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Welcome to Leeds Insessional

Insessional teaching is based in the Language Centre at the University of Leeds Our English for Academic Purposes (EAP) teaching is now embedded across a wide range of Schools in all Faculties in the University, with EAP academics collaborating with colleagues in other disciplines to support students in developing their understanding of disciplinary academic discourse and literacy requirements. We also work with learning advisors in the library to support all taught students and with the Doctoral College and academic development team to support research students and researchers. 

Collaboration within Schools

Language Centre specialists work with colleagues in Schools to unpack the linguistic development processes in learning tasks, uncovering the language knowledge and literacy expertise students need to engage with them successfully - and how these are supported within the design of the curriculum. This can involve co-design of:

Language Centre lecturers routinely work with subject specialists across faculties to:

  • Create academic language and literacy courses tailored to the subject, e.g. weekly classes.
  • Facilitate assessment specific workshops.
  • Provide 1:1 and/or small group consultations based on various referral models.
  • Design online resources for modules.
  • Facilitate genre-specific writing workshops (thesis, report, literature review, etc).
  • Facilitate writing retreats.
  • Deliver more general academic language development sessions, i.e. not module or assignment specific.
  • Offer staff workshops on developing academic literacies within the discipline.

The type of provision and nature of the collaboration influences the most appropriate funding model. This can include secondments of varying workload, being written into modules and consultation models, for example.

English for Academic Purposes

EAP teaching, and insessional teaching in particular, is generally hidden from public view.  This website aims to highlight the importance of this work, and of language and language development for all students, by sharing our practices and scholarship within the EAP community and also more broadly across Higher Education.  Please do engage with us by sharing and commenting on Our Writing, following our X account and emailing us with questions, suggestions and ideas for further collaboration.  

To discuss insessional provision in your University of Leeds School or Faculty, contact Director of Insessional Michelle Evans.  The Southwest Jiaotong-Leeds Joint School Language Centre Director is Joanne Shiel.