Academic English
Prepare for study in English with the skills universities expect.
About this course
Prepare for study in English with the skills universities expect. This course develops academic reading, listening and note-taking, essay writing, use of sources and seminar participation.
You will learn to read critically, plan and structure essays, paraphrase and summarise accurately, reference sources consistently and avoid plagiarism. You will also practise the formal, cautious style of academic writing and contribute confidently to discussions and short presentations. You finish with an Alalamia certificate.
What you'll learn
- Read academic texts efficiently, identifying main arguments and supporting evidence
- Take effective notes from lectures and reading
- Plan and write well-structured academic essays
- Paraphrase, summarise and quote sources accurately to avoid plagiarism
- Apply a standard referencing style consistently
- Use formal academic vocabulary and hedging language appropriately
- Participate in seminars, presenting and defending a position
Curriculum
- Features of academic language
- Academic vocabulary
- Formality and objectivity
- Independent study skills
- Skimming and scanning
- Identifying argument and evidence
- Critical reading
- Strategies for long texts
- How lectures are structured
- Signposting language
- Note-taking methods
- Reviewing and organising notes
- Analysing the question
- Writing a thesis statement
- Paragraph structure
- Introductions and conclusions
- Paraphrasing
- Summarising
- Quoting accurately
- Avoiding plagiarism
- In-text citations
- Reference lists
- Common referencing styles
- Managing references
- Hedging and caution
- Cohesion and linking
- Nominalisation
- Editing and proofreading
- Contributing to discussions
- Agreeing and challenging politely
- Short academic presentations
- Responding to questions
Who it's for
Students and graduates preparing to study, research or publish in English.
Before you start
- An upper-intermediate level of English, around CEFR B1 to B2, is recommended.
Prepares for
Part of these Alalamia diplomas
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