English is increasingly becoming the language of higher education and the international workplace. Successful communication involves more than the ability to speak English; additional soft skills are required for people to be effective communicators in professional settings.
Soft skills, also known as interpersonal skills, are different from technical skills or competencies. Examples of soft skills include team building, listening, negotiation, persuasion, presentation, and writing skills. Employers in many parts of the world seek confident individuals who are capable of using their soft skills to participate effectively in teams, persuade others, present their ideas, and develop and maintain important relationships. A common complaint of employers and educators is a lack of soft skills in candidates.
The Essential Soft Skills in English courses will help students develop these important skills and contribute to both their academic and long-term career success. These soft skills, and the ability to apply them in English, are becoming increasingly important in the global marketplace and within higher education around the world. This course is for students who want to improve their English, and add the skills that employers are seeking to their resume!
NOTE: there are currently no scheduled offerings of ESSE courses; if you are a current or prospective Renison ELI partner and you are interested in offering ESSE courses to your students, please contact eli@uwaterloo.ca.
How students learn
These courses combine traditional reading, writing, and speaking with interactive new media to promote student learning. Students will experience both real-time classes and self-directed study in a dynamic online learning environment.
In these courses, students will:
- participate in live classes online with instructors and students
- complete multimedia assignments
- participate in discussions and group-work with other students in an online environment
- engage in a vibrant, virtual student experience that allows students to apply their communication skills
- receive feedback from instructors on all assignments
- complete final assignments and a multiple choice quiz
- receive a transcript at the end of each course
Course materials are created with consideration for students whose first language is not English. Students will have the opportunity to engage with material in a written or video format (with subtitles) and, at their own pace, check any unfamiliar vocabulary in advance of live classes.
In addition, a live orientation session with the instructor is held on the first day of each course.
Essential Soft Skills in English is designed for:
Students who...
- want to be better prepared for their university career
- want to develop communication skills to enhance employability
- want to improve workplace performance
- want to extend their qualifications and build additional transferable skills in English
- want to network with individuals and have 5-6 hours per week to devote to their personal and professional skill development
- have a good intermediate level of English
To participate in the Essential Soft Skills in English courses it is advised that students have a good intermediate level of English. This would be a B1, or higher, level of English on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). This means that students can do all of the statements in the following table.
CEFR Level B1 |
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Listening |
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Reading |
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Speaking |
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Writing |
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NOTE: No English language test score is required to register for Essential Soft Skills in English. Students are responsible for determining their suitability to take a course. If you have a question about the language level of the courses, please email eli@uwaterloo.ca