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Our courses are open to all students, but are designed with consideration for the variety of relationships students have with Academic English.

CUSP-136 Language and Culture in Academia

Language and culture are inextricably linked. Learning a language also means learning a new culture. Academia has a culture all its own, in addition to that of the country and language of a particular institution. This course will explore the values and practices of college education in the United States. Through readings and class discussion, students will develop a framework for understanding the implicit cultural expectations in writing assignments, class discussion, and other aspects of academic life.

Instructor: Junling Zhu

ENGL 104: Academic Discourse For Multilingual Speakers

In this course, we to seek to achieve clarity and precision of expression within a discussion of a complex topic. Course readings and writing assignments guide students through an examination of topics related to language, culture, and academic convention. Past semesters' topics include: the role of education in society; the relationship between religion, culture, and nature; and family relationships across cultures. In addition to the academic content, the course focuses on the writing and revising process, academic research and argumentation, and the nature and purpose of academic discourse. This course is intended for students whose native language is not English and who would like to refine their writing and speaking skills.

Instructor: Mark Shea

ENGL 217-GE: Global English: Its Written and Spoken Forms

What is the relationship between language and social and political power? This course is an interdisciplinary study of the global role of the English language. Migration, education, and identity are major themes of the course, and we look at how linguists, policy-makers, and individuals grapple with these complex topics. This course also focuses on students' development of their written and spoken communication skills and is open to students in all disciplines. Our approach to writing and speaking may be particularly effective for students who do not identify as native speakers of English.

Instructor: Mark Shea