Introduction

Objective

To build proficiency in English for academic and professional contexts, helping PhD students enhance their reading comprehension, specialized vocabulary, academic writing, and speaking skills across key areas of sports science.

Structure

Each section follows a consistent format that includes:

1. Working with Text: Academic reading on relevant topics to enhance comprehension and analysis skills.

2. Lexical Exercises: Vocabulary-building activities focused on terminology in each area.

3. Academic Writing: Guidance on writing styles and structures common to sports science.

4. Speaking Practice: Exercises for discussing concepts, defending ideas, and presenting research.

5. Listening: Video clips from YouTube and other sources.

Pedagogical Features

1. Glossaries: Each unit includes a glossary of key terms relevant to the topic, with definitions and translations.

2. Reading Comprehension Questions: Each text is accompanied by questions to test comprehension, including  true/false, and short-answer questions.

3. Lexical Exercises: Exercises for building discipline-specific vocabulary through matching, sentence completion, and translation tasks.

4. Academic Writing Prompts: Step-by-step guidance on academic writing, from summarizing and analyzing articles to crafting abstracts, case studies, and research papers.

5. Speaking Activities: Pair work, group discussions, and presentations to build confidence in discussing technical content and articulating ideas clearly.

Digital Companion Resources

1. Interactive Vocabulary Quizzes: Online quizzes to reinforce terminology.

2. Sample Writing Templates: Downloadable templates for case studies, research summaries, abstracts, and essays.

3. Audio/Video Content.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this textbook, students will:

1. Build a comprehensive vocabulary relevant to sports science and physical therapy.

2. Improve their reading comprehension and ability to analyze academic texts.

3. Develop proficiency in academic writing, suited to research and clinical contexts.

4. Enhance their speaking skills in academic discussions, presentations, and professional communications.

Conclusion

This textbook serves as a comprehensive guide for non-native PhD students, combining language acquisition with field-specific knowledge to ensure academic and professional success in sports science and physical therapy.