This course is designed for Master-level students who want to strengthen their English at the B2+ (Upper-Intermediate) level in academic, research, and professional contexts. Throughout the course, you will practice understanding graduate-level instructions, reading research-related texts, interpreting evidence, communicating in seminars and project teams, and using formal English with greater accuracy and confidence.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

• Develop B2+ academic communication skills
• Understand graduate-level academic expectations
• Read and evaluate academic sources critically
• Use accurate academic vocabulary and grammar
• Communicate effectively in academic and professional contexts
• Write clear, well-structured academic texts
• Apply academic integrity and ethical research practices
• Deliver effective academic presentations
• Strengthen independent learning and study skills.

COURSE PROGRAM

Module 1

Graduate Academic Communication & Independent Learning

• Course Orientation & Master-Level Learning Strategies
• Understanding Academic Instructions & Assessment Criteria 
  
• Taking Part in Seminars: Opinions, Questions & Clarification
• Time Management & Study Planning
• Listening: Academic Expectations & Student Support

Module 2

Research Reading & Evidence

• Reading Research Abstracts 
  
• Claims, Evidence & Limitations 
  
• Comparing Sources & Recognizing Paraphrase 
  
• Understanding Data Commentary
• Evaluating Source Reliability & Academic Tone 
  

Module 3

Academic Vocabulary, Grammar & Precision 

• Academic Collocations & Word Families 
  
• Hedging & Cautious Language 
  
• Linking Ideas in Complex Sentences 
  
• Passive Voice & Reporting Structures 
  
• Error Detection: Clarity, Register & Accuracy 
  

Module 4

Professional & Intercultural Communication

• Formal Emails to Professors & Supervisors 
  
• Meetings, Teamwork & Project Roles 
  
• Intercultural Communication in Graduate Settings 
  
• Negotiating Deadlines, Feedback & Responsibilities 
  
• Professional Discussions & Decision-Making 
  

Module 5

Academic Writing & Ethics

• Paragraph Structure & Topic Sentences 
  
• Summarizing & Synthesizing Sources 
  
• Avoiding Plagiarism: Quotation, Paraphrase & Citation Language 
  
• Building a Balanced Argument 
  
• Revising for Cohesion, Concision & Formal Style 
  

Module 6

Presenting Research & Integrated Skills

• Preparing an Academic Presentation 
  
• Explaining Visual Data & Trends 
  
• Responding to Questions & Feedback 
  
• Integrated Reading & Listening Task 
  
• Final Revision & Self-Assessment

PASSING CONDITIONS

To pass the course, you need to provide 60% correct answers to the questions from tests after each lesson and 60% correct answers to the questions in the final test.

CONDITIONS FOR RECEIVING A CERTIFICATE

To receive the certificate, you must pass the course.

COURSE STAFF

dr Luis Javier Penton Herrera

Luis Javier Pentón Herrera, Ph.D., D.Litt. (Hab.) is an award-winning Spanish and English educator and a best-selling author. In 2024, he was selected as the 2024 TESOL Teacher of the Year, awarded by the TESOL International Association and National Geographic Learning. He is a Professor (Profesor uczelni, in Polish) at Uniwersytet VIZJA, Poland, and a Book Series Co-Editor of the Cambridge Elements in Language and Power (Cambridge University Press) and Contemporary Perspectives on Learning Environments book series (Emerald Publishing), as well as Co-Editor of Tapestry: A Multimedia Journal for Teachers and English Learners, and Associate Editor of Language Teacher Education Research. Further, he is a Fulbright Scholar and Specialist, and an English Language Specialist with the U.S. Department of State. Previously, he served as the 38th President of Maryland TESOL from 2018 to 2019, and earned the rank of Sergeant while serving in the United States Marine Corps (USMC). Two of his professional accolades include the ‘30 Up and Coming Emerging Leaders in TESOL’, awarded by TESOL International Association in 2016, and the J. Estill Alexander Future Leader in Literacy Award, awarded by the Association of Literacy Educators and Researchers (ALER) in 2018 when his dissertation was chosen as ALER’s 2018 Outstanding Dissertation of the Year. Dr. Pentón Herrera’s current teaching and research projects are situated at the intersection of identity, emotions, and well-being in language and literacy education, social-emotional learning (SEL), autoethnography and storytelling, refugee education, and language and power. His books can be found at various publishers, including Cambridge University Press, the University of Michigan Press, and TESOL Press, to name a few. Originally from La Habana, Cuba, Dr. Pentón Herrera enjoys creative writing, playing with his two doggies, Virgo and Maui, and running in his free time. You can connect with Dr. Pentón Herrera on his Instagram: @luisjavierpentonherrera and on his website https://luispenton.com.