English and Academic Preparation - Pre-Collegiate from Coursera

The English and Academic Preparation - Pre-Collegiate non-credit course is for students with a (minimum) high-intermediate level of English. This certificate course is designed to help domestic and international students develop the academic skills necessary for success in undergraduate studies at an American university while strengthening their English proficiency.

Ideally, prospective students have completed or are near completion of a high school diploma in their country and would like to come to the United States to study for a bachelor’s degree.

The total length of time required to complete the course is approximately 4 weeks. Students should expect to spend about 5-7 hours per week working with the materials and assignments.

The course is made up of 4 modules:

• Listening, Speaking, and Critical Thinking

• Writer’s Workshop

• Reading and Note-taking

• Capstone Project

Each module consists of video lessons, opportunities for practicing English and academic skills, interactive discussion boards with classmates, and graded activities. All courses are asynchronous, which means that the lessons and their activities can be completed at any time of day or night, provided that all course assignments are completed by the final day of class.

What's inside

Syllabus

Listening, Speaking and Critical Thinking

In this module, we will learn some skills necessary for listening to and speaking about academic topics at the undergraduate level.

Writer's Workshop

In this module, we will learn some skills necessary for academic writing at the undergraduate level.

Reading and Note Taking

In this module, we will learn some skills necessary for reading and taking notes about academic texts and at the undergraduate level.

Application Project

The Pre-Collegiate application project is the final module of the English and Academic Preparation Program. In this module, you will not learn new information as you did in the previous modules, but rather apply the knowledge and skills you learned from the other modules in this academic certificate in order to complete a series of four tasks.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Develops academic skills, which are necessary for undergraduate programs in the US

Taught by Alice Llanos, and Rachel Kraut, Ph.D., who are educators at an American university

Provides opportunities for practicing English and academic skills through interactive discussion boards

Examines undergraduate-level academic topics, including critical thinking

Requires a high-intermediate level of English, which will be challenging for beginners

Not suitable for students who have already completed a bachelor's degree

Reviews summary

Well-received pre-collegiate english and academic preparation course

Based on largely positive reviews, learners say this engaging English and Academic Preparation course provides a solid foundation for students preparing for university. The course covers essential reading, writing, and speaking skills in a structured and supportive environment. Reviews highlight the effectiveness of the assignments and the helpfulness of the instructors. Though some mention concerns with peer grading, the course is widely recommended for its comprehensive approach to academic preparation.

Supportive and knowledgeable

"I enjoyed learning with you mentors."

"This course has been designed by professional instructors."

"Thank you everyone in Coursera platform."

Effective learning through practical tasks

"The assignments are very helpful and informative."

"I especially like how it's timed and engaging students with other learners"

"I learnt lot from this course. It's really helpful for my writing and speaking."

Covers essential academic skills

"It gives all basics and essential information"

"I especially like how it's timed and engaging students with other learners"

"The course was very interesting and it was academically very useful."

Mixed opinions on quality

"Everything was fine, except that I didn't like the assignment being reviewed and graded by a peer."

"The only point I was disappointed with was the essay or activity it was checked for other students instead of the teacher."

"grading process should be more ethical"

Course requires commitment and planning

"The written and spoken response approach provided is an interesting way to improve the learner's communication skills."

"With some degree of commitment in time and effort, anyone can pass the course and enjoy it at the same time."

"It's just an awesome experience to be a part of coursera"

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in English and Academic Preparation - Pre-Collegiate with these activities:

Connect with International Students

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By establishing connections with other international students, you will have the opportunity to practice English, gain cultural insights, and learn about different perspectives.

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Attend international student events
Join clubs and organizations for international students
Introduce yourself to international students in your classes

Use Online Resources

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Familiarizing yourself with the resources available online will allow you to be more efficient and effective when you're taking this course.

Browse courses on Research Skills

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Identify the most useful online resources for this course
Learn how to effectively use these resources
Practice using these resources to complete a small research project

Review English Language Usage

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Familiarizing yourself with English language usage prior to enrolling will allow you to keep up with your peers more readily.

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Identify and describe the 8 parts of speech.
Learn how to identify the three main clauses.
Identify and analyze different sentence constructions.

