2022/2023

Effective Academic Communication for Master's Students

Category 'Best Course for Broadening Horizons and Diversity of Knowledge and Skills'

Type: Mago-Lego

Delivered by: Department of Foreign Languages

When: 3 module

Open to: students of all HSE University campuses

Instructors: Vladimir Pavlov

Language: English

ECTS credits: 3

Contact hours: 32

Course Syllabus

Abstract

Clear and effective communication is currently an indispensable part of a skill set that a successful Master’s student needs to build. HSE Master’s students have very diverse backgrounds, and their previous experience may not have fully prepared them for communicating in an international academic environment, which is predominantly based on the Western communication tradition. The main purpose of this course is to raise Master’s students’ awareness of the Western communication tradition and to teach students how to express their ideas clearly and concisely, orally and in writing, while communicating with other academics in their field (e.g., at international conferences, in discussions with foreign colleagues at other universities, or while taking a university course delivered in English). The students will learn how to prepare an effective conference presentation and lead an effective discussion, how to participate in group projects, how to structure English written texts properly, how to approach complex academic texts and read them critically, and how to be effective listeners. Since communication is cultural, the course will also look at how cultures affect communicative behaviour in speaking, writing and even reading, and will teach Master’s students to work effectively with people with various cultural backgrounds (e.g., international students and professors). The course is practical, and the students will be learning from examples of effective communication, followed by tasks, in which they will practice the skills and receive individual feedback from a qualified instructor. This course will be useful for Master’s students from any academic discipline, but will be of particular interest to those who would like to build an international academic career, who are taking courses in English or planning to study or work at international universities.

Learning Objectives

• to build skills necessary for successful participation in seminars and for writing papers in English
• to develop effective listening/critical reading skills
• to develop effective oral skills in academic and professional settings
• to develop/improve presentation skills
• to improve academic and professional writing skills
• to improve intercultural communication skills

Expected Learning Outcomes

• The students will develop effective oral skills in academic and professional settings
• The students will develop intercultural communication skills in academic and professional settings
• The students will develop skills necessary for successful participation in seminars and for writing papers in English
• The students will develop/improve academic and professional writing skills
• The students will develop/improve presentation skills
• The students will develop effective listening/critical reading skills

Course Contents

• Professional Communication: Introduction
• Effective listening and critical reading strategies
• Building effective academic oral skills
• Planning and structuring an effective oral presentation/reports for a seminar or an academic conference
• Planning and structuring an effective academic written paper
• Intercultural communication

Assessment Elements

• Tests/quizzes/homework
  30% of the overall course mark
• Projects
  Completion of 2 projects of student’s choice. The students may choose from the list proposed by the course instructor, or propose their own project within the scope of the course which suits their needs (to be approved by the course instructor). Out of the 2 projects, one project should focus on oral communication and one project should focus on written communication. Also at least one of their selected projects should be a group project. Each project is worth 35% of the overall course mark. The oral project includes a peer-review: 15% of the oral project mark.

Interim Assessment

• 2022/2023 3rd module
  0.3 * Tests/quizzes/homework + 0.7 * Projects

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• Bailey, S. (2017). Academic Writing : A Handbook for International Students (Vol. Fifth edition). London: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1650435
• Huang, L.-S. (2010). Academic Communication Skills : Conversation Strategies for International Graduate Students. Lanham: UPA. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=537040
• Johnson, A. P. (2016). Academic Writing : Process and Product. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1222793
• Randy Charles. (2018). Communication Skills. National Highlights Inc.

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• Agarwal, O. P. (2010). Effective Communication: Vol. Rev. ed. Himalaya Publishing House.
• Holliday, A., Hyde, M., & Kullman, J. (2017). Intercultural Communication : An Advanced Resource Book for Students (Vol. Third edition). Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1424446
• Novinger, T. (2001). Intercultural Communication : A Practical Guide: Vol. 1st ed. University of Texas Press.