CENTER FOR ENGLISH AND SOFT SKILLS
"Empower One's Potential and Develop New Skills for a Better Professional Individual"
The Center for English and Soft Skills (CESS) provides coaching to all, especially international students who need to improve their English language skills before beginning and during academic course work.
It also serves individuals who are not seeking a degree at UTK ISIC but want to improve their English and other Soft skills. Such students can apply directly to CESS.
CESS is aimed at students and professionals wishing to improve their level and learn soft skills like Research Writing, Classroom Teaching, Leadership, Public Speaking, Decision Making, Stress Management, Human resources, Interpersonal Skills & more.
CESS is also the Center to contact for our university partners abroad who want their students to experience education in an international setting. Therefore, in whatever program, be it as a sit-in, exchange student, short-course training, or workshops in any of your desired topics ranging from culture, religion, economics, medicine, or whatever disciplines, the center provides expert professors that suit all your needs.
Our classes are taught by well-qualified, approachable, experienced teachers in a friendly and supportive classroom environment. In addition, our tutors will do everything they can to ensure that your studies with us are productive and relevant to your academic and professional needs.
As recognized as a universal language, English is increasingly becoming the language of higher education and the international workplace. However, 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 listening, negotiation, persuasion, presentation, and writing skills.
Employers in many parts of the world seek confident individuals capable of using their soft skills to participate effectively in teams, persuade others, present their ideas, and develop and maintain meaningful relationships. English and Soft Skills courses, training, and coaching at CESS will help you develop these critical skills and contribute to your academic and long-term career success.
CESS tutors are also there to assist you in your academic and professional requirements to aim solely toward your success.
Essential Soft Skills in English is designed for:
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- students who want to be better prepared for their university career
- individuals who want to develop communication skills to enhance employability
- employees who want to improve workplace performance
- individuals who want to extend their qualifications and build additional transferable skills in English
- individuals who want to network with individuals from around the world and have 4-5 hours per week to devote to their personal and professional skill development
- students who have a good intermediate level of English
I. English Proficiency Test
Our Center caters to English Proficiency Test students who are Non-native to the English language and wish to enroll in our ISIC postgraduate international programs. We use the CEFR standard (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages). The six reference English levels are widely accepted as the global standard for grading an individual’s language proficiency.
English language levels description:
- English Basic User (A1, A2)
- A1 (Beginner)
- A2 (Elementary English)
- English Independent User (B1, B2)
- B1 (Intermediate English)
- B2 (Upper-Intermediate English)
- Proficient English User (C1, C2)
- C1 (Advanced English)
- C2 (Proficiency English)
Whereby postgraduate students must at least be in B2 level. If a student fails to meet the required score, the student has to take the corresponding English for Academic Purposes courses.
II. English for Academic Purpose Program
EAP (English for Academic Purposes) refers to the language and associated practices students need to undertake learning in the English channel of higher education. The objective of an EAP course is to help students learn linguistic skills and cultural knowledge – mainly institutional and disciplinary – practices involved in studying or working through the English language.
Language skills addressed include listening cognition, fluency development, oral clarity, reading, grammar, writing, and vocabulary development.
Academic study skills addressed include test-taking and note-taking skills, academic vocabulary usage, critical reading and writing, comprehending academic lectures, research and library skills, proper composition forms, and development, including research papers.
EAP COURSES:
- EAP Thesis Writing for Graduate Studies
- EAP Oral Presentation Skills
- EAP Speaking and Writing for Professional Purposes
- EAP Language and Communication
- EAP Writing for Academic Purpose II
- EAP Essential English Grammar for Graduate Studies
- EAP Listening and Speaking for Graduate Studies
- EAP Reading/Writing for Graduate Studies
III. Research Writing and Publication Assistance
All students who experience challenges doing graduate work in English are encouraged to seek assistance from the ISIC Center for English and Soft Skills (CESS).
Research Services offered by the Center are as follows:
Turnitin Check/ Plagiarism Check
Writing Structure and Grammar Editing (Proofreading)
Format Editing
Proceeding Publication
International Journal Scopus index
IV. Soft Skills Course, Training, and Workshop
Soft skills incorporate personality traits, communication and people skills, social attitudes, and emotional intelligence. These qualities (also known as ‘core skills’) are increasingly crucial for success in the workplace – and not just for those in leadership positions. As a result, everyone can benefit from some focused training and development to help them realize their full potential.
Individuals, schools, colleges, and universities can contact our Center and propose the desired courses to learn in any field, whether in Management, Education, Culture, or Religion; in other words, we cater to ALL. Our Center will provide the venue and the professor that best fits your needs and specifications.
V. Other Academic Services
Sit-in Classes / Summer Cultural / English Camp – students from other universities can join ISIC classes to experience an international academic environment without credit. Students will be awarded certificates after completion of the program.
Exchange Students / Transfer Credit – students can study with ISIC in any course offered by the institute. This is graded and credited to UTK Credit Bank. Students will be awarded a Certificate of Accomplishment and UTK Transcript of Records.
