An English course for those of intermediate level and above who wish to improve their language skills for both social and professional purposes. The focus is spoken interaction and discussion. The course includes techniques of writing reports and articles, and the preparation and giving presentations to academic groups and clients. It is particularly appropriate for students and professionals who need to communicate in English and wish to enhance their political and cultural understanding of English-speaking countries.
The course includes:
- A detailed grammatical understanding as a platform for speaking, writing and presentation of material for social, academic and business purposes.
- Social conversation and social codes.
- Composition and writing of reports, debate articles, opinion pieces, personal presentation letters and emails.
- Language differences between the UK and the USA.
- Confidence building and voice coaching for academic and client presentations.
- A deeper awareness of the political and cultural structures and systems of Britian and the United States.
- An understanding of the relations between Britain and the United States, Europe and the rest of the world.
- Each session includes question and answer time and discussion of various issues.
- Participants will be expected to prepare work between sessions.
- Time and place to be announced.
All instruction is in English with a teacher born in London, formally a journalist and presenter with BBC Radio and a cultural journalist on a Scottish national newspaper. Over twenty years’ experience working with adult students at Alma folkhögskola, Liljeholmen, and with business professionals in Stockholm.
INTENSIVE ENGLISH COURSE
All instruction is in English. The course tutor provides the relevant materials. Each session includes opportunities for student questions and small group discussion on various topics, after which each group provides a summary of their conversation. The course will be adapted to the requirements of the students.
The course includes:
- A detailed grammatical understanding as a platform for speaking, writing and presentation of material for social, academic and business purposes. This includes a general grammatical overview of points where students require clarification and a guide to concise, clear speaking and writing.
- Social conversation and social codes. A guide to formal and informal English and what is acceptable in various social situations. How to make and sustain conversation. What is socially expected in formal and informal situations. How to introduce people, sign formal and informal emails, end conversations.
- Composition and writing of reports, debate articles, opinion pieces, personal presentation letters and emails. How to gather, edit and order material for different forms of writing. How to write clearly and effectively. Students will write in class.
- Language differences between the UK and the USA. A guide to the differences between the two most spoken and written versions of English, with examples of vocabulary.
- Confidence building and voice coaching for academic and client presentations. The techniques of giving an effective presentation. How to gather, order and present material, both spoken and in power-point, how to modulate and exercise your voice, how to overcome nervousness. Students will work on and give an individual presentation.
- A deeper awareness of the political and cultural structures and systems of Britian and the United States. As 2024 in an election year in both Britian and the United States, we will look at how the two electoral systems operate, analyse the main political parties and understand how government works in the UK and USA. We will look at the cultural and social differences between the two countries to understand how society works.
- An understanding of the relations between Britain and the United States, Europe and the rest of the world. We will look at the ‘special relationship’ between Britain and the US to discover what it really means and whether it works in practice. We will also look at the UK before and after Brexit, and understand how the UK and the USA view Europe and the rest of the world.