Improve Your Academic Skills

IMPROVE YOUR ACADEMIC SKILLS core classes: monday to friday

The core classes focus on academic skills and language to prepare for entering an Australian college or university.

The class focuses on how to digest and interpret academic texts and lectures, including note-taking and building academic vocabulary.

LISTENING Listen to academic lectures to understand key information and language. Learn note-taking methods.

READING Read excerpts from authentic textbooks. Learn to predict content, identify key features of the text, and respond critically to the topic and ideas. Learn note-taking methods.

CRITICAL THINKING Discuss and evaluate academic topics. You will also evaluate your own work and that of others, making judgments about the value of information and drawing conclusions from data.

VOCABULARY Look at key aspects of academic vocabulary and cover useful vocabulary learning strategies.

PRESENTATION SKILLS Pull information together in a logical order, create clear visual aids and use appropriately, speaking clearly and with confidence, knowing your audience and pitching a presentation at the appropriate level.

DISCUSSIONS Participate in and lead academic discussions and seminars. Learn communication strategies for maintaining an academic conversation, eliciting and providing ideas based on research and personal opinions.

ACADEMIC WRITING Produce academic reports and essays worthy of an Australian college or university. Understand the scope of and plan the assignment, research and assess sources, organize your thoughts, write the assignment, proofing and assessing your work, using feedback to improve.

RESEARCH SKILLS Understanding the remit of the research, finding materials and sources, managing your time and your resources, presenting your results.