A video resource
Academic conversations
One of the challenges faced by students at the start of their studies is understanding and adapting to academic culture. Effective communication skills are key to this process, and can lead to success, regardless of discipline. This video resource focuses on helping you to develop the spoken communication skills necessary for success in the academic context.
The materials are divided into three sections or themes:
- Talking with your tutor
- Taking part in seminars and tutorials
- Giving an academic presentation
Format
- Part 1 of each section begins with clips of students and academic staff talking about their expectations/experiences/understanding of the relevant area. It is suggested that students are encouraged to think about and discuss their own expectations in these areas before watching the clips, as a point of comparison.
- Part 2 of each section provides a scenario which can be viewed as an example for discussion or as a listening activity with the accompanying questions in the manual.
- Part 3 of each section provides another scenario on the same theme for further practice.
Theme 1 - talking with your tutor
Before watching/pre-viewing:
- What is the purpose of having a personal tutor?
- How should you prepare for a meeting?
- How often/when should you meet your tutor?
Watch the clips of students and academic staff and see how your ideas compare with those expressed in the clips.
If you were asked to take part in the video, what would you say about your expectations of personal tutoring?
Have you already had a meeting with your tutor? If so, what was your impression of this?
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Think about these questions as you watch the second section:
- What is the aim of the first meeting with your tutor?
- What will your personal tutor check that you have been able to do? List three things.
- Is the student prepared for this meeting?
- How are students expected to keep in contact with their tutor?
- Should you wait until your tutor contacts you?
Make a list of things you would need to ask your personal tutor in the first meeting.
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- In the first scenario, why has the student arranged to meet his personal tutor?
- What advice does the tutor give?
- Does the student find this helpful?
- In the second scenario, what problem does the student have?
- Is the tutor able to help her?
- What does he suggest?
- Make a list of possible reasons you might need to contact your personal tutor for advice.
What would you say to your tutor if you had to meet them to ask advice for any of the reasons you have listed above?
Think about how you might word this in any of the situations, make a recording on your phone, then play it back to check that you are speaking clearly and that your message is correctly communicated.
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Theme 2 - taking part in seminars and tutorials
Before watching/pre-viewing:
- What is the purpose of seminars and tutorials?
- How are these different to lectures?
- How can you prepare for them?
Watch the clips of students and academic staff and compare your ideas with those of the people in the clips.
If you were asked to take part in the video – what would you say about participating in a seminar or tutorial?
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Continental Philosophy Seminar (Year 1)
Before watching/pre-viewing:
- What themes might be discussed in a Philosophy degree programme, or in a seminar?
- What is humanism?
- What is existentialism?
- Are you familiar with the works of Dostoyevsky, Nietzsche or Sartre?
Think about these questions as you watch part of a first year Philosophy seminar:
- How have the students prepared for the seminar?
- How does the lecturer encourage students to be critical/analytical in their responses?
- Do all of the students contribute to the discussion?
- What are the benefits of this seminar format for the lecturer?
- Is this what you would expect a seminar to be like?
How could you evaluate your own performance in a seminar? Think of some questions which could be used as a checklist.
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Urban Leisure and Walking: Lecture and Tutorial (Year 3)
Before watching/pre-viewing:
- Do you think “Leisure” and “Walking” can be considered in an academic context?
- What themes might be covered in a module on Urban Leisure?
- Are you familiar with any theories or work which might refer to this area?
Watch Part 3 and think about these questions:
- What is the format of this workshop/tutorial in Media Studies?
- Why do you think the session might be organised in this way?
- What do you think the students are supposed to be doing in this session?
- How well prepared is the student for the follow-up tutorial?
- How is he able to demonstrate his knowledge of the subject area?
Imagine you are required to participate in a tutorial session similar to this on a specific theme in your own discipline. Plan and practice what you would say to demonstrate your understanding of subject.
Record this on your phone, play it back and check you have expressed yourself clearly, referred to theories and presented your own ideas.
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Theme 3 - giving an academic presentation
Before watching/pre-viewing:
- What is the purpose of an academic presentation?
- How can you prepare for a presentation?
- How is this different from writing an essay?
Watch the clips of students and academic staff and see how your ideas compare with those of the people in the clips.
If you were asked to take part in the video – what would you say about preparing and giving an academic presentation?
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Two Study Abroad students are giving a short presentation about Belgium
Before watching/pre-viewing:
What do you know about Belgium: history, politics, languages, culture, famous people?
Think about these questions as you watch extracts of the presentation:
- What do the students include in their introduction?
- Are you able to follow the development of the presentation? Why/Why not?
- What are the strengths of the presentation?
- English is not the first language of the presenters, but they both succeed in communicating successfully with their audience. How is this achieved?
- Can you suggest any areas for improvement?
Select an area you are familiar with and make a plan for an oral presentation. Record the introduction to this on your phone, play it back and check you have included the necessary points (see question 1).
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A Senior Academic in Physical Geography gives a Presents a Research Paper
Before watching/pre-viewing:
- What does Physical Geography cover as an area of study?
- Can you think of examples of extremes in the global environment?
- What would you expect from a presentation in this field?
Watch the presentation extract and think about these questions:
- What is the specific topic of the research presentation?
- What does the presenter include in the introduction?
- The presenter chooses to focus on 3 observations. What are they and why do you think he selects them as examples?
- What does the last slide show and why?
- How effective is the presenter in answering students’ questions?
Imagine you are to present a research paper on a specific area. Select 3 points which provide evidence to illustrate or support your aim and think about how you could provide a clear and concise overview of them.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
