Academic resources

Academic-focused resources for you and your students. For learning general academic skills and processes.

Vocabulary

Resource	Content	Suggested use
pearsonlongman.com/ae/keystone/natl/pdf/academicwordlist.pdf	PDF of the academic word list in alphabetical order	Identify gaps in knowledge, spelling, categorisation
uefap.net/vocabulary/vocabulary-building/vocabulary-building-aff-root	Affixes and roots, examples and exercises	Awareness raising and word-building practice
eapfoundation.com/vocab/resources/#AWLsublists	Sublists of the academic word list in order of frequency, with word classification	Word groups, word formation
eapfoundation.com/vocab/academic/highlighter	Tool for identifying academic words and word families in a text	Make your own gap-fill exercises, word formation practice
warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/al/globalpad/openhouse/academicenglishskills/vocabulary/academic_words/#tips	Ten tips on improving academic vocabulary	In a study plan or as a regular feature of a lesson
youtube.com/watch?v=fFxtS_M5410&feature=youtu.be	Hour-long webinar recording with Michael McCarthy about ways to use the AWL	Lunchtime CPD?!
uefap.net/vocabulary/learning-vocabulary/learning-vocabulary-recording	Recording and learning vocabulary: tips on how to do this effectively, plus exercises	Students work on new ways to group and record academic vocabulary (spreadsheet, A-Z notebook, Quizlet, flashcards, diagrams, apps)

Dictionaries

Resource	Content	Suggested use
wordreference.com/definition	Monolingual online dictionary with definitions from US and UK dictionaries and featuring pronunciation in different accents	Monolingual online dictionary with definitions from US and UK dictionaries and featuring pronunciation in different accents
ldoceonline.com/dictionary	Monolingual online dictionary with features including collocations, word families and thesaurus examples	Spelling, reference, contextual examples, collocations, definitions, call my bluff etc

Writing

Resource	Content	Suggested use
uefap.net/writing/writing-genre/writing-genre-essay	Introduction to essay writing	Explanation of different types of essays, presentation of essay language
warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/al/globalpad/openhouse/academicenglishskills/writing	Guidance on how to structure your written assignments, academic style and more	Inform lesson activities, work on writing subskills such as paragraphing
eapfoundation.com/listening/podcasts/?arr=writesspod#writesspod	Podcast audio on essay types and how to structure	For auditory learners
studyskills.lshtm.ac.uk/AcademicEnglish/academicenglish/AcademicEnglish_q%26a/toc.html	Series of academic writing tasks	Scientific writing focus, good section on punctuation
academic-englishuk.com/writing	Part of the free resources area of this site, the writing section contains brief notes on a wide range of elements of writing	Provide an overview, look at model introductions/conclusions

Academic caution

Resource	Content	Suggested use
eapfoundation.com/infographics/writing/hedging	Handy visual guide with examples of cautious language	Put up in the teaching space, along with others
phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk/using-cautious-language	Collection of phrases to help students use academic caution in their writing	Apply to students’ own work, identify in texts

Cohesion

Resource	Content	Suggested use
uefap.net/writing/writing-paragraphs/writing-paragraphs-cohesion	Explanation and examples of how to write cohesive text	Use as part of a lesson on organising writing

Coherence/transitions

Resource	Content	Suggested use
phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk/summary-and-transition	Collection of linking phrases	Use with meaningful example, then progress to academic context
aeo.sllf.qmul.ac.uk/Files/Linking%20Words/Linking%20LOB.html	Exercises to practise functions of linking phrases	Self-study, for categorisation and to improve understanding

Writing correction code

Resource	Content	Suggested use
eapfoundation.com/writing/paraphrase	Clear explanation of what and why	Identify different ways of paraphrasing, checklist for students
academic-englishuk.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Paraphrasing-2-AEUK.pdf	Basic PDF task	Use as example to guide students
aeo.sllf.qmul.ac.uk/Files/ParaSynthRef/AcademicSynonymsAdjectives.htm	Drag and drop activity to match synonyms	Extend with your own ideas and examples from marked work

Paraphrasing

Resource	Content	Suggested use
warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/al/globalpad/openhouse/academicenglishskills/skills	Clear advice on how to improve spoken English	Discussion, needs analysis
uefap.net/speaking/speaking-presentation/speaking-presentation-language	Basic format and phrases for academic presentations	Incorporate into presentation task
le.ac.uk/offices/ld/all-resources/presentations	Set of guidance notes on giving an academic presentation	Read and select key points, develop a mark scheme or checklist
eapfoundation.com/speaking	A good breakdown of the key areas, with helpful language	Inform course design, add variety
academic-englishuk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Semnar-Speaking-Cards-AEUK.pdf	PDF with seminar topics	1:1 students can prepare a range of viewpoints in order to argue both sides with the teacher
academic-englishuk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Independent-Learning-Seminar-AEUK.pdf	4 videos and a PDF to practise note-taking and ideas generation in preparation for a seminar	1:1 students can group themes in the summary and discuss with the teacher

