park. We want you to tell us if you are not happy!
We wish you success at Barnet College and hope you enjoy your course! 18
Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults
If you are worried about the safety or welfare of another student, or you do not feel safe yourself, there are staff in the college to help you. You can call  020 8266 4077 or click on the link below for more information. http://www.barnet.ac.uk/The-College/services-for-students/thesafeguarding-team
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Appendix
College Policies
Conduct for External assessments/tests
Absence & Punctuality
Disciplinary Procedures
Student Appeals Against the Assessment of Performance
The Role of the Personal Tutor and Tutorials
The Role of the Student Representative
Complaints Procedures
Additional Support
The Role of the Attendance Liaison Officer
UCAS Application Support
Fire Procedures
First Aid Procedures
All college student information can be accessed via this link
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