* It is possible to join a course after it has already started.
** Dates tentative; could change.
Courses
Academic English for University
This course offers 8 hours of instruction per week on the intermediate to advanced level of English proficiency. It focuses on developing students’ abilities to read and write academic and professional texts in English, but students will also have opportunities to practice their academic listening and speaking skills. After completing the three course sessions, students will receive a certificate that will be accepted by the UGA Graduate School as a successful completion of the English language proficiency requirement for international students (IEP Level 6). The course will be taught by Dr. Sebastian Burkholdt.
There are two possible options for class days and times. Please indicate in your application what option you prefer:
- Option 1* (morning option)
- Mondays, 10:00am – 12:45pm (in-person); 15 min break
- Wednesdays, 10:00am – 11:50am (on Zoom); 10 min break
- Saturdays, 10:00am – 12:45pm (in-person); 15 min break
- Option 2* (evening option)
- Mondays, 6:00pm – 8:45pm (in-person); 15 min break
- Wednesdays, 6:00pm – 7:50pm (on Zoom); 10 min break
- Saturdays, 10:00am – 12:45pm (in-person); 15 min break
* Class days and times and mode of instruction (in-person/Zoom) are flexible and can be changed according to students’ preferences.
The course content includes:
- Applying to university
- Writing application (CV/Resume; Statement of Purpose; Cover Letters)
- Finding information about academic programs, courses, and faculty
- Communicating with faculty about your application
- Finding and applying for assistantships, scholarships, and jobs at the university
- Writing professional emails to university faculty and staff
- Creating and maintaining a LinkedIn profile
- Academic reading
- Practice academic reading strategies
- Read research literature in different academic fields
- Learn about general & field-specific structure, reading & interpretation approaches, etc.
- Academic writing
- Learn how to write different types of essays, such as reaction essays, argument essays, and problem-solution essays
- Practice how to plan, structure, and write course papers, a thesis, a dissertation, and research articles
- Learn how to use appropriate language, grammar, and style for academic writing
- Academic integrity
- Practice correct use of primary and secondary sources (citation, paraphrasing, bibliography, field-specific citation & formatting styles)
- Learn about the standards of academic research
- Practice identifying and avoiding plagiarism and unauthorized assistance
Professional English for Work
This course offers 8 hours of instruction per week on the intermediate to advanced level of English proficiency. It focuses on developing students’ abilities to read and write professional texts in English, but students will also have opportunities to practice their academic listening and speaking skills.
Class days & times*:
- Mondays, 6:00pm – 8:45pm (in-person or on Zoom); 15 min break
- Wednesdays, 6:00pm – 7:50pm (on Zoom); 10 min break
- Saturdays, 10:00am – 12:45pm (in-person or on Zoom); 15 min break
* Class days and times and mode of instruction (in-person/Zoom) are flexible and can be changed according to students’ preferences.
The course content includes:
- Applying for jobs
- Writing application materials
- Finding information about jobs, companies, and people
- Interview training
- Creating and maintaining a LinkedIn profile
- Writing professional emails
- Presentation skills
- Preparing a presentation
- Public speaking
- Stage presence
- How to do small talk with colleagues and clients
- Professional writing
- Learn how to write different types of professional texts, such as reports, proposals, presentations, memos, and emails
- Practice how to plan, structure, and write professional texts
Learn how to use appropriate language, grammar, and style for professional writing
English for Everyday Use (“ESL”)
This course offers 8 hours of instruction per week on the high-beginner to intermediate level of English proficiency. It focuses on developing students’ abilities to listen to, speak, read, and write English so that they can participate in conversations in their private lives and at work.
Class days & times*:
- Tuesdays, 10:00am – 12:45pm (in-person); 15 min break
- Wednesdays, 10:00am – 11:50am (in-person); 10 min break
- Thursdays, 10:00am – 12:45pm (in-person); 15 min break
* Class days and times and mode of instruction (in-person/Zoom) are flexible and can be changed according to students’ preferences.
The course content includes:
- Vocabulary and grammar
- Expand your vocabulary for various social life and work situations
- Study grammar to express information, thoughts, and ideas on everyday and work-related topics
- Listening and speaking
- Learn practical English for your everyday life, including work, family life, free time, and hobbies
- Practice correct pronunciation of American English
- Learn how to …
- do small talk to find new friends
- write professional emails
- communicate with schools (e.g., talk with teachers, send emails to school, participate in parent-teacher conferences)
- communicate with your supervisor at work
- communicate with doctors and nurses (e.g., making doctor’s appointments, describing symptoms, filling out paperwork)
TOEFL Preparation Course
This course offers 8 hours of instruction per week on the intermediate to advanced level of English proficiency. It focuses on developing students’ abilities to read, listen, speak, and write in English with the specific focus on preparing students to pass the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
- Class days and times*:
- Mondays, 6:30pm – 8:30pm (in-person); 10 min break
- Tuesdays, 5:00pm – 8:00pm (on Zoom); 20 min break
- Thursdays, 6:30pm – 8:30pm (in-person); 10 min break
*Class days and times and mode of instruction (in-person/Zoom) are flexible and can be changed according to student’s preferences.
The course content includes:
- Reading:
- Reading longer passages of complex texts in a short time frame
- Answering overall and detail-questions about the texts
- Listening
- Listening to lectures, discussions, conversations
- Answering questions about the audio
- Practicing effective note-taking
- Speaking
- Practicing fluid, intelligible, sustained, and error-free speech about a variety of topics
- Writing
- Writing short but well-developed and well-organized essays about a variety of topics
- Practicing the use of relevant explanations and detailed support
- Learning how to demonstrate unity, progression, coherence, syntactic variety, and appropriate word choice with minor grammatical errors
- Completing practice activities and exams
