Historical Background
The English Language Department has a holistic program which develops all the subfields of the English language, such as linguistics, literature, translation, and language teaching. It aims to provide the students with theory and sufficient practice in all the mentioned subfields. The Department started with three staff members and seven students, and has been welcoming students coming from various cultures, faiths, and backgrounds to join its study programs in an environment of tolerance and academic excellence. The Department now has ten experienced faculty members with more than 50 students. Since its establishment in 2015, the English Language Department has strived to attain the best results in evolving academic and pedagogical traditions. Over the years, the department has developed its curricula to meet the evolving demands of both local and international job labor, integrating modern teaching methodologies and technology-enhanced learning, including the two labs that are available for the practical classes.
Currently, with a dedicated team of experienced faculty members, the Department continues to contribute to the university’s mission of academic excellence and social development. The staff members also have good research contributions, publications, and academic collaborations with local institutes and universities. The students are always very keen to take part in scientific, social and cultural events. Finally, the Department provides a recognized BA degree in English language and linguistics, and so far, four cohorts of students have graduated.
Mission
The English Language Department equips students from diverse backgrounds with the knowledge and command of foundational learning and basic research skills in linguistics, literature, language teaching, and translation. It also focuses on the skills and abilities valuable in the industry to cope with labor market needs at the local and national levels. Consequently, students will demonstrate ethical leadership and hold the capabilities to be agents of positive change in education, media, translation, and beyond. The English Language Department also supports the enhancement of English language skills in all other departments at CUE.
Vision
The English Language Department at the Catholic University in Erbil aims to be a strong academic unit through meaningful academic and research collaboration, both locally and internationally, to expand student and faculty exchange opportunities, and to become an accredited center for international English language exams, positioning the department as a dynamic and forward-looking academic presence.
Program Learning Objectives
- Demonstrate a basic understanding of key concepts in linguistics, apply them to analyze language structures, use, and change in different contexts, and begin to design and conduct small-scale research projects in linguistics and pedagogy.
- Analyze and interpret English and American literary texts using selected literary theories, with attention to historical, social, and cultural contexts; and describe the basic principles of literary research and its relevance to cultural and societal issues.
- Understand and apply foundational English language teaching methods, and develop basic skills in designing lesson plans that respond to the diverse needs of learners and different educational contexts.
- Develop foundational skills in translating texts between English and another language using context-sensitive linguistic and cultural strategies, and identify features of translation quality such as accuracy, appropriateness, and purpose.
- Communicate ideas clearly and effectively in English, both in speech and writing, using appropriate structure, vocabulary, and tone for academic and professional settings; and explain key concepts related to intercultural communication, critical thinking, and multilingualism.
Student Learning Opportunities
Students in the English Language Department have the opportunity to conduct research sometime before their fourth stage by taking part in a research training session. Students in the third stage have the chance to take the Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC), which is an international business test intended to improve students’ professional English skills. Students are also offered the opportunity to participate in a cultural exchange initiative approved by the Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program (IYLEP) and take an Italian online language course organized by the Italian Embassy in collaboration with CUE.
Curricula
| First Term | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | M Code | Module Title | ECTS |
| 1 | EN1101 | Grammar 1 | 5.00 |
| 2 | IT1206 | Computer Skills | 5.00 |
| 3 | IR1104 | Academic Debate | 4.00 |
| 4 | IR1105A | Kurdish Language | 4.00 |
| IR1105B | Kurdish Studies | ||
| 5 | EN1102 | English Phonetics | 6.00 |
| 6 | EN1103 | Listening Comprehension and Guided Conversation 1 | 6.00 |
| Total: 30.00 | |||
| Second Term | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | M Code | Module Title | ECTS |
| 1 | EN1201 | Reading Comprehension and Precis Writing | 5.00 |
| 2 | EN1202 | Introduction to English Literature | 5.00 |
| 3 | EN1203 | Pronunciation in Practice | 5.00 |
| 4 | EN1204 | Grammar 2 | 5.00 |
| 5 | EN1205 | Paragraph Writing | 5.00 |
| 6 | EN1206 | Listening Comprehension and Guided Conversation 2 | 5.00 |
| Total: 30.00 | |||
| First Term | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | M Code | Module Title | ECTS |
| 1 | EN2301 | Short Story | 5.00 |
| 2 | EN2302 | Grammar 3 | 5.00 |
| 3 | EN2303 | Guided Composition | 5.00 |
| 4 | EN2304 | Comprehension and vocab | 5.00 |
| 5 | EN2305 | Phonology | 5.00 |
| 6 | EN2306 | French Language (Level 1) | 5.00 |
| Total: 30.00 | |||
| Second Term | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | M Code | Module Title | ECTS |
| 1 | EN2401 | 17th, 18th & 19th century Novel | 5.00 |
| 2 | EN2402 | Renaissance Poetry | 5.00 |
| 3 | EN2403 | Psychology | 5.00 |
| 4 | EN2404 | Phonology | 5.00 |
| 5 | EN2405 | French Language (Level 2) | 5.00 |
| 6 | EN2406 | Elective | 5.00 |
| Total: 30.00 | |||
| First Term | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | M Code | Module Title | ECTS |
| 1 | EN3501 | English Drama from its Origin to 1900 | 5.00 |
| 2 | IR3502 | Research Methods | 5.00 |
| 3 | EN3503 | Translation English into Arabic | 5.00 |
| 4 | EN3504 | Contrastive Grammar | 5.00 |
| 5 | EN3505 | French Language ( Level 3) | 5.00 |
| 6 | EN3506 | Elective | 5.00 |
| Total: 30.00 | |||
| Second Term | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | M Code | Module Title | ECTS |
| 1 | EN3601 | 18th & 19th century Poetry | 5.00 |
| 2 | EN3602 | Translation Arabic into English | 5.00 |
| 3 | EN3603 | Linguistics I | 5.00 |
| 4 | EN3604 | Teaching Methodologies | 5.00 |
| 5 | EN3605 | History of Language | 5.00 |
| 6 | EN3606 | French Language ( Level 4) | 5.00 |
| Total: 30.00 | |||
| First Term | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | M Code | Module Title | ECTS |
| 1 | EN4701 | Modern Novel | 5.00 |
| 2 | EN4702 | Modern Poetry | 5.00 |
| 3 | EN4703 | Literary Criticism I | 5.00 |
| 4 | EN4704 | Linguistics II | 5.00 |
| 5 | EN4705 | Translation and Application | 5.00 |
| 6 | EN4706 | Elective | 5.00 |
| Total: 30.00 | |||
| Second Term | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | M Code | Module Title | ECTS |
| 1 | EN4801 | Modern Drama | 4.00 |
| 2 | EN4802 | Post*Modern Literature | 4.00 |
| 3 | EN4803 | Literary Criticism II | 4.00 |
| 4 | EN4804 | Applied Linguistics | 5.00 |
| 5 | EN4805 | Consecutive and Simultaneous Translation | 5.00 |
| 6 | EN4806 | Research Project | 8.00 |
| Total: 30.00 | |||
Class Schedule
Access the official weekly timetable for the English Language Department at CUE. Please download the PDF below to view detailed information about courses, lecture halls, and session timings.