Academic Writing & Presenting in English for Researchers and University Staff

Target Audience

This one-week group course is suitable for professors, senior lecturers, researchers and teaching staff at university level who are working on degree programmes and academic research and who are non-native speakers of English. Minimum language level for this course is B1. Max group size 6

Preparation

This course does not require any mandatory preparation but suggested reading lists will be provided. Participants will also be sent a pre-course questionnaire to assess their educational contexts and experience. This will help to fully customise the course. They will also receive information about York to prepare for their cultural experience.

Objectives

By the end of the course participants will:

• be able to deliver better presentations, with accompanying language framework
• have an increased awareness of ways of making presentations more effective in delivery
• be able to reflect on their own writing of abstracts, and analyse it with reference to models of good and bad abstracts
• have experienced writing practice with regard to writing academic articles, with the aim of increasing vocabulary range, structures and register and style as well as ability to teach writing skills
• have further developed participants’ own general language skills and increase oral fluency
• have experienced the cultural heritage of York with its rich historical linguistic environment

Methodology

Input sessions are in the form of hands-on workshops and could involve brainstorming, analysis and, at times, problem-solving. Sessions help participants develop language in a structured setting.

Participants are asked to reflect on their oral and written production, inviting discussion and feedback with regard to their own knowledge and skills. Exchange of participants’ own knowledge is encouraged through discussion.  Participants are asked to reflect on the activities, inviting discussion with regard to their own pedagogical knowledge and skills, teaching methods and contexts, and on adaptation of activities to their teaching situations.

Language skills are developed and feedback given where appropriate. Participants are also introduced to appropriate websites related to the further development of their academic writing skills and personal professional development.  Participants are also introduced to key websites related to the further development of their teaching skills and personal professional development.

Follow Up

The course ends with an evaluation session, where participants are asked to reflect upon the value of the knowledge gained on the course and create a Personal Development Action Plan. They are invited to join the York Associates Community, which allows networking and contact with the trainers and fellow colleagues, and with participants from other courses.

Sample Course Programme