Six other activities

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Sentence Diagraming

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Sentence diagramming is a great way to build a strong foundation in English grammar and syntax, which will be essential for success in this course.

Browse courses on Sentence Structure

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Find online tutorials on sentence diagramming
Practice diagramming simple sentences
Move on to more complex sentences

Drive Using Constructed Conversations

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By actively partaking in conversational practice, you will develop your verbal fluency in a structured and effective manner.

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Study the conversation starters
Practice speaking aloud shadowing the constructions
Have conversations using the learned material

Read Beyond the ELA Classroom

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Exploring this novel will build upon the themes discussed in the ELA Classroom by providing another narrative from the Antebellum South.

View The Life of Herod the Great on Amazon

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Read chapters 1-5 of the novel
Summarize the main plot points and character development
Analyze the use of figurative language and symbolism in the novel

Write a Self-Introduction Speech

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By creating this speech, you will gain confidence in your ability to effectively communicate your thoughts and ideas on the spot.

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Brainstorm ideas about who you are and what you want to say
Write an outline of your speech
Practice delivering your speech in front of a mirror or with a friend

Design an Informational Poster

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Creating an engaging infographic will help you develop your visual communication skills, which will be essential for success in this course.

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Choose a topic that you are interested in
Research your topic and gather information
Design your poster using a tool like Canva or Adobe Photoshop

Annotated Bibliography

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Compiling an annotated bibliography will help you develop your research skills and your ability to synthesize information from multiple sources.

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Choose a topic for your annotated bibliography
Find and read at least 10 sources on your topic
Write an annotation for each source
Compile your annotated bibliography

Career center

Learners who complete English and Academic Preparation - Pre-Collegiate will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Librarian

Librarians help people find and access information. They work in a variety of settings, including public libraries, school libraries, and academic libraries. They may also work as information brokers or research librarians.

See salaries and explore the career path for Librarian

Technical Writer

Technical Writers create instruction manuals, technical reports, and other documents that explain complex technical information to a specific audience.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Writer

Editor

Editors review, edit, and revise written material for publication. They work with authors to ensure that their writing is clear, concise, and accurate. Editors may also work with publishers to develop and manage editorial content.

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Grant Writer

Grant Writers help organizations secure funding for various projects and programs. They write grant proposals, which outline the need for funding, the project's goals and objectives, and the organization's ability to complete the project successfully.

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English Teacher

English Teachers impart knowledge and skills in reading, writing, speaking, and listening to students from kindergarten through college. They prepare lesson plans, teach classes, and evaluate students' progress. Those who want to become English Teachers may find this course helpful, as it can help them develop the skills they need to effectively teach English to students.

See salaries and explore the career path for English Teacher

Financial Analyst

Financial Analysts analyze financial data to make investment recommendations. They work with clients to develop investment strategies and manage investment portfolios.

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Operations Manager

Operations Managers oversee the day-to-day operations of an organization. They develop and implement operational plans, manage staff, and track operational results.

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Human Resources Manager

Human Resources Managers plan, develop, and implement human resources policies and programs. They work with employees and managers to attract, develop, and retain a talented workforce.

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Speech-Language Pathologist

Speech-Language Pathologists assess, diagnose, and treat speech, language, and swallowing disorders in people of all ages. They work with individuals to improve their communication skills and help them regain or maintain their ability to speak, understand language, and swallow.

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Journalist

Journalists gather, analyze, and report on news and current events. They may work for newspapers, magazines, websites, or television and radio stations.

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Public Relations Specialist

Public Relations Specialists plan and execute public relations campaigns to build and maintain a positive image for their clients. They work with the media, the public, and other stakeholders to promote their clients' interests.

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Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers develop and execute marketing campaigns to promote products and services. They work with marketing teams to create marketing plans, develop marketing materials, and track marketing results.

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Project Manager

Project Managers plan, execute, and close projects. They work with project teams to define project goals, develop project plans, and track project progress.

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Sales Manager

Sales Managers lead and motivate sales teams to achieve sales goals. They develop sales strategies, train and develop sales staff, and track sales results.

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Business Analyst

Business Analysts analyze business needs and develop solutions to improve business processes. They work with stakeholders to gather requirements, analyze data, and develop and implement solutions.

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