ANUL I
Cluj-Napoca
2013
CRISTINA FELEA
E-mail: cristina.felea@portalid.ubbcluj.ro
Website: www. https://portal.portalid.ubbcluj.ro/
English for Academic Purposes
Contents
Course overview 7
Unit 1 15
Millennials Go to University. Why Learn English at the Uni?........................................15
Introduction............................................................................................................15
1.1 Welcome to the Uni!.........................................................................................16
1.1.1 Presentation..........................................................................................16
1.1.2 Skills for Successful learners...............................................................17
1.2 Reasons to Learn English.................................................................................17
1.2.1 Presentation..........................................................................................17
1.2.2 Study Skills: Diagnose your English...................................................18
1.2.3 Discussion: Importance of Languages.................................................18
Unit summary..................................................................................................................18
Assignment 1: Digital Nation..........................................................................................19
Assessment: Student Survey............................................................................................19
Language Toolbox...........................................................................................................19
Unit 2 20
Searching is a Trick You Can learn..................................................................................20
Introduction............................................................................................................20
2.1 The Good, the Bad and the Ugly......................................................................21
2.1.1 Take Notes and Answer Quizzes.........................................................21
2.2 Searching and Evaluating Web Resources.......................................................22
2.2.1 Learning How to Search on the Web: Social Work.............................23
2.2.2 Learning How to Search on the Web: English Language Resources...23
2.2.3 Study Skills. Learning to be an Independent Learner..........................24
ii Error! No text of specified style in document.
Unit summary..................................................................................................................24
Assignment 2: Searching on the Web – English Learning Resources.............................25
Unit 3 27
Pathways to Success. Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish............................................................27
Introduction............................................................................................................27
3.1 What Is in a Career? Steve Jobs’ Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish...........................28
3.1.1 Presentation: Watch and Listen............................................................28
3.1.2 Reading Comprehension......................................................................28
3.2 The Social Challenge: What Social Impression Do You Make?......................29
3.2.1 Creating an efficient resume/CV.........................................................29
3.2.2 Study Skills: Managing Your Time......................................................29
Unit summary..................................................................................................................30
Assignment 3: Create a CV.............................................................................................31
Self-Assessment...............................................................................................................31
Unit 4 33
Academic Reading...........................................................................................................33
Introduction............................................................................................................33
4.1 Are You an Efficient Reader?...........................................................................34
4.1.1 Presentation..........................................................................................34
4.1.2 Text Features........................................................................................34
4.2 Developing Your Reading Strategies...............................................................34
4.2.1 How good are your reading strategies.................................................34
4.2.2 Reading Tutorials.................................................................................35
Unit summary..................................................................................................................35
Assignment 4: Reading Practice......................................................................................35
Self-Assessment...............................................................................................................36
Unit 5 37
Learning (Academic) Vocabulary....................................................................................37
Introduction............................................................................................................37
5.1 Learning Academic Vocabulary. Tips and Tricks.............................................38
5.1.1 Presentation..........................................................................................38
5.1.2 What are your dictionary habits? - Survey..........................................38
5.2 Practice Building Academic Vocabulary..........................................................38
5.2.1 Assess your vocabulary........................................................................38
5.2.2 Building academic vocabulary............................................................39
5.2.3 Study Skills: Plan your vocabulary study............................................39
Unit summary..................................................................................................................39
Assignment 5: Working actively your vocabulary..........................................................40
Self-Assessment...............................................................................................................40
Unit 6 41
Listening Skills................................................................................................................41
Introduction............................................................................................................41
English for Academic Purposes
Unit 7 45
Oral Presentations: Are They Such a Headache?............................................................45
Introduction............................................................................................................45
7.1 What’s In a Good Presentation?.......................................................................46
7.2 Presentation Tips and Tricks............................................................................46
7.2.1 Presentation..........................................................................................46
Unit summary..................................................................................................................47
Assignment 7: Create an oral presentation......................................................................47
Unit 8 49
To Speak or Not to Speak?..............................................................................................49
Introduction............................................................................................................49
8.1 Verbal Communication.....................................................................................50
8.1.1 Taboo or not taboo?.............................................................................50
8.2 Improving Your Conversational Skills – Tips and Advice...............................50
8.2.1 Building a list of conversation topics..................................................50
8.2.2 Improve your conversational English..................................................51
Unit summary..................................................................................................................52
Assignment 8: Listening and Speaking Practice.............................................................52
Self-Assessment...............................................................................................................53
References 55
Resources to Review Your English..................................................................................55
Listening.................................................................................................................55
General English............................................................................................55
Academic English.........................................................................................55
Reading and Vocabulary.........................................................................................55
General English............................................................................................55
Academic English.........................................................................................56
Grammar................................................................................................................56
General and Academic English.....................................................................56
Recommended Dictionaries...................................................................................57
English for Academic Purposes
How much time you will need to invest to complete the course.
