Discussing Academic Courses (Novice)

Practice on Your Own

• Make a list of useful words to talk about your academic life as a student. Try to focus more on vocabulary related to studying rather than social life.
  • University, classroom, course/class, teacher/professor, major, to study, student, sociology, biology, physics, chemistry, history…
• Learn to express:
  • I study math/physics/history…
  • I have/take five classes/courses…
• Think about your current semester. What are the courses you are taking? Name your teachers along with the courses they teach, the days you have those courses…
  • Can you ask: “What courses do you have?” “What is your teacher’s name?”/“Who is the teacher?” “When is your history class?”

Practice in Conversation Session

• Show your list of academic words to your conversation partner. Check the spelling. Make sure you pronounce them correctly, especially when the terms are similar to English ones.
• Tell your conversation partner about your major…
  • I study history/politics…
• Now tell your conversation partner the courses you are taking. Name your teachers, discuss your weekly class schedule, etc.
  • I have/take five classes. On Monday I have economics …
• Can you ask your conversation partner about their academic schedule?
  • What courses do you have/take? When is your history class?