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Intensive Academic Preparation

Key Information

Course duration

5 – 10 weeks

Timetable

Monday to Friday
12.45pm to 5.05pm

20 hours of face-to-face classroom teaching per week

English Level

Advanced Plus (CEFR C1)

 CRICOS Course Code: 112463D

Intensive Academic Preparation

Do you want to maximise your chances of success at an Australian university? Hawthorn-Melbourne’s Intensive Academic Preparation Program (IAP) course can help you further improve your English skills, whether you have a conditional or unconditional offer.

Academic English can be very different to the English you use in conversation, even if you are an advanced English speaker. IAP is an intensive program at a B2+ to C1 level that will prepare you for university study in English and introduce you to the academic requirements of Australian universities.

In this course, you will complete activities and assessment tasks that use the same standards of English required at university level.

You will develop the English language and study skills that you will use throughout your university course. These skills, which are in the key areas of reading, listening, writing and speaking, along with study skills, are similar to those learnt in EAP but are at a much more sophisticated level.

Writing skills for academic purposes

  • summarising and paraphrasing, writing essays and reports on a range of academic genres
  • planning, drafting and editing skills
  • referencing skills

Reading skills for academic purposes

  • introduction to academic texts
  • techniques for efficient reading, including skimming for main ideas and scanning for specific information
  • analysing and describing graphs, diagrams and charts
  • predicting content from context
  • understanding the writer’s tone, style and purpose
  • extending your academic vocabulary for further studies

Listening skills for academic purposes

  • listening skills for lectures and tutorials
  • note-taking strategies and skills

Speaking skills

  • oral presentation skills
  • collaborative speaking skills such as active listening and turn-taking
  • expressing, explaining and supporting a point of view confidently

Introduction to study skills

  • developing effective study habits
  • time management
  • effective collaboration with peers
  • research skills, including sourcing and evaluating academic materials
  • develop familiarity with learning management systems used in further studies

Intensive Academic Preparation follows the Navitas English curriculum for Academic English 4

Your learning outcomes

In this Intensive Academic Preparation course, you will familiarise yourself with the requirements of Australian universities and develop English language skills to help you succeed.

You will also develop critical thinking techniques and be ready to meet the work requirements of tertiary study.

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Reading

Develop comprehension and note-taking skills for academic texts.

Writing icon

Writing

Plan, write and edit academic projects and correctly acknowledge sources.

Listening icon

Listening

Understand and take notes during lectures and seminars, including online.

Speaking icon

Speaking

Participate confidently in discussions, presentations, seminars and debates.

Lesson plan

Morning 

Independent study in the Study Hub or join an option skill building workshops through the myEssentials offering

Afternoon Classes

Speaking
In groups report on the progress of your current research

Listening
Take notes from an extended text

Writing activity
Practise paraphrasing with exercises

Reading and writing
Read a journal article and begin writing a critical analysis

Homework
Complete the critical analysis of the journal article

Morning 

Independent study in the Study Hub or join an option skill building workshops through the myEssentials offering

Afternoon Classes

Vocabulary
Fill in the blanks with linking expressions using academic vocabulary

Listening
Identify the main points from a spoken text and summarise

Speaking
In groups brainstorm ideas for the upcoming research assessment task

CALL (Computer Assisted Language Learning)
Teacher-guided presentation of major essay outline and draft

Homework
Complete the outline of your major essay for submission

Classes may be held at the University of Melbourne main campus (once in the 10-week course)

You will participate in activities including:

  • locating and borrowing texts in the library
  • group speaking activity
  • individual consultations with your teacher

Morning 

Independent study in the Study Hub or join an option skill building workshops through the myEssentials offering

Afternoon Classes

Listening
Take notes from a recorded text

Reading
Read a text on a topic related to the listening activity, identify similarities and differences

Writing activity
Practise summarising with exercises

Reading and writing
Read a journal article and write a critical analysis

Homework
Research and prepare notes for class debate

Morning

Independent study in the Study Hub or join an option skill building workshops through the myEssentials offering

Afternoon Classes

Grammar
Explanation and exercises on transformational grammar

Writing
Practice paraphrasing extracts you will be able to use in the assessment task

Reading and listening
Review the format and strategies used in a formal debate

Speaking
Class debate

Homework
Research and prepare for the upcoming assessment task

Assessment

Assessment tasks will help you track your progress. You will have mid course tests and end of course tests, as well as other assessments throughout the course.

At the start of your course, your teacher will explain the assessment tasks you will need to do. Your assessment tasks will cover the four skills of listening, reading, writing and speaking.

You will receive a report of your results at the end of the course.

Entry level

  • IELTS 6.0 (writing 6.0, no band under 5.5)  or
  • TOEFL iBTR  60 (writing 21, reading 8, listening 7, speaking 16)  or
  • PTE-Academic 50 (writing 50 with no communicative skill below 42)  or
  • Advanced level in the official Hawthorn-Melbourne Placement Test
Course level guide
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