Study skills.
Activity icons.
Units.
5
References
Resources
For those interested in learning more on this subject, we provide you with
a list of additional resources at the end of this COURSE: these may be
books, articles or web sites.
Your comments
After completing the Course of English for Academic Purposes – First
Semester, we would appreciate it if you would take a few moments to
give us your feedback on any aspect of this course. Your feedback might
include comments on:
Course assignments.
Course assessments.
Course duration.
Tips
(1) This Course Packet is a document with interactive links that will take you to Internet-based
learning resources. Consequently, to take full advantage of the activities, it is recommended that you
should use it in an electronic format, rather than print.
(2) It is also recommendable you should open the links in Chrome or Mozilla Firefox.
(3) In addition to the activities in this Course Packet, you will be required to access and check the ID
Portal for announcements, tasks, forum discussions and supplementary learning materials.
6
English for Academic Purposes
Course overview
Welcome to English for Academic Purposes –
First Semester
General Course Description
Dear students, this is going to be our springboard for learning English,
keeping in touch and, most of all, having fun learning!
Objectives
7
References
Prerequisites
It is recommendable to have an entry level B1 (according to the
Common European Framework for Languages. You may check your level
at the following link: Self-Assessment .
Credits: 3/semester
Course outcomes
Upon completion of Develop and apply extensive and intensive reading strategies of
EAP First Semester specialist text (scan, skim, locate information)
you will be able to:
Understand the topic, main and secondary ideas, and text organisation
in various texts.
Timeframe
The duration of this course is 14 weeks.
8
English for Academic Purposes
Study skills
As an adult learner your approach to learning will be different to that
from your school days: you will choose what you want to study, you will
have professional and/or personal motivation for doing so and you will
most likely be fitting your study activities around other professional or
domestic responsibilities.
Your most significant considerations will be time and space i.e. the time
you dedicate to your learning and the environment in which you engage
in that learning.
http://www.how-to-study.com/
The “How to study” web site is dedicated to study skills resources.
You will find links to study preparation (a list of nine essentials for a
good study place), taking notes, strategies for reading text books,
using reference sources, test anxiety.
http://www.ucc.vt.edu/academic_support_students/study_skills_infor
mation/index.html
This is the web site of the Virginia Tech, Division of Student Affairs.
You will find links to time scheduling (including a “where does time
go?” link), a study skill checklist, basic concentration techniques,
control of the study environment, note taking, how to read essays for
analysis, memory skills (“remembering”).
The above links are our suggestions to start you on your way. At the time
of writing these web links were active. It’s worthwhile taking your time
to also explore the list below.
9
References
Need help?
The course web site address is the UBB Distance Learning Portal.
10
English for Academic Purposes
11
References
You are expected to use your selective ability to pick the most adequate
for your level of English and for the goals you set at the beginning of the
course. select and go through them.
Assignments
Details on the assignments are provided in the course packet. You are
welcome to submit 2-4 assignments for extra credit to the Portal.
12
English for Academic Purposes
Assessments
13
References
Learning a language needs time and perseverance. Just think how long it
has taken you to learn Romanian! Therefore, your INDEPENDENT work
is vital to succeed attaining a good level of English, namely B2 (higher
intermediate) by the end of the course.
Assessments
Your activity for the EAP Course will be evaluated as follows.
14
English for Academic Purposes
15
References
Margin icons
While working through this Course you will notice the frequent use of
margin icons. These icons serve to “signpost” a particular piece of text, a
new task or change in activity; they have been included to help you to
find your way around the EAP Course
16
English for Academic Purposes
Unit 1
List and explain some of the reasons and benefits of language learning.
Terminology Digital native: A digital native is a person who was born during or after
the general introduction of digital technologies and through
interacting with digital technology from an early age, has a
greater understanding of its concepts.
17
References
Web 2.0: Web 2.0 describes web sites that use technology beyond the
static pages of earlier web sites. A Web 2.0 site may allow
users to interact and collaborate with each other in a social
media dialogue as creators of user-generated content in a
virtual community, in contrast to websites where people are
limited to the passive viewing of content.
