LS1415 English for Academic Studies (online) 3.0 credits
The English used at university differs from the English used in other areas of life. This fully online course is ideal for students who are beginning or preparing to begin their academic studies, and for students who will soon be studying courses in English.
The course has no meetings, but it does have six weekly deadlines for discussion postings, quizzes, and other work. Constructive feedback is given on written assignments, which will help you to develop your writing skills. The rich bank of material in the course can serve as a reference throughout your education in English.
Are you towards the end of your studies and looking for a more advanced English course? We recommend our 7.5-credit courses.
Choose semester and course offering
Choose semester and course offering to see current information and more about the course, such as course syllabus, study period, and application information.
Content and learning outcomes
Course contents
The course is web-based without timetabled meetings and is organized around six themes that are treated in modules of the course:
- Academic culture, language and assessment
- Types of academic English
- Core functions of academic language
- Academic identity
- Criticality
- Learning optimisation
Students will produce a portfolio of work focused on improving their academic linguistic proficiency
General content: Differences between general English and scientific English - Strategies for moving from competence to excellence - Key academic vocabulary - Strategies for vocabulary learning
Academic culture: Collaborating with other students - Making use of university and departmental resources - Defining academic dishonesty and plagiarism - Understanding different assessment schemes - Becoming a member of a discourse community - Interpreting teacher's feedback - Efficient note-taking
Listening comprehension for academic studies: Identifying common lecture structures - Distinctive features of spoken English that can affect comprehension - Listening for gist and detail - Dealing with different speaking styles - Developing active listening skills - Preparing for optimal listening to lectures
Speaking and presenting at academic studies: The purpose of academic discussion and debate - Strategies for preparing for and participating in academic seminars and discussions - Structuring scientific talks and presentations - Presentation technique - Audience awareness - Presenting visual data - Developing and expressing critical viewpoints - Presenting and defending a degree project - Anticipating and answering questions on presentations - Giving constructive feedback to other students - Strategies for improving speaking skills
Reading comprehension for academic studies: The different types of academic texts - Strategies for reading academic writing - Identifying coherence and cohesion in texts - Differences between reading for information and critical reading - The functions of multi-modal items in texts - Understanding arguments in texts - Strategies for understanding difficult texts
Academic writing: The role of academic writing - Different Genres of academic writing - Writer and reader responsibility - Key skills for good academic writing - The IMRaD structure - Finding, evaluating, selecting, using and referencing other sources - Referencing systems- Genre, audience, purpose and organization - Paragraph and sentence structure - Writing with coherence and cohesion - Distinguishing between voice of author and voice of sources - Techniques for paraphrasing - Different concepts of criticality - Critically and respectfully expressing a viewpoint- Critically reflecting on one's own work and the work of others - The writing process from planning to proofreading - Ways of producing writing - Responding to feedback on writing
Intended learning outcomes
The aim of the course is to help the students develop study and communication skills focusing on the conventions and requirements within their own academic disciplines.
On completion of the course, the students should be able to:
- Carry out a critical analysis of academic discourse
- Demonstrate an understanding of the discourse practices within their disciplinary communities
- Demonstrate an understanding of how knowledge is communicated in academic contexts
- Create and present a reflected academic identity in spoken and written academic texts
- Develop strategies for refinement of their academic language
Course disposition
Literature and preparations
Specific prerequisites
General admission requirements
Recommended prerequisites
Equipment
Literature
Examination and completion
If the course is discontinued, students may request to be examined during the following two academic years.
Grading scale
Examination
- LEXA - Continuous Assessment, 3.0 credits, grading scale: P, F
Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.
The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.
Other requirements for final grade
All course components passed.
Opportunity to complete the requirements via supplementary examination
Opportunity to raise an approved grade via renewed examination
Examiner
Ethical approach
- All members of a group are responsible for the group's work.
- In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used.
- In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.
Further information
Course web
Further information about the course can be found on the Course web at the link below. Information on the Course web will later be moved to this site.
Course web LS1415