A2 Preparing for Academic English is a course for participants who have an A2 (Elementary) level of English and who aim to improve their language skills so that they can begin to use English in academic settings. The course is open to all students, researchers and staff from across the university; it is highly interactive and active student participation is required. This course can be taken individually or consecutively with: A2 Preparing for Academic English: Spring Semester. A2 Preparing for Academic English focuses on developing participants’ speaking, reading, writing and listening skills (integrated skills). Examples of tasks include: Speaking You will be able to practice your speaking skills in every lesson. For large parts of the lesson you will work in pairs or small groups, speaking in English together to complete tasks. You may also be asked to: - Give a 5 minute presentation
- Participate in small group discussions
- Participate in class debates
Reading We will use interesting academic texts, magazine articles (such as TIME magazine or The Economist) and internet articles to assist you to: - Identify the main purpose and relevant information of a range of texts
- Understand a range of academic terms
- Improve your note-taking skills
Writing Through writing activities, you will be introduced to grammar and vocabulary related to academic English. You will have the opportunity to develop your skills in writing sentences, paragraphs and different essay types. Listening We will use recordings from lectures and seminars to: - Develop your understanding of lectures & note-taking skills
- Develop your ability to understand seminar discussions
Activities will also include watching news reports, TED talks or other interesting video recordings in order to improve your listening skills. Assessment: Assessment is in the form of a learning portfolio, comprising of tasks which you will be asked to complete throughout the semester. The portfolio will help you to track your progress throughout the course. There is no final exam for this course. Attendance and regular participation in the course is compulsory. Two absences throughout the semester are permitted. |