Life skills: Life skills are behaviors used appropriately and responsibly
in the management of personal affairs. They are a set of
human skills acquired via teaching or direct experience that
are used to handle problems and questions commonly
encountered in daily human life. Exxamples include career
planning, communication, daily living, home life, housing
and money management, self care, social relationships,
work and study skills, work life, pregnancy and parenting.
Career skills Today’s life and work environments require far more than
thinking skills and content knowledge. The ability to
navigate the complex life and work environments in the
globally competitive information age requires students to
pay rigorous attention to developing adequate life and
career skills. Examples: flexibility and adaptibility,
initiative and self-direction, social and cross-cultural skills,
leadership and responsibility, productivity and
accountability.
Sources: Wikipedia and Partnership for 1 st Century
Skills.
1
You need Chrome or Mozilla to open Google Presentations.
18
English for Academic Purposes
Now go to quiz How Millennial Are You? and think about the changes
that affect the way you live and learn.
You can impress people and make big jumps in your academic career
and work, leaving others behind.
1.2.1 Presentation
The following presentation, entitled Reasons for Learning Foreign
Languages, contains a summary of some of the most frequent reasons for
learning foreign languages, particularly English. Use the verbal and
visual cues to reflect on your own reasons.
19
References
Now that you have become familiar with some of the reasons people
learn or should learn languages, you are invited to work through the
handout below. Click on the link and follow the instructions.
Activity 1
Handout Unit 1_Reasons for Learning Languages
At this moment, you are invited to take a Placement Test and situate
yourself in a CEFR category by means of the key and scores. Keep the
documents for further reference.
Discussion In groups, discuss with your colleagues whether you agree or disagree
with one of the statements:
1. If you are travelling around the world, speaking the language is better
than shouting.
2. I think languages just set you free.
3. Languages are an inspiration and it's very interesting to learn about
countries other than your own.
4. Languages are more stimulating than other subjects. There's always
something new to learn.
6. Languages unite people in this stressful international panorama.
20
English for Academic Purposes
Unit summary
In this unit you have learned some characteristics and skills
contemporary learners should have in order to be successful.
Summary
You have also learned about some of the major reasons people should
learn foreign languages, in our case English.
Assignment 1
Visit the section Digital Parenting and prepare a brief presentation of this
resource. Highlight at least three new things related to the generation gap,
parenting styles and relationships.
Language Toolbox
The following are RECOMMENDED DICTIONARIES you may use
during this course.
Elementary to Pre-Intermediate
21
References
Unit 2
Searching is a Trick You Can
learn
Introduction
“Sure, you use the Internet all the time, but you need to wise up to the
web when you use it for your university or college work.”
22
English for Academic Purposes
Internet resources: Links to web sites that are useful for study.
23
References
By the end of the tutorials you should have a good idea of how to find the
best sites on the Web that are appropriate for university work, and you
24
English for Academic Purposes
will understand how critical thinking can improve the quality of your
online research.
Language issues: Create lists of most often used verbs, nouns and
expressions. Use the dictionaries recommended in Unit 1.
25
References
# Checklist
1 Access learning platform regularly and check your mail for
announcements.
26
English for Academic Purposes
7 Make sure you arrive for exams in plenty of time and are
well prepared.
Unit summary
In this unit you have learned how to successfully search and evaluate
web resources for your specialist study and English language learning by
means of online tutorials.
Summary
Assignment
27
References
28
English for Academic Purposes
Unit 3
Pathways to Success. Stay
Hungry. Stay Foolish.
Introduction
“If today were the last day of your life, would you do what you are about
to do today?” (Steve Jobs, Stanford Commencement Address)
Speak about your dreams and career choices by using basic vocabuary
related to education and profession.
Terminology
Profession: a paid occupation, esp. one that involves
prolonged training and a formal qualification.
29
References
30
English for Academic Purposes
31
References
Access the Time Management Study Guide and explore it for your own
knowledge. Take notes and prepare a 150 word presentation.
Reflection
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things
you did not do than the ones you did do.” (Mark Twain)
If you want to make an easy job seem mighty hard, just keep putting
off doing it. (Olin Miller)
If we fail to plan, we plan to fail. (Anonymous)
Unit summary
In this unit you hev learned about factors that influence and help
building up a career and being successful in what you do.
