Week 001: Distinguishing

Academic English from

General English
 Week 1/ Module 1:Distinguishing Academic English from General English

FEATURES OF ACADEMIC ENGLISH

Characteristics of Academic English

 Does not use hedges

 Avoid personal pronouns
 Use sophisticated transition words
 Uses academic words
 Linguistic functions are more important
 Relatively decontextualized and cognitively
demanding
 Requires greater mastery of range of linguistic
features
Photo credit: Schiller, A. and Jenkins, W. (1987) In Other Words: A
Junior Thesaurus. USA. Scott, Foresman and Company
Informal English
 Uses hedges (sort of, kind of)
 Uses personal pronoun “I”
 Uses simple connectors ( but, also, and)
 Uses slang (stuff, guys)
 Relies more on basic discourse structures,
such as narrative
 More extensive use of listening and speaking.
SUFFERING FROM DYSENTERY , my father was prostrate
on his cot, with another five sick inmates nearby. I sat next
to him, watching him; I no longer dared to believe that he
could still elude Death. I did all I could to give him hope.
All of a sudden, he sat up and placed his feverish lips
against my ear: "Eliezer…I must tell you where I buried the
gold and silver…
In the cellar…
http://www.elieweisel_nightfulltext.pdf
Retrieved March 2, 2017
 Definition of Academic Language

Language used in academic settings and for academic purposes to help

students acquire and use knowledge (Anstrom, et al., 2010)

Words and syntactic structures that students are likely to encounter in

textbooks and tests, but not in everyday, spoken English
(Strategic Education Research Partnership, 2010)
What’s the difference?
Informal Formal

NEMO 33 is a recreational diving centre in

“ Going away? Belgium and home to the world’s deepest
Yes, a few of us diving pool. With two flat surfaces at depths of
are goin’ to a five and ten metres, the facility’s main feature is
cylindrical pit that descends to a depth of 33
place , um..
metres. There are also several simulated
called underwater caves. Designed by diving experts,
abbatoir…Franc John Beernaerts, the complex serves as a multi-
e, I think”. purpose diving instruction, medical research,
prototype testing, fitness classes, naval
exercises, recreational, and film production
facility
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/534
802524475884181/
 BUILDING VOCABULARY
THROUGH WORD CATEGORY

Lesson 2
• Word Category - is the grouping of words related to the
content-area, theme, unit, or selection.

Example: Words Associated with imaginary people and

animals
Capricorn snowman android
Dragon martian mermaid
Ogre nessie phoenix
Sphinx unicorn

http://www.thegreatcourses.com/cour
ses/building-a-better-vocabulary.html
WORD CATEGORY
Words associated with geographical features

http://englishteachermargarita.blogspot.com/2015/06/g
eographic-features.html
WORD CATEGORY
• Words related to internet
People Scam Messages Offense

netizen Pharming troll Cyberbullying

Lurker Phishing Urban Legend Sextortion

Imposter Spoofing blog Cyberstalking

Predator Stranger Danger Identity theft

tweens

avatar
Thank You