Frequently Asked Questions

Academic Skills in English I (ENG 101)

ENG 101 is a compulsory course for first-year students. This course is designed to develop the academic language skills undergraduate students need to succeed across their degree programmes. The course equips students to read critically, write structured academic arguments, synthesise evidence from multiple sources, and engage with complex ideas in English. By grounding skills development in professionally relevant and intellectually challenging source texts, the course prepares students not only for ENG 102 but for the full range of academic communication demands they will encounter throughout their studies and careers.

On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

- summarise the main argument of an academic source accurately and concisely in their own words.

- paraphrase ideas from academic sources by rephrasing and restructuring the original wording and applying APA in-text citation conventions correctly.

- synthesise evidence from two or more sources to produce an analytical claim that none of the individual sources makes on its own.

- compose a structured academic argument paragraph (claim, evidence, explanation, counterargument, rebuttal) and a full essay introduction.

- engage in academic discussion using structured strategies, including building on others’ ideas, expressing disagreement cautiously, and asking substantive analytical questions.

- manage their own writing process through self-revision using a three-level framework (argument, structure, clarity) and organising their portfolio.

- use digital and AI tools responsibly, applying critical evaluation skills to distinguish supported from unsupported claims in any source.

- reflect on their own learning by identifying specific changes in understanding and setting forward-looking development goals.

Academic Skills in English II (ENG 102)

ENG 102 is a compulsory course for first-year students. It aims to develop students’ academic reading, listening, writing and speaking skills. Students develop their academic listening and reading skills by listening for important and relevant information in lectures or discussions, reading current academic texts, and using this information to complete learning tasks. The speaking component focuses on academic presentations and expressing ideas coherently and persuasively. Writing activities reinforce the speaking component.

On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

- identify explicitly stated and/or implied points of view in academic texts.

- recognize the relationships between ideas in academic texts.

- conduct research using a variety of academic sources.

- summarize information from an academic source.

- paraphrase an academic idea.

- quote from an academic source.

- synthesize information from a variety of academic sources.

- give oral presentations on an academic topic.

- write texts on an academic topic presenting their own views.

 Technical English for Engineers (ENG 210)

ENG 210 is a compulsory course for second-year students in the Faculty of Engineering. The course develops students’ technical writing and speaking skills through participation in project work. It focuses on language appropriate to technical texts, technical report writing, summarizing and preparing project proposals.

On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

use appropriate structure, grammar and vocabulary to prepare different types of engineering documents for audiences within and outside the field.

give clear and understandable technical instructions.

follow technical instructions.

quote appropriately to support a logical argument without plagiarism.

communicate effectively across disciplines within engineering.

prepare a scientific document on a technical topic as part of a team.

deliver a presentation on a scientific topic using appropriate terminology.

Essential Speaking Skills (ENG 310)

ENG 310 is a compulsory/elective course for third- and fourth-year students. It is designed to help students express themselves more effectively in academic and professional contexts. The course includes short presentations and debates on academic and professional topics.

On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

- speak more confidently and fluently.

- participate in informal and formal discussions effectively.

- participate in short role-play activities on academic and professional topics.

- respond to others’ opinions and provide relevant feedback.

- organise their thoughts coherently and in a structured way.

- give short oral presentations in specified formats.

English for Career Development (ENG 410)

ENG 410 is a compulsory/elective course for third- and fourth-year students. It covers the full job and postgraduate study application processes to prepare students for applications after graduation. Through activities that develop self-awareness, students explore their personality traits, strengths and career goals. Students learn to use professional networks effectively and review job advertisements carefully to identify those that match their career interests. They analyse and explain strategies for developing key workplace skills and create tailored career documents for specific job advertisements, using digital tools responsibly. Throughout the course, students develop communication skills for job interviews and follow-up interactions and explore key concepts and themes relevant to today’s professional environments.

On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

- describe their personality traits, strengths, and career goals professionally.

- explain strategies to develop skills by identifying key workplace competencies.

- utilise professional networking platforms strategically to build a personal brand.

- analyse job advertisements to assess how closely they align with their personal career plans.

- create tailored career documents for specific job postings using digital tools responsibly.

- discuss key factors shaping the contemporary world of work.

- use effective communication strategies during job interviews and follow-up interactions.

Students can obtain an exemption from ENG 101 and/or ENG 102 in two ways. 

Students who have completed compulsory English preparatory education and achieved an end-of-Pre-Department Programme assessment score of 80 or above are exempt from ENG 101 and ENG 102. The exemption is awarded with a letter grade corresponding to that assessment score, pursuant to IUE’s “Regulation for Associate and Undergraduate Degree Education and Examinations” and “Faculty of Medicine Education and Examination Bylaw”. 

Students who have successfully completed a similar course in an associate or undergraduate degree programme at another university, and whose course content is deemed appropriate, are exempt with a letter grade corresponding to the achievement score they submit, pursuant to the “Regulation for Associate and Undergraduate Degree Education and Examinations” and  “Faculty of Medicine Education and Examination Bylaw”.

Attendance in ENG courses is compulsory under the conditions specified in IUE guidelines.

Yes. ENG 101 and ENG 102 are separate courses. Students who take ENG 101 in the autumn semester and fail it can take ENG 102 in the spring semester.

ENG courses may be offered in the summer, depending on student demand and registration numbers. If you are interested in taking summer courses, please follow the announcements and complete your registration on time.

Yes. You can request a section change through the Student Information System (SIS) during the add-drop period, usually the first two weeks of the semester. The change is subject to your advisor’s approval and available places in the section you wish to join.

Yes. Each instructor sets aside two hours per week for office hours to help students and announces these hours during the first week of classes. You can visit your instructor during these hours to ask questions about the course or lessons you have missed.