Fontys Marketing Eindhoven

Pre course

For students who want to start with one of our Bachelor Courses, but who do not have the required IELTS or TOEFL score, Fontys offers a so-called pre-course of 5 months.

The focus of the pre course is on practicing and improving language skills to ensure that the required level of IELTS 6.0 can be attained by the students who come from a variety of countries and different educational systems. The pre course at the same time aims to make students aware of the basic concepts of the course they wish to follow and of relevant social and cultural aspects of European and Dutch society. The aim of the pre course is twofold:

• To ensure that foreign students have a command of English equivalent to the minimum standard required for following English language courses at the level of Higher Education. Foreign students will be required to follow an intensive course in English, to ensure that the level of IELTS 6.0 is attained.
• To ensure that foreign students are made aware of relevant social and cultural aspects of both European and more specifically, Dutch society.

Entry requirements
Foreign students must have successfully completed at least a secondary or higher education. For the pre course students must have a score of:

* only if the units 'Speaking and Writing' and 'Listening and Reading' have passed successfully

Admission to the pre course will be permitted only if official proof of this level has been attained and can be provided three months before start of the pre course. If a foreign student has passed the test as arranged by an expert from Fontys University in a participating country, or can provide certification from an independent testing authority, this will be accepted as official proof.

The pre course includes the following subjects:
English language
The context of learning will be communication in a wide range of situations, to develop the general language skills of all participating students. Although the basic approach is to develop communicative skills in an integrated way, the lessons are divided into two areas-those which concentrate on reading and writing skills and those which concentrate on oral and listening skills.

Listening and oral skills will be developed using Web quests. This course is aimed at improving a number of language skills with the help of media facilities. Using internet and a Web quest CD ROM, students work in teams. Web quests focus on teamwork and searching for relevant information on the internet. This is then compiled into a written report and a presentation.

There is also an additional section on developing listening skills. This comprises of short conversations, in both business and social English, and answering questions based upon the information you hear.

Presentation skills
Students learn the techniques of doing effective presentations and how to incorporate the English language effectively into their presentations. The course shows what makes a speaker sound dynamic and enthusiastic. It teaches to identify and organize the key words and phrases typical for a presentation, and how to make visuals work for you. A large part is dedicated to the use of grammar, with emphasis on phrasal verbs. It provides language skills from the introduction to the very end of any of your presentations.

Social Studies
This course focuses on the Dutch system of (underlying) values and norms in the present-day social, cultural and economic framework. The course consists of different units. Each unit focuses on a particular aspect of (Dutch) society and is divided into four sections. The first three sections cover reading, listening and speaking. The final section always deals with writing and/or Internet. Vocabulary sections appear in appropriate parts of all sections. The first sessions deal with different themes of Dutch society. The last sessions: presentations by students.

Exam training
In addition to the general language skills, the student will receive specific training to prepare thoroughly for the final IELTS test.

IELTS test
At the end of the precourse an official IELTS examination will be arranged by Fontys Foreign Language Centre. If a score of 6.0 is achieved then the student can be admitted to the bachelor's degree programme of IBMS.

IELTS tests the complete range of English language skills which will commonly be encountered by students when studying or training in the medium of English. All candidates take the same Listening and Speaking modules. Future students of IBMS are required to take the test in Academic Training Reading and Writing Modules.

Working Methods
A variety of working methods will be employed, with emphasis being placed on independent learning. Most of the allotted time will be devoted to tutorials. Foreign students will be required to work both independently and as part of a team with other students.

Duration and period

*Including all educational subjects and materials; excluding accommodation, insurance and living expenses.