This course is designed to help students familiarize themselves with academic English and develop the skills needed for excellence in tertiary education. Building on the transition from general English to academic equivalents, students will master language functions used to express particular notions, such as identifying cause and effect and comparing and contrasting numerical data and describing dynamic graphs. Other academic English skills, such as paraphrasing and summarizing, will also be covered. As critical thinking is essential for higher levels of study, students will not only learn to evaluate opinions through a critical lens, but also develop the reasoning skills required to construct coherent and effective argument essays. While the course places primary emphasis on writing, each lesson also includes dedicated speaking practice. These sessions incorporate idiomatic expressions and interactive activities designed to improve fluency and coherence, with a consistent focus on grammatical accuracy and pronunciation.

On completion of the course, students should be able to 1. write about numerical data with accuracy, identify main features in graphs and make comparisons where relevant with acquired vocabulary and linking phrases, 2. distinguish between the features of general and academic writing and apply proper academic language learned in class to organize their essays in a formal, coherent manner, 3. apply critical thinking techniques with confidence to examine opinions, views and arguments presented in texts, 4 generate, organize and produce critical argument writing of their own with a balanced view, 5. display the ability to incorporate idiomatic expressions in speaking in an academic context and plan their responses efficiently to give a successful talk.

No textbook is required, but handouts and supplementary materials will be provided by the instructor.

References:
1. John Morley (2023), Academic Phrasebank. The University of Manchester. https://www.phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk/
2. Academic English Website for International Teachers and Students. Academic English UK. https://academic-englishuk.com/
3. Cottrell, S. (2011) Critical Thinking Skills (2nd ed.) Palgrave Macmillan.
4. Jordan, R. R. (1999) Academic Writing Course (3rd ed.) Pearson Education Limited