Subject Skills

An important part of English for Academic Purposes is aligning learning of language with learning of academic skills. Academic skills may form a common core for all subjects. However, there are also subject specific skills. The QAA sets out benchmarks for subjects in English institutions and it is useful to consider the skills listed under the particular subject you are studying.

In terms of developing your understanding of academic subjects, it is often a good idea, particularly for language learners who are below B2 level to start with simpler approaches to a subject e.g. looking for "an introduction to …" rather than trying to listen to or read material for 3rd year students of a subject. Nonetheless, there are resources for recorded lectures provided by many universities such as Cambridge and Oxford Of course there is google scholar for access to academic texts, many now available free online (and others likely available through your university or college library if you are a student).

Databases used to search within particular subjects are important to know about. With an American focus, though also providing international resources, the Merlot resource is a convenient place to start to get a sense of the types of databases you might want to use (though many will need to be accessed via an institutional account).

Introductory level materials, on the whole, can be a great place to start to learn the language of your subject. Apart from videos on youtube found by searching for 'introduction to … ' you might try the resources to be found at OER commons.