In-sessional English courses

Improving your skills

Derby English Language Centre (DELC) provides free, in-session, language classes to help you perform better in your studies. You can take them at any point during your time at Derby, whether you are studying on an undergraduate degree or a masters course.

These sessions will boost your academic English skills and build your confidence. We can support you to give better presentations, improve your academic writing skills, help you to produce reports, essays and literature reviews or provide help with speaking and listening skills.

Sessions are delivered every week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. The courses are made up of blocks of four to six sessions. Courses run throughout the two semesters to help you fully develop your skills.

Certificates are available on completion of each course. These courses are available for international students and any student whose first language is not English. Free drop-in sessions for help with assignments and coursework can be booked in on Monday afternoons.

Book your place on our in-sessional English courses

Speaking and writing courses

The content of our speaking courses includes language foundations, pronunciation, seminar skills and presentation skills. We offer two courses on speaking:

  • Pronunciation and enunciation
  • Seminar skills and presentation skills

We offer courses at two levels: Introductory Academic Writing and Advanced Academic Writing.

Introductory Academic Writing

The content of these courses includes referencing, citation, paraphrasing skills, improving academic vocabulary and writing style, writing structure, common grammar errors and developing a critical voice.

Advanced Academic Writing and Independent Study Support

Content will include further development of referencing and citation, paraphrasing, academic vocabulary and style, as well as further developing a critical voice and style, and writing abstracts and sections of your research report.

Class timetable

On campus, face to face at Kedleston Road, starting week commencing 6 February 2023:

Class What you'll learn When and where
An introduction to Academic Writing Looks at the basics of referencing, cohesion, paraphrasing etc Tuesdays at 9am -11am in E605 or Wednesdays 1-3pm in E620
Advanced Academic Writing Looks more at criticality and parts of a dissertation Thursdays at 1pm - 3pm in E605
English for Conversation Improve fluency and spontaneity of your spoken interactions through informal chat and discussion Tuesdays at 1pm - 3pm in N101

Online, starting week commencing 6 February 2023:

Class What you'll learn When
An introduction to Academic Writing Looks at the basics of referencing, cohesion, paraphrasing etc Wednesdays at 10am - 12pm
Advanced Academic Writing Looks more at criticality and parts of a dissertation Fridays at 10am - 12pm
English for Conversation Improve fluency and spontaneity of your spoken interactions through informal chat and discussion Mondays 10am - 12pm

Drop in sessions are also available for individual support on Fridays at 1-2pm. For more information, email englishsupport@derby.ac.uk 

Book your place

Register your interest for our in-sessional English language courses by filling out our form.

Book onto our in-sessional English courses