Summary
32
English for Academic Purposes
Assignment 3: Create a CV
Create a curriculum vitae (CV) that describes your educational
background, work experience, and job skills. For a professional look,
consider using Google Drive, Microsoft Word, or another program that can
format fonts, embed images, and so on. To make sure that your formatting
is preserved, please convert the document to PDF format before
submitting it. If you don't have PDF conversion software, try a free online
Assignment
service such as Zamzar.
Submit it to your teacher by the due date. You may ask your peers for
advice on the e-learning platform.
Self-Assessment
Watch and listen again to Steve Jobs’ speech and fill in the following
form: Steve Jobs: Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.
Assessment
33
English for Academic Purposes
Unit 4
Academic Reading
Introduction
Developing your reading strategies is essential for both study and work.
Practicing regular reading activities will help you increase your
vocabulary and self-confidence.
Recognise text features and use this for more efficient reading
35
References
For extended practice on text types, go to this Text Type Exercise. Press
see answers button to check your understanding. Think which text types
are related to academic study.
36
English for Academic Purposes
Are you good at scanning? Give it a go with this three level quiz.
Activity
Can you find out who killed Angela Spelling? Let's play a game!
Unit summary
In this unit you have learned some aspects related to strategies for
efficient reading and how you can improve your reading skills by learning
about text types and text features.
Summary
37
References
Read these stories Ready, Click, Spend! and Google It! and do all
activities. Complete the score sheets and send them to your mailbox.
Note the scores for safe keeping and comment on aspects encountered
in the stories.
Assignment
Access the Adult Learning Activities site and select another reading
activity according to your preferences.
Self-Assessment
In order to review what you have learned in this unit,
Assessment
access the site Using English for Academic Purposes and do the exercises
on the pages Efficient Reading and Understanding Texts.
38
English for Academic Purposes
Unit 5
Learning (Academic) Vocabulary
Introduction
Developing vocabulary is complex activity. This unit aims to get you
familiarised with various aspects and techniques that can help you better
organise your learning and boost your vocabulary, especially for
academic study.
Use Internet sites and Web 2.0 tools to organise and expand
vocabulary.
39
References
5.1.1 Presentation
In the presentation below you will find out tips and advice on two major
issues
What vocabulary to learn?
Ways to learn new words: how to learn vocabulary more efficiently.
Click on the link to access the presentation Learning Vocabulary Tips and
go through the interactive tasks.
40
English for Academic Purposes
Study skills
Levels B1-C1: Go to the following site Academic Word List Tool and
plan your study of the academic word lists. Put the calendar down in a
separate document.
Levels A2-B1: You may use the book Vocabulary Organiser with Key to
revise and learn new basic vocabulary. Click on the link and download
the pdf version. Create a calendar for learning.
41
References
Unit summary
In this unit you have learned various aspects of vocabulary learning and
vocabulary building. Now you should have a larger picture on the
strategies needed to boost your vocabulary.
Summary
1. Wordsmyth. Once you create an account, you can build targeted word
lists and exercises to help you learn and recall them. Save the links to
your exercises into a Word document that you can upload to the platform.
Assignment
OR
Self-Assessment
You can check on the basics of word formation and other vocabulary
related issues by taking the interactive exercises on BBC – Skillwise site
for adult literacy.
Assessment
Click on the link Spelling, explore and then choose the activities that are
most adequate for your level.
42
English for Academic Purposes
Unit 6
Listening Skills
Introduction
Listening is one of the most important skills in communication.
43
References
2. Read the following fallacies about listening and discuss them with your
teacher/classmates. What is your opinion? What would be the qualities of
a good listener?
Listening is not my problem
Listening and hearing are the same
Good readers are good listeners
Smarter people are better listeners
Listening improves with age
Listening skills are difficult to learn
Source: Listening Effectively
44
English for Academic Purposes
Unit summary
In this unit you have learned about the importance of listening and what it
takes to become an efficient listener and practice active listening.
Summary
Assignment
Level B-C1: Acess listening activity University Degree and go through it.
Then o the post-listening activity.
Assessment
Check your listening skills and your ability to concentrate by taking this
interactive expercise: Maintaining Concentration.
Assessment
45
English for Academic Purposes
Unit 7
Oral Presentations: Are They
Such a Headache?
Introduction
Oral presentations are critical in many professional areas, from marketing
to academic life.
47
References
Activity
What is the current level of your presentation skills?
Activity
Note down elements you would like to use in the future for your
presentations.
48
English for Academic Purposes
Unit summary
In this unit you have learned about what makes a good presentation, from
planning, through designing and finally, to delivery.
