English for General Academic Purposes. Upper-Intermediate Course - 2 – HSE University Course Catalogue – Higher School of Economics National Research University

2023/2024

Type: Optional course

Delivered by: School of Foreign Languages

When: 3, 4 module

Open to: students of one campus

Instructors: Кузина Екатерина Андреевна, Бобок Ирина Викторовна, Кузина Екатерина Андреевна, Борисова Юлия Алексеевна, Рустамова Юлия Фазилевна, Olga Kamenskaya, Viktor Makarenko, Irina Pelevina, Tatiana Pitra, Maria Pronina, Ekaterina Vladimirovna Razbaeva, Marina Sildimirova, Inna V. Solovyeva, Elena Leonidovna Zanina, Anastasia Zizina, Шапиро Элина Диаматовна

Language: English

ECTS credits: 5

Contact hours: 80

Full Syllabus

Abstract

«English for General Academic Purposes. Upper-Intermediate Course - 2» for the 1st year students is designed to develop foreign-language communicative and integrated and critical thinking skills that are based on "Regulations for Interim and Ongoing Assessments of Students at National Research University Higher School of Economics" and "Concept of Development of English-language Communicative Competence of HSE Students". Every student has slightly different needs, depending on their chosen discipline, cultural background and other factors. However, the primary skills, tasks, and academic language are common to most disciplines and are relevant to the needs of most students preparing to study English at the university level. The course is designed for students who wish to widen their understanding and knowledge of Academic English (understanding the notion of bias, summarising arguments when note taking, taking notes from extensive reading and from academic lectures and discussions, debating skills, fluency and accuracy in complex topics, paraphrasing, planning and drafting essays, levels of formality and register, the organisation of texts)

Learning Objectives

The aims of the course are: - to offer intensive practice in the use of Academic English in all four skill areas (speaking, listening, reading and writing); - to guide students from the outset in the acquisition of effective study methods, sound academic skills, higher-order thinking and problem-solving, and critical thinking; - to support students in taking responsibility for their learning and becoming increasingly independent learners; - to develop the students’ general capacity to a level that enables them to use English in their professional and academic environment granted that they are provided with the specific notions and vocabulary in the course of their studies.

Expected Learning Outcomes

To form skills of note-taking
To develop understanding of lectures and learning context
To develop skills in writing essays (opinion, discussion)
To develop skills in writing essays (opinion, discussion)
To develop skills of using listening techniques (predicting, understanding main ideas and details in professional context)
To develop skills of using reading techniques: skimming and scanning in professional context (predicting, understanding main ideas, understanding details)
To read authentic academic texts on different disciplines
To develop skills of using reading techniques of skimming and scanning (predicting, understanding main ideas, understanding details)
To develop skills of using different listening techniques (listening for gist, listening for details, listening for specific information)
To produce monologues (informative/argumentative)
To participate in dialogues/discussions on academic topics
To develop linguistic competence
To speak (present, discuss) on different academic issues
To produce informative presentations
To develop skills of writing a paragraph

Course Contents

Unit 1. Money and Commerce.
Unit 2. Zoology.
Unit 3. History.
Unit 4. Chemical engineering.

Assessment Elements

Final Assessment (FA)
The interim exam lasts 70 minutes. The exam is written paper-and-pen test and is aimed at checking whether the student can demonstrate the acquisition of the learning objectives set. The exam consists of two parts, i.e. Reading and Writing. 1. Reading (R) Max. 10 points. Students have no more than 20 minutes to complete the Reading part. Read the text. Possible reading tasks: • Correct option for each task (multiple choice). • Fill in the gaps (gap-filling). • Decide whether the statement is True, False or Not Given. 2. Writing (W) Write an essay on one of the topics given. Max. 10 points. Students should write a 250-word essay. Students have 50 minutes to complete the Writing part. Reading test is assessed as a part of a final work according to the formula R* 0.4 + W*0.6 = 10. Each correct answer is worth one point. Answers containing spelling mistakes are considered incorrect. Writing is assessed against the criteria. The release of examination papers: during the session.
Written Assessment (WA)
Written assessment includes: min 1 reading test, min 1 listening test, min 2 writing tests (essay and paragraph), min 3 vocabulary and grammar tests
Oral Assessment (OA)
Oral assessment includes a monologue on a given topic, a presentation and a discussion.
Independent Work Assessment (IWA)
Independent work assessment includes work during the seminars, homework, online work

Interim Assessment

2023/2024 4th module
0.3 * Final Assessment (FA) + 0.25 * Independent Work Assessment (IWA) + 0.2 * Oral Assessment (OA) + 0.25 * Written Assessment (WA)

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

Academic Writing Skills 3, Student's Book, 140 p., Chin, P., Reid, S., Wray, S., Yamazaki, Y., 2014
Cambridge academic English: advanced: student's book : an integrated skills course for EAP, Hewings, M., 2012
Cambridge academic English: intermediate: student's book : an integrated skills course for EAP, Thaine, C., 2012
Cambridge academic English: upper intermediate: student's book : an integrated skills course for EAP, Hewings, M., 2012
Cambridge academic English. An integrated skills course for EAP. Upper intermediate. Student's b..., Hewings, M., 2012
Oxford EAP : a course in English for academic purposes : advanced / C1, Chazal de, E., 2017
Oxford EAP : a course in English for academic purposes : upper-intermediate / B2, Chazal de, E., 2020
University success: oral communication : intermediate to high-intermediate, McLaughlin, T., 2018

Recommended Additional Bibliography

50 steps to improving your academic writing : study book, Sowton, C., 2012
Cambridge Academic English : An integrated skills course for EAP : Advanced, Student's Book, Course consultant M. McCarthy, 176 p., Hewings, M., Thaine, C., 2013
Oxford grammar for EAP : english grammar and practice for academic purposes with answers, Paterson, K., 2013
Oxford learner's dictionary of academic English, , 2014

Course Syllabus

English for General Academic Purposes. Upper-Intermediate Course - 2