2021 UNNC International Curriculum Research Learning Class

09 July 2021

In July, thick green leaves shade, wind blows the surface of the water, and cicadas start chirping. All life, living things and youth are especially vigorous in July. UNNC welcomed a group of young visitors on July 4th - 59 students from the Affiliated High School to the University of Nottingham Ningbo China.


With the heatwave and the scorching sun, the two-week UNNC International Curriculum Research Learning Class was carried out smoothly with the joint efforts of teachers and students. This programme aims at improving students' English abilities, IELTS skills, and learning skills. The programme had fun lessons and targeted assignments to improve students' English language skills, to help students improve their IELTS and learning ability.

In the afternoon of July 4th, the students entered the campus and settled themselves down to learn. Under the guidance of the teaching assistants, they had a campus tour around the beautiful campus of UNNC.

A welcome dinner buffet was provided at M&N Restaurant. Students enjoyed delicious and nutritious dishes such as including pastries, sushi, pasta, fruit, vegetables, fish, and chicken.

The opening ceremony was held in the International Conference Centre in the first evening. Simon Attwood, the Academic Principal of AHS, began his speech with a vivid story to illustrate the help that a school can provide to students and how students can get the help appropriately and set sail in their future life. Subsequently, the leaders of the Affiliated High School also emphasised the moral education.

On the following day, the UNNC International Curriculum Research Learning Class officially started. Before the course, the teachers evaluated the students' strengths and weaknesses through the placement test, and then conducted personalised teaching, so as to provide targeted guidance in the subsequent courses to help students enhance their strengths and improve the weaknesses.

After intensive online testing, students were divided into three classes for small-class teaching. Small-class teaching can better provide personalised teaching guidance and targeted feedback as well as oral practice simulation and guidance.

During the first week from 5th to 9th July, students would wake up around 7 a.m. every day to have meals in an orderly manner. They start the day with practicing English listening from 8:20 in the morning.

The morning session focuses on IELTS, including speaking, listening, reading, composition, and course summary. It mainly exercises students' English learning skills which are targeted in the four sections of IELTS to improve students' test skills. This aspect of the curriculum is conducive to students to lay a solid foundation for IELTS testing, and to cultivate good English learning habits so that students can adapt to the future learning life more quickly. Students will understand their shortcomings and advantages, and can be more targeted in exercising and systematic learning.

The afternoon sessions focus on learning skills to enrich students' learning strategies and enhance their learning ability. The learning content is rich and interesting, including employability, critical thinking, learning styles, creative learning, intercultural communication, learning motivation, time management, academic writing, and active reading. According to the conversations with the students, the afternoon sessions are very interesting and attractive. The teachers are experienced and good at guiding students. They are very patient in teaching, encouraging students to participate actively.

Accompanied and guided by teachers, the self-study also went very smoothly, which mainly focused on the expansion of vocabulary and consolidation of fundamental knowledge that is learnt so far. Through some interesting games, students increase vocabulary and strengthen memory. Evening self-study sessions are for IELTS learning skills, reading, and content learning skills, and other courses.

The overall content is rewarding and the study is enjoyable. Students are learning while thinking while gaining employability with interesting learning activities. In addition to learning, the summer course also allows students to experience the variety of the life in a British style university, accessing to a different way of learning, and at the same time to develop the ability of independent learning.