English for Academic Purposes II PDF Print

English for Academic Purposes II

Athanassia Spyropoulou

Required course         4th semester     ECTS: 5

Short description:

The course is addressed to students who have successfully completed the course English for Academic Purposes I and those who possess an English language certificate of C2 level (according to the CEFR classification levels). Through the course the students increase their competence in handling academic discourse. They are taught  and practice appropriate strategies for approaching, comprehending and analyzing extensive, authentic academic discourse related to their studies, while expanding their academic vocabulary. Students are expected to write short essays by using the conventions of academic discourse and make short group presentations on academic subjects. Throughout the course, extensive use is made of the E-learning platform and the Internet. In addition, students are requested to read at least one book of their choice.

Aims:

  • To further develop students’ knowledge, skills and strategies required

a. for the understanding of authentic, extensive academic discourse (mostly written but also spoken)

b. for the writing of short academic essays

c. for public speaking on an academic subject

  • To further develop students’ academic vocabulary.
  • To develop students’ note-taking skills in English
  • To encourage the use of the language at personal level, especially by reading books for pleasure, but also by listening to/reading academic discourse accessed through suitably selected internet sites, with the aim to increase their language competence but also to expand their subject-specific knowledge.
  • To develop students’ capacity for team working and cooperation
  • To enhance the students’ meta-cognitive and self-evaluation skills, with a parallel development of the students’ ability to learn independently by using the appropriate resources and tools.
  • To improve the students’ study and research skills

Anticipated learning outcomes:

Subject specific competencies

By attending the course, the students are expected to further improve/develop their

  • ability to understand and use grammatical and syntactic structures and other conventions used in academic discourse
  • academic vocabulary related to their studies
  • ability to comprehend academic discourse (oral, written)
  • ability to speak and write using the conventions of academic English
  • general reading skills and linguistic competence (extensive reading of books)

Generic competencies

By attending the course, the students are expected to further improve/develop their

  • communication skills in an academic setting
  • information technology skills by using the internet for personal study and language skills development, and also through the systematic use of the E-learning platform of the department
  • ability to learn independently, reflect upon and evaluate own performance
  • study and research skills and overall academic performance
  • capacity for team-work and cooperation

Structure:

13 three – hour classes

Assessment:

Students are evaluated on the basis of attendance and successful completion of related assignments (30%), and a written examination at the end of the semester (70%) on a 1-10 scale.