GRD 720
Navigating Academia
3 credit hours
Instructor: Alan Corbin (acorbin@uab.edu)
Speaking and listening course for international graduate students, post doctoral fellows, and employees seeking to develop the English language skills needed to excel in a sometimes confusing U.S. academic environment - and beyond. Students will discover strategies for communicating effectively with instructors and advisors, classmates and colleagues, in the classroom or meetings, by telephone or e-mail. Students will explore the language needed to take advantage of campus and off-campus services. Online course components will promote the development of speaking skills, grammatical accuracy, and pronunciation. Recommended for all entering international graduate students and others who wish to improve their spoken English both in an academic setting and in the wider community. Intermediate through advanced. Spring, Summer and Fall. Pass/No Pass.
GRD 721
Academic Interactions
3 credit hours
Instructor: Alan Corbin (acorbin@uab.edu)
Speaking and listening course for international graduate students, post doctoral fellows, and employees seeking to develop and further refine the English language skills necessary to interact effectively and confidently when speaking to one person or to a group. Students will discover strategies for handling speaking tasks of increasing complexity, ranging from face-to-face conversations, to small group discussions, to professional presentations. Students will also develop skills for handling challenging interactions, including expressing an opinion, agreeing and disagreeing, and adapting to high stakes situations such as job interviews. Online course components will further promote the development of vocabulary, grammatical accuracy, and pronunciation. Prerequisite: Advanced-level placement, successfull completion of GRD 720, or permission of instructor. Spring, Summer and Fall. Pass/No Pass.
GRD 730
Developing Your Professional Image
3 credit hours
Instructor: Alan Corbin (acorbin@uab.edu)
Build communication skills and learning strategies while exploring cultural values. Through small-group interaction, students learn to effectively discuss their opinions, organize effective talks, and analyze complex problems. This Level 3 course prepares students for the kinds of communication expected in graduate school —participating in academic discussions; debating scholarly projects with colleagues; and delivering formal talks at professional meetings. Prerequisite: Advanced-level placement, successful completion of GRD 721 or permission of instructor. Spring, Summer and Fall. Pass/No Pass.
GRD 711 NEW COURSE
Advanced Conversation
3 credit hours
Instructor: Alan Corbin (acorbin@uab.edu)
Polish your conversation skills while discussing an array of contemporary issues and timeless themes. Summer. Pass/No Pass.