1. Useful websites for independent study
Module D

2. Pronunciation
BBC Learning English website
mmar/pron/sounds/vowel_short_1.shtml

3. Improving accuracy in academic writing
The accuracy section of this website has several interactive exercises

4. Lecture listening and note taking
Interactive listening comprehension and note taking – gap fills – often key words:
BBC Learning English – listening to academic English:
h/2009/04/090427_tae_al.shtml
Several academic lectures on different subjects with tasks (questions), answers (key) and transcripts:
UniofReadingLectures.aspx

5. Speaking and listening conversation
Useful phrases to check the listener understands you:
‘Are you with me?
‘Does that make sense?’
‘Have you got that?’
‘Is that clear?’
‘Do you follow me?’

6. Academic writing http://www.phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk/
Manchester Phrasebank:
useful phrases you can copy and adapt for your own academic writing.
just add your own ideas (content words). They are common phrases so you don’t need to worry about plagiarism.

7. Vocabulary
Keep vocabulary records and check collocations with a concordancer:
(general)
(academic)
(general - very easy to use!)
(academic word list)

8. Improving Accuracy
When your tutor returns your academic assignment, make a list of mistakes you often make in a notebook or in a Word document, for example ‘articles - use of the , a, & an’
Check the rules for the mistakes you commonly make.
Keep a check list of your mistakes. Check your work careful for these errors before submission.
Don’t read every page of a grammar book. Just study the language features you find difficult!