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English Language Center
  2. Programs
  3. Academic Workshops

Academic Workshops

The English Language Center (ELC) offers a series of academic workshops with a particular language theme and focus.

  • The Academic Workshops are individual sessions that cover topics especially relevant to multilingual students and scholars.
  • Each session has a particular theme and includes activities, exercises, discussion, and feedback.
  • Workshops are free and signing up is important to reserve your place. Details and signup information will be sent prior to each workshop.

All workshops are held from 10:00–11:00 a.m. Central Time (https://time.gov) remotely via Zoom.

Fall 2022 ELC Postdoc Workshops

TBA

Prior Schedules

Fall 2021 ELC Postdoc Workshops

  • ELC Postdoc Workshop: October session 
    22 October 2021: remote via Zoom
    •  Strategies for effectively communicating with your advisor or mentor
    •  Resources for balancing productivity and mental health while managing postdoc responsibilities
    •  General tips for making the most of your postdoc years
  • ELC Postdoc Workshop: December session 
    10 December 2021: remote via Zoom
    •  Strategies for effectively communicating with your advisor or mentor
    •  Resources for balancing productivity and mental health while managing postdoc responsibilities
    •  General tips for making the most of your postdoc years

Note:  the content for the two above workshops was the same.

Spring 2021 Academic Workshop Series One Schedule:

  • Reading Academic Research in the U.S.
    5 February 2021: remote via Zoom
    Exploring effective ways of reading complex U.S. academic texts. Learning and practicing various strategies, such as language journals and key word tracking, for retaining academic vocabulary.
  • Writing about Sources in Academic English
    19 February 2021: remote via Zoom
    Delving deeper into Paraphrasing / Quoting / Summarizing techniques, with an emphasis on scholarly tone and author positioning. Examining effective literature synthesis styles and correct verb tenses / reporting verbs in specific fields.
  • The Language of Data Commentaries
    5 March 2021: remote via Zoom
    Exploring effective ways to read and write data commentaries. Understanding how language elements, such as highlighting statements, qualifying claims, and organizational patterns are used when writing about data.

Spring 2021 Academic Workshop Series Two Schedule:

  • Academic Speaking in Virtual Environments
    12 February 2021: remote via Zoom
    Exploring communication skills relevant to the U.S. academic environment. Examining organizational and linguistic strategies—such as responding to questions, interacting with peers, expressing opinions—for effective spoken academic communication in virtual and in-person environments.
  • Advanced Academic Presentation Skills
    26 February 2021: remote via Zoom
    Learning strategies for effective presentations to specific audiences in your field and methods of organizing material for audiences. Navigating cultural references and unfamiliar vocabulary during presentations.
  • Briefly Describing “What is your research?”
    (workshop includes option for personalized feedback)
    12 March 2021: remote via Zoom
    Learning effective ways of discussing your research, job skills, background, and abilities in various academic settings when time might be limited, such as academic Q&As, short interviews, three-minute thesis (3MT) presentations, etc. Practicing linguistic strategies to increase capacity to effectively explain your research agenda, job skills, and/or future academic goals with short and clear responses. After the workshop, participants are able to submit a brief recording and receive personalized feedback with specific comments related to improving their academic speaking, developing methods of organizing material, and increasing comprehensibility.

 

Fall 2020 Series Schedule:

All workshops are held from 10:00–11:00 a.m. Central Time (https://time.gov) remotely via Zoom.

  • Reading Academic Texts in the U.S.
    25 September 2020: remote via Zoom
    Exploring effective ways of reading complex U.S. academic texts. Learning and practicing various strategies, such as language journals and key word tracking, for retaining academic vocabulary.
  • Writing about Sources in Academic English
    16 October 2020: remote via Zoom
    Delving deeper into Paraphrasing/Quoting/Summarizing techniques, with an emphasis on scholarly tone and author positioning. Examining effective literature synthesis styles and correct verb tenses/reporting verbs in discipline-specific fields.
  • The Language of Data Commentaries
    6 November 2020: remote via Zoom
    Exploring effective ways to read and write data commentaries. Understanding the role of highlighting statements, qualifying claims, and organizational patterns when writing about data.

Spring 2020 Series Schedule:

All workshops are from 12:00–2:00 p.m.

  • Improving Writing Clarity and Flow
    24 January 2020: Alumni Hall 010
    Employing a range of strategies to enhance connectedness in your writing.
  • Strengthening Paraphrasing/Quoting/Summarizing Skills
    31 January 2020: Alumni Hall 010
    Delving deeper into Paraphrasing/Quoting/Summarizing techniques, with an emphasis on scholarly tone and author positioning.
  • Enhancing your Academic Vocabulary
    7 February 2020: Alumni Hall 010
    Learning and practicing various strategies for improving academic vocabulary appropriate to your field.
  • Writing a Literature Review
    14 February 2020: Alumni Hall 010
    Examining literature review organization, effective literature synthesis styles, and correct verb tenses/reporting verbs in discipline-specific fields.
  • The Language of Effective Data Commentaries
    21 February 2020: Alumni Hall 010
    Exploring effective ways to present data through highlighting statements, qualifying claims, and organizational patterns.
  • Editing and Responding to Feedback on your Writing
    28 February 2020: Alumni Hall 010
    Enhancing revision strategies by better understanding feedback and crafting effective responses, including addressing comments in revisions.

Fall 2019 Series Schedule:

No workshops were scheduled.

Spring 2019 Series Schedule:

All workshops are from 12:00–2:00 p.m.

  • Enhancing your Academic Vocabulary
    25 January 2019: Alumni Hall 010
    1 February 2019: English Language Center (ELC) Annex 1
    Using a targeted corpus (language database) as a tool to build academic vocabulary appropriate to your field.
  • Improving Writing Clarity and Flow
    8 February 2019: Alumni Hall 010
    15 February 2019: English Language Center (ELC) Annex 1
    Employing a range of strategies to enhance connectedness in your writing.
  • Strengthening Paraphrasing/Quoting/Summarizing Skills .
    22 February 2019: Alumni Hall 010
    1 March 2019: English Language Center (ELC) Annex 1
    Delving deeper into Paraphrasing/Quoting/Summarizing techniques, with an emphasis on scholarly tone and author positioning.
  • Writing a Literature Review
    15 March 2019: Alumni Hall 010
    22 March 2019: English Language Center (ELC) Annex 1
    Examining literature review organization, effective literature synthesis styles, and correct verb tenses/reporting verbs in discipline-specific fields.
  • The Language of Effective Data Commentaries
    29 March 2019: Alumni Hall 010
    5 April 2019: English Language Center (ELC) Annex 1
    Exploring effective ways to present data through highlighting statements, qualifying claims, and organizational patterns.
  • Editing and Responding to Feedback on your Writing
    12 April 2019: Alumni Hall 010 and English Language Center (ELC) Annex 1
    Enhancing revision strategies by better understanding feedback and crafting effective responses, including addressing comments in revisions.

Questions?

For more information about Academic Workshops, please contact:

Jim Cracraft, Assistant Director
Tel: +1 615-322-2277
Email: jim.cracraft@vanderbilt.edu