Course description

- this class is open to PhDs from other faculties provided there are sufficient places; for those PhDs, registration is provisional until further notice -

Each lesson will address language-based components (vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar) through role play, games, partner and small-group exercises, and larger group discussions. You will practice your listening and speaking skills in fun and creative ways, within the context of themes linked to living and working in the Netherlands and situations that you will come across as a PhD candidate. Homework, an essential part of this course, is geared towards daily practice of English and will include scanning the (science) news in English, reading graded readers, watching and analyzing TED talks, and systematically using the opportunities available in your own research group to practice English skills (e.g. attending and asking questions at research presentations, conversing with people around the coffee table). Each student will also prepare and give a formal talk during the course.

This course will challenge you to immerse yourself in English to quickly and effectively increase proficiency.

This course consists of 7x2 sessions (7 weeks, 2 meetings a week) of 2 hours each.

Course objectives

After an assessment of the English levels of the participants, the course will be tailored to these specific levels, consisting of a combination of the Basic and Intermediate course elements. 

If necessary, the course will be split into sub-groups of different levels.

Please estimate your English level by taking the Dialang diagnostic test for English (https://dialangweb.lancaster.ac.uk/) in the following areas: listening, reading, structures and vocabulary. If your listening scores are equal to or higher than B1, and you have two additional scores equal to or higher than B1 in reading, structures and vocabulary, sign up for the Intermediate level.

 Basic course:

• You will improve your academic vocabulary and learn to correctly use more of the words that you already know.
• You will improve your pronunciation by identifying what the problems are and using a number of different tools.
• You will speak more confidently in both social and work situations, able to exchange simple and direct information on familiar and routine matters.
• You will practice preparing for and giving oral presentations, and be more comfortable with asking questions as part of the audience.

Intermediate course: In addition to reviewing some of the foundations covered in the Basic course:

• You will improve vocabulary using strategies on learning more unusual or difficult words.
• You will learn how stress patterns and intonation can change the subtle meanings of spoken language.
• You will improve your note-taking skills to better remember information that you hear.
• You will be able to understand and communicate on familiar matters that are regularly encountered, and deal with most situations while travelling in an English-speaking country.

ECTS

3

Available methods of payment

• Projectcode (e.g. ITB)
• Payment by money transfer