Practical Course for Excellence in Academic English

2026/2027

Учебный год

ENG

Обучение ведется на английском языке

5

Кредиты

Кто читает:

Школа иностранных языков

Статус:

Курс обязательный

Когда читается:

3-й курс, 1-4 модуль

Преподаватели

Бабасян Елизавета Размиковна

Луткова Елена Сергеевна

Мартюшова Наталья Олеговна

Мирзаева Дарья Улхановна

Родоманченко Аида Сергеевна

Смирнова Анна Георгиевна

Цыгунова Мария Михайловна

Course Syllabus

Abstract

The course is designed for students who seek to refine their English communicative competence to an advanced level of proficiency. Upon completion, students will be able to understand and critically analyse complex authentic materials, both oral and written. They will also be able to engage in topic-based discussions drawing on a wide range of authentic texts, while incorporating an extensive repertoire of proficient, subject-specific vocabulary. A key focus of the course is lexical precision: students will explore subtle connotations and nuances of vocabulary, enabling them to use English with a high degree of accuracy and flexibility, avoid stylistic pitfalls, and achieve a strong level of expressiveness in both written and spoken communication.

Learning Objectives

• can understand extended discourse on abstract and complex topics beyond their field of interest, including when it is not clearly structured, when ideas are signalled implicitly or when pronunciation is not standard
• can critically analyse complex authentic materials, both oral and written, recognising subtle distinctions of style, register and connotation that shape meaning
• can engage in topic-based discussions drawing on a wide range of authentic texts, deploying an extensive repertoire of proficient, subject-specific vocabulary with accuracy and ease
• can produce clear, well-structured texts on complex subjects, selecting vocabulary with precision to convey fine shades of meaning and avoid stylistic pitfalls
• can express themselves fluently and spontaneously, almost effortlessly; has a good command of a broad lexical repertoire allowing gaps to be readily overcome with circumlocutions; has a good command of idiomatic expressions and colloquialisms with clear awareness of connotative levels of meaning
• can interpret and describe clearly and reliably various forms of empirical data and visually organised information from conceptually complex research, using precise and appropriately nuanced vocabulary to convey findings accurately and avoid ambiguity

Expected Learning Outcomes

• students will be able to deliver persuasive speeches effectively
• students will be able to utilize the unit's active grammatical structures accurately and appropriately in various contexts
• students will be able to use the unit’s active grammatical structures effectively in spoken and written communication
• students will be able to apply C1-C2 level vocabulary accurately in speech and writing
• students will be able to write well-structured written responses based on a range of texts and media
• students will be able to distinguish between subtle differences in meaning among advanced-level synonyms
• students will be able to produce well-structured written responses to a range of visual materials
• students will be able to create multimodal content that effectively incorporates C1-C2 level vocabulary and topic-oriented lexis
• students will be able to write well-structured written responses based on a range of texts and visuals
• students will be able to participate effectively in two-way conversations, responding appropriately and maintaining interaction
• students will be able to deliver persuasive poster defense effectively
• students will be able to critically analyze a given situation or case in writing
• students will be able to critically summarize, interpret, and comment on a given situation or case orally

Course Contents

• Science & Technology
• Nature & Ecology
• Arts & Fashion
• Medicine & Health
• Law & Society
• Sport & Leisure