Speaking

Resource	Content	Suggested use
uefap.net/reading/reading-exercises/reading-exercises-efficient	Reading skills activities for skimming & scanning, using headings etc	Students do the online exercises, then apply strategies in a lesson
uefap.net/reading/reading-critically/reading-critically-introduction	Information and exercises to help with reading critically	Apply to a text the student has to read
academic-englishuk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/AEUK-Credible-sources.pdf	PDF exercise on evaluating sources	Basis for discussion and good to look at some of these sites with students
warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/al/globalpad/openhouse/academicenglishskills/reading/readingspeed	Simple bulleted list of student-friendly information	Build in some of these ideas to regular reading slots for your students
scholar.google.com	Database of academic articles	Students should have their own reading lists and university library database but this is a good place to find academic texts to use for reading lessons, vocabulary work, writing models etc

Reading

Resource	Content	Suggested use
uefap.net/reading/reading-exercises/reading-exercises-efficient	Reading skills activities for skimming & scanning, using headings etc	Students do the online exercises, then apply strategies in a lesson
uefap.net/reading/reading-critically/reading-critically-introduction	Information and exercises to help with reading critically	Apply to a text the student has to read
academic-englishuk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/AEUK-Credible-sources.pdf	PDF exercise on evaluating sources	Basis for discussion and good to look at some of these sites with students
warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/al/globalpad/openhouse/academicenglishskills/reading/readingspeed	Simple bulleted list of student-friendly information	Build in some of these ideas to regular reading slots for your students
scholar.google.com	Database of academic articles	Students should have their own reading lists and university library database but this is a good place to find academic texts to use for reading lessons, vocabulary work, writing models etc

Making notes

Resource	Content	Suggested use
bolton.ac.uk/leaponline/Documents/LEAP-Printables/Note-Making-Level-1.pdf	A PDF on the basics of making notes	Read, highlight and make notes and then try the other levels
bolton.ac.uk/leaponline/My-Academic-Development/My-Writing-Techniques/Note-Making/Level-2/Home.aspx	Four different styles of note-making explained in short videos.	Try using different note-making styles with the same text
eapfoundation.com/listening/notetaking/symbols	Some common symbols and abbreviations	Encourage students to develop their own set of abbreviations for their subject

Listening

Resource	Content	Suggested use
warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/al/globalpad/openhouse/academicenglishskills/materials	Useful tips on improving listening skills	Good starting point for needs analysis or self-evaluation
eapfoundation.com/listening/podcasts	Helpful collection of audio about a range of academic skills	Use to introduce your topic to auditory learners, take notes on main points, transcribe sections or key vocabulary
uefap.net/listening/note-taking-for-listening/listening-note-taking-exercises	Short audio extracts on academic topics for listening and note-taking practice	Self-study listening and notetaking practice, you can use extracts of appropriate TEDTalks (use the transcripts with the videos) in the same way
uefap.net/listening/listening-exercises/listening-exercises-general#speeches	Range of formal listening texts with gap-fill activities to complete while listening (audio runs with HTML5 player on phones and other devices)	Detailed listening, accuracy, identify discourse markers
esl-lab.com/academic-english	Collection of academic audio at three levels (American English)	Pre-listening and vocabulary tasks, as well as comprehension activities to complete while listening
ted.com/talks	Over 3000 filmed talks on a huge range of topics, with subtitles, transcripts and reading lists	Watch/listen for gist, detail, subject language, discourse markers, summarising, note-taking, ideas on delivery and much more
ed.ted.com/lessons	Content to help you build a lesson around a TED talk or animation	Select the source and activities to suit your student, or they can create a lesson for you

Critical Thinking

Resource	Content	Suggested use
aeo.sllf.qmul.ac.uk/Files/CriticalThinking/Critical%20Thinking.html	Series of short activities to explain and encourage critical thinking	Self-study or adapt into a lesson
bolton.ac.uk/leaponline/My-Academic-Development/My-Writing-Techniques/Critical-Thinking.aspx	Short video with tips on how to apply critical thinking	Use the video to help students evaluate sources, or read and discuss the handout
phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk/being-critical	Collection of phrases for critical writing	Students generate own examples

Plagiarism

Resource	Content	Suggested use
bolton.ac.uk/leaponline/My-Academic-Development/My-Writing-Techniques/Plagiarism.aspx	Short video on what plagiarism is and how to avoid it.	Read and refer to during the course
uefap.net/writing/writing-plagiarism/writing-plagiarism-advice	Clear advice with exercises	As a general introduction - students should adhere to the citation and referencing rules of their institution!

Referencing

Resource	Content	Suggested use
warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/al/globalpad/openhouse/academicenglishskills/writing/referencing	A brief overview of referencing Harvard style	As a general introduction - students should adhere to the citation and referencing rules of their institution!

Proofreading

Resource	Content	Suggested use
bolton.ac.uk/leaponline/My-Academic-Development/My-Writing-Techniques/Proofreading.aspx	Short video explaining how to proofread and why it is important	Watch and summarise
eapfoundation.com/writing/process/proofread	Clear guidance and a checklist to help students proofread	Adapt the checklist for use by students