Summary
Assignment
For details on this assignment, access the followng document and follow
teacher’s announcements.
49
English for Academic Purposes
Unit 8
To Speak or Not to Speak?
Introduction
“Language gives people a means of interacting with other members of
their culture and a means of thinking. Language thus serves both as a
mechanism for communication and as a guide to social reality” (Samovar
and Porter, 1982:17).
Terminology
Formal language: used in serious, official, or public communication
but not appropriate in everyday contexts
51
References
Topics: family, the news, your country, religion, clothes, your health,
politics, sex, sport, the weather, food and drink, people you both know,
how work/study is going, the city/town you are in, the hotel/ hostel you
are staying at, your holiday plans
Your answer should take into account the following elements: cultural
differences, education, attitude, gender etc.
Build your own list of conversation topics and resources and create a
working calendar that would match your vocabulary learning plan.
52
English for Academic Purposes
53
References
Watch the first episode in the series and pay attention to cultural/ ethnic
stereotypes. Note them down and discuss in class or in the discussion
forum. Enjoy!
Unit summary
In this unit you have learned some strategies you can use to develop your
speaking and conversation skills. You have also seen how the Internet can
be used to gather resources on this particular skill.
Summary
Assignment
54
English for Academic Purposes
Self-Assessment
Recognising formal and informal speaking situations and language is an
important part of getting to speak.
Assessment
55
English for Academic Purposes
References
Resources to Review Your
English
In addition to the following resources, you may access the Distance
Learning Portal for further tips and references on developing your
language skills.
Listening
General English
English Online France
AudioEnglish. Conversatii uzuale
Elllo English Listening Online (invatati engleza in mod natural
ascultand vorbitori din toata lumea)
Luke's Podcasts - 100% British English! It's fun and very interesting!
ESL English Listening and Adult Literacy - audiobooks, TedTalks,
Songs with transcripts. Extremely varied resource for all levels and
interests! Two listening speeds!
Academic English
Randall's ESL Cyber Listening Lab
Academic English from the Student Learning Center at Massey
University, Australia: Here you can listen and practice your academic
English vocabulary. Great resource for intermediate/higher
intermediate students.
University of Reading Academic Lectures: lectures on a variety of
topics, accompanied by lecture notes and comprehension questions
TedTalk - based activities on ESLTedTalks
Using online lectures for authentic note-taking practice - tips
57
References
Academic English
Level tests online (Find how many words you know)
University Words List Flashcards Practice your academic English
vocabulary.
Vocabulary Exercises for the Academic Word Lists
Academic Vocabulary
Vocabulary.com
ESL Vocabulary from Ohio University
BBC Words in the News
EAP Vocabulary Exercises
Effective Reading
Critical Reading Towards Critical Writing from the University of
Toronto
A collection of English corpora - excellent to find examples of
vocabulary in context
Note Taking
Grammar
General and Academic English
Guide to Grammar and Writing - one of the most comprehensive
online English grammars compiled by the late Professor Charles
Darling.
English Test Net - you can test yourself in a variety of areas; quizzes;
common errors etc
OWL at Purdue University - comprehensive site that needs exploring
Study Zone at University of Victoria grammar presentations and
interactive exercises
LearnEnglishFeelGood - grammar, vocabulary, video-based lessons,
etc
Learn Grammar Movies by the British Council
Exercises at Grammar Bytes
BBC World Service Grammar and Vocabulary -
explanations: Confusing words and expressions; Prefixes, suffixes,
spelling and pronunciation; Determiners, nouns and
pronouns;Adjectives and adverbs; Verbs and tenses; Modals and
conditionals; Conjunctions and clauses; Prepositions and
phrases; Learning and exam skills.
58
English for Academic Purposes
Recommended Dictionaries
Elementary to Pre-Intermediate
Monolingual: Cambridge Essential Dictionary
Thesaurus: Collins English Thesaurus; The Free
Dictionary (dictionary, thesaurus and translation)
Bilingual: EN-RO Word Reference Dictionary; RO-EN Word
Reference
Picture Dictionary: Merriam Webster Visual, English Picture
Dictionary (photos)
Intermediate to Proficient
Monolingual: Cambridge Learner's Dictionary
Thesaurus: OneLook Dictionary Search
Bilingual: EN-RO Word Reference Dictionary; RO-EN Word
Reference
Picture Dictionary: Merriam Webster Visual, ThinkMap. Visual
Thesaurus
59