Preparing students to thrive in a university setting

University Success Oral Communication is designed for English language learners preparing for mainstream academic environments. A flexible three-part approach includes intensive and systematic skill development tied to learning outcomes along with authentic lectures delivered by top professors from Stanford University. The Oral Communication strand provides real-life learning experiences for students who need to achieve academic autonomy.

Highlights

• Each part is a self-contained module allowing teachers to focus on the highest-value skills and content.
• Topics are aligned around science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) content.
  • Parts 1 and 2 include challenging readings that allow students to engage with the content as they build essential reading and critical thinking skills.
  • Part 3 provides a truly authentic experience with an extended essay that enables students to apply and expand the skills acquired in Parts 1 and 2.
• Additional online readings, skill and vocabulary practices, collaboration activities, and assessments.
• Strategies for academic success and soft skills delivered via online videos.

Intermediate level

Intensive skill practice

Intensive skill practice tied to learning objectives informed by the Global Scale of English

Authentic content

• Listenings: 2 minutes?20 minutes
• Multiple exposures and chunking
• Genres include lectures, presentations, student presentations, and debates.

Explicit vocabulary instruction

• Vocabulary previews and checks
• Glossing of content vocabulary
• Extensive recycling

Scaffolded approach

Multiple guided exercises focus on prediction, comprehension, application, and clarification.

Vocabulary strategies

Vocabulary strategy sections including:

• Understanding abbreviations
• Analyzing meaning using word parts

Graphic Organizers

Extensive integration of graphic organizers throughout to support note-taking and help students process complex content.

​Tim McLaughlin teaches English for Academic Purposes in New York City, and also works as an assessment writer, instructional designer, and educational consultant. He has been in the English language-learning field since 2005 and has held teaching and administrative positions at universities and language schools in Asia and North America. He received an M.A. in Applied Linguistics from Teachers College, Columbia University and a B.S. in Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

University Success - Intermediate - Oral Communication - Extract