Academic Conversations

OBJECTIVES FOR ENGLISH ACADEMIC CONVERSATION

Establish norms for discussions and conversations

Stay focused on topic by building on ideas

Support ideas with examples or evidence

Paraphrase ideas or thoughts objectively

Synthesize discussion by negotiating disagreement

RESOURCES

Academic Conversations with ELLs: Series OverviewGet tips on improving how your ELL students participate in discussions and conversations. This is the overview of an entire academic discussion video series. Watch teachers in ELL classrooms implementing these tips and strategies.

1AHosted by Joshua Johnson, inspired by the First Amendment, 1A champions America's right to speak freely. News with those who make the news, great guests and topical debate. Weekday conversation framed in ways to make you think, share and engage. From NPR and WAMU.

8 Strategies for Teaching Academic LanguageEdutopia blogger Todd Finley explains how academic language differs from social language and offers eight specific strategies for teaching the vocabulary that students require to succeed in the Common Core and on the SAT.

ESL Voices

A website of stories and news events with lesson plans for reading, writing, and listening. You can search by topic or by the skills that you want to target.

VOCABULARY FOR ACADEMIC ENGLISH

affects
analyze
apply
argue
assess
cite
claim
clarify
compare
consider
context
critique
demonstrate

determine
differentiate
discuss
distinguish
effect
elaborate
evaluate
explore
identify
illustrate
infer
interpret
oppose

organize
paraphrase
process
recall
refer
strategy
summarize
symbolize
synthesize
theme
valid
vary
verify

This list (plus a few extra) is from a middle school teacher, and represents a good selection of words that are essential for developing Academic English skills. These words are often used in questions on tests, in directions on assignments, and in verbal instructions or conversations.

Make flashcards, make posters, write sentences, or choose any other means by which you best learn new vocabulary words.

Not only vocabulary, many of these words are also direct skills. For example, would you be able to identify the theme of a book and interpret its effect on society? Can you demonstrate an ability to distinguish between "critique" and "assess"?

Learning the meaning of the word is important, but even more so is learning how to apply these critical thinking skills to your academic repertoire.

LESSON PLANS FOR ACADEMIC CONVERSATION

AC1: Conversations