Assessment Elements

• Final Module 1 Test (LMS)
  This control element cannot be retaken due to the fact that its administration is conducted exclusively online. Students are assigned a specific time period to complete the test. During this period, they will take the test using Safe Exam Browser. The test sections are non-returnable. The test assesses the material covered in Module 1 in the following areas: Reading, Listening, and Keyword Transformations. The exact duration will be announced by the teacher. Test results will be announced after all students on the course have completed the test.
• Written Work
  Written assignments include essays, reports, proposals, graphs, charts, diagrams, and other similar tasks. All written assignments are completed in class and must be handwritten on paper or another physical paper-based medium. Electronic submissions are not permitted.
• Spoken Production
  Speaking assignments include both online and offline activities. They cover a range of speaking formats, including monologues and dialogues, analytical speaking tasks, personal narratives, personally argued statements, critically considered viewpoints, and responses to questions on contemporary academically oriented topics. The speaking component is designed to assess students’ ability to communicate clearly, coherently; effectively, and concisely express and support their ideas, analyse issues, present personal experiences and arguments, and critically engage with current academic topics. In the event of a valid and documented reason, a student may, subject to agreement with the instructor, retake one assessment component per module.
• Class Participation
  Class participation, homework completion, and ongoing quizzes are assessed throughout the course. However, quizzes in Module 1 are assessed separately. If a student is absent for a valid and documented reason, such as sick leave, they may receive 1 point for class participation, provided that they submit the completed self-study work and homework within two weeks of returning to their studies. Failure to do so will result in a 0 for class participation.
• Quiz
  Quizzes include tasks based on the vocabulary covered in class and may consist of a range of activities, from word-based exercises to multiple-choice questions. The format of each quiz depends on the format discussed and announced by the tutor. The time allocated for each quiz is determined based on the number and type of items students are expected to complete. All quizzes are completed in written form, offline, during class. A student may complete up to 50% of the quizzes for a module by prior arrangement with the instructor. The quizzes must be completed on the same day.
• Semester Test
  The semester test is administered during the teaching period. The test consists of Reading, Listening, and Key Word Transformations tasks and is completed by students in written form on paper. In the case of a valid and documented reason, and subject to prior agreement with the instructor, a student may take the test during the examination period, before the oral exam.
• Oral Exam
  During the Module 2 exam, the student delivers a monologue followed by a two-way conversation. During the Module 4 exam, the student is required to critically evaluate the texts and provide their own commentary on them.
• Smart LMS Activity
  Revision of materials in SmartLMS.

Interim Assessment

• 2026/2027 1st module
  0.25 * Written Work + 0.25 * Spoken Production + 0.1 * Quiz + 0.15 * Final Module 1 Test (LMS) + 0.25 * Class Participation
• 2026/2027 2nd module
  0.15 * Semester Test + 0.2 * Oral Exam + 0.25 * Class Participation + 0.2 * Spoken Production + 0.2 * Written Work
• 2026/2027 4th module
  0.2 * Written Work + 0.1 * Semester Test + 0.2 * Class Participation + 0.1 * Smart LMS Activity + 0.2 * Spoken Production + 0.2 * Oral Exam

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• A short guide to writing about art, Barnet, S., 2011
• A short guide to writing about film, Corrigan, T., 2015
• Advanced English grammar : a linguistic approach, Depraetere, I., 2012
• The history of medicine: a very short introduction, Bynum, William, 2008
• Английский язык для исследовательских и академических целей (English for Research and Academic Purposes) : учебник для вузов / А. В. Бакулев, С. В. Боголепова, А. А. Греченко [и др.]. — Санкт-Петербург : Лань, 2025. — 316 с. — ISBN 978-5-507-52550-8. — Текст : электронный // Лань : электронно-библиотечная система. — URL: https://e.lanbook.com/book/503575 (дата обращения: 00.00.0000). — Режим доступа: для авториз. пользователей.
• Продвинутый английский язык для гуманитарных направлений = Advanced English for Humanities : учебник / С. В. Боголепова, Л. К. Рэйчел, А. В. Бакулев [и др.] ; под ред. С. В. Боголеповой, Л. К. Рэйчел. — Москва : КноРус, 2021. — 428 с. — ISBN 978-5-406-08337-6. — URL: https://book.ru/book/939870 (дата обращения: 09.12.2025). — Текст : электронный.
• Продвинутый английский язык для гуманитарных направлений = Advanced English for Humanities : учебник / С. В. Боголепова, Л. К. Рэйчел, А. В. Бакулев [и др.] ; под ред. С. В. Боголеповой, Л. К. Рэйчел. — Москва : КноРус, 2026. — 428 с. — ISBN 978-5-406-15716-9. — URL: https://book.ru/book/960948 (дата обращения: 09.12.2025). — Текст : электронный.

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• A dictionary of sports studies, Tomlinson, A., 2010
• Kole, J. S., & American Bar Association. (2013). A Brief Guide to Brief Writing : Demystifying the Memorandum of the Law. Chicago, Illinois: American Bar Association. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=993109

Authors

• SMIRNOVA ANNA GEORGIEVNA
• Rodomanchenko Aida Sergeevna
• Varkan Anna Petrovna
• TSYGUNOVA MARIYA MIKHAYLOVNA