Academic English Workshops

Winter 2024 WORKSHOP SERIES: English for Academic Purposes

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!

Click here to register for any of the workshops below.

WRITING EFFECTIVE EMAIL (Wednesday, January 17, 2024, 6-8pm)

Have you ever struggled to write important emails? Have you ever wondered whether your tone is right in your email messages? In this workshop we will focus on strategies for writing clear, effective and professional email. You will learn how to write emails that are likely to be read, be easily understood, and create a good first impression. Bring a few samples of your important email messages to analyze. Please come prepared to participate actively in small group discussions. SIGN-UP

NETWORKING AND SMALL TALK IN ENGLISH (Wednesday, January 24, 2024, 6-8pm)

Establishing a strong social network is key to academic and professional success, and it supports your overall well-being too! Learning how to comfortably make small talk is a great first step in building your personal and professional network. It also helps you excel in your academic work and integrate with life on campus. This interactive workshop will provide tips and strategies for networking and small talk in English, preparing you to make your own connections with friends, professors, and future colleagues. Please come prepared to participate actively in small groups. SIGN-UP

EDITING YOUR ACADEMIC WRITING FOR ORGANIZATION, FLOW AND PRECISION (Wednesday, Jan 31, 2024, 6-8pm)

Connecting ideas smoothly for readers is one of the keys to effective academic writing. In this workshop, we will explore “information bridges” as a means to improve the organization, flow, and precision of your writing. We will work with examples from a range of academic disciplines, and provide you with tools to recognize how information bridges tend to be constructed in your own corner of the academic writing world. Please bring something you've drafted, at any stage in your writing process, to try out editing strategies during the workshop. SIGN-UP

USING VIDEOS TO ENHANCE YOUR SPEAKING AND LISTENING SKILLS (Wed, Feb 7, 2024, 6-8pm)

YouTube, TED Talks, Netflix, Tiktok. Easily accessible video content impacts the way public speakers present their ideas in and outside academia. In this hands-on workshop, we will explore ways you can use online videos to develop skills and strategies to take your English speaking to the next level. We will look at resources for improving both speaking and listening.  Please come prepared to join in conversations with other participants in this interactive workshop. SIGN-UP

TIPS FOR TALKING TO POWERFUL PEOPLE (Wednesday, February 14, 2024, 6-8pm)

Making small talk is one of the most challenging types of speaking to master in any language. This can be particularly true with people in a position of authority, such as a faculty advisor, department chair, work supervisor, or future employer. In this workshop, you will practice skills and strategies to effectively interact with powerful people, including turn-taking strategies, active listening, and sources for sample conversations. Learn how to appear friendly and confident at a job interview, or confident and insightful in a research group meeting. Please come prepared to practice with other participants. SIGN-UP

“MINDFUL LISTENING”: STRESS REDUCTION STRATEGIES FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS (Wed, Mar 13, 2024, 6-8pm)

Winter is dragging on. The stress of the midterm of the semester is kicking in. The extra seasonal stress of cold weather and gray days can have an impact on your academic performance and even your English communication skills. This interactive workshop introduces stress-reduction strategies and resources to help you thrive this winter and beyond, with a special focus on practicing mindful listening which promotes reduced anxiety and stress, increased focus, and greater self-compassion. It can even improve your English listening comprehension! Please come prepared to participate actively in small groups. SIGN-UP