Academic English refers to the language used for studying at university. This is different from the English used for everyday communication. It includes academic and subject-specific vocabulary, has specialised functions, and is written in recognised formats. These formats include essays, reports, and reflective writing, for example.
This page will be useful for any student wanting to improve their academic language and skills.
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We run interactive workshops to help you develop your academic skills. Find out more on the Skills for Learning Workshops page.
We have online academic skills modules within MyBeckett for all levels of university study. These modules will help your academic development and support your success at LBU. You can work through the modules at your own pace, revisiting them as required. Find out more from our FAQ What academic skills modules are available?
Reflect on your academic language and skills by doing this self-assessment to identify your strengths and weaknesses.
Common issues for students are:
If you need advice, please book an appointment to discuss this further.
First, you need to understand what it is that you are trying to improve.
For example, this might be:
Practise and try to incorporate this learning into your studies.
Choose the aspect you want to improve and follow the guidance. Set yourself regular goals and keep records so that you can see your progress.
Academic Language refers to the grammar and vocabulary used in academic study. You might have received negative feedback on aspects of your academic language use. Now take some action to improve. Grammar and vocabulary are the tools we use to express our ideas. Improve your knowledge of these tools and you will be able to express your ideas more effectively.
Use this worksheet to help you.
All students need to become efficient academic readers and develop their critical reading ability. If you have learnt English for the purpose of studying, academic reading can be challenging. It is a key academic skill. You will be expected to read independently to prepare for lectures, seminars and module assessments.
Use this worksheet to help you.
At university, you need to communicate effectively in writing. It is an important assessment method on most courses. Writing is an essential academic skill. It can take time to understand the requirements and become a confident writer.
Use these worksheets to help you.
At university, you will need to communicate academic ideas in many settings. These include presentations, tutorial discussions and seminar discussions. Some of these activities can be assessed as part of your degree course. You need to develop new language and skills, such as how to structure a presentation.
Use this worksheet to help you.
If you have learnt English for the purpose of studying, listening might be challenging. This can be especially the case if it is your first time in the UK. Spend some time on specific activities and you will soon feel more confident.
Use this worksheet to help you.
Before using any generative artificial intelligence or paraphrasing tools in your assessments, you should check if this is permitted on your course.
If their use is permitted on your course, you must acknowledge any use of generative artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT or paraphrasing tools (e.g., Grammarly, Quillbot, etc.), even if you have only used them to generate ideas for your assignment or for proofreading.
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