After IELTS helps students prepare to study in English at university

In 2013, I attended a training course for university teachers at the Norwich Institute for Language Education, and James was our instructor. I was absolutely fascinated by his classes as they were so different from what I had seen before, both in terms of the form and the content. He demonstrated how to use corpora for teaching English, as before that I had only used them for research purposes. He showed us some useful tools and methodological approaches. James served as a real source of inspiration for me, and when I came back home from the UK, I started reflecting on the new information, reading some works in the field of DDL and trying to apply the knowledge to my teaching.

A few years later, I had the chance to invite James to the HSE University in Perm, where I work. He delivered a fantastic course: “English as a Medium of Instruction” which was highly relevant for my colleagues as a they were starting to teach their courses in English. We learnt how to create exciting learning situations, how to make classes more active and interactive, how to deal with terminology. James’ professionalism and enthusiasm produced an unforgettable impression on us. James is a rare person who is keeping pace with the technological advances, constantly learning something new and he never fails to help and inspire others to do the same. 

Professor James Thomas was one of the first teachers in the first semester of my Master’s degree journey, teaching us “English for Academic Purposes”, and later “Methodology” courses. I come from a strong IELTS background, with 8.0 overall score and 5 years of language teaching experience. However, during the EAP course, I realized that there was too much I was missing out on. The textbook prepared by the professor “Discovering Academic English” was a battle I had to overcome, and I mean this in a positive sense. The in-class lectures and activities greatly helped us understand the main ideas, and the textbook served as the support. After Webster University courses, whenever I write IELTS essays and do practice tests, I keep getting impressive results. I’m positive this course has helped me get beyond C1 level, which even the highest IELTS test-takers get stuck at.

Teaching two distinct cohorts at Webster University in Tashkent, I had the special opportunity to use James Thomas’s “Discovering Academic English” in two different academic terms: the first edition in the Fall term of 2022 and the second edition in the Spring term of 2023. This experience allowed me to witness firsthand the enhancements in our academic curriculum, particularly in areas related to academic writing and presentation skills.

The book’s comprehensive approach significantly strengthened our students’ skills in writing coherent paragraphs and constructing solid arguments, which was particularly evident in their literature reviews. The second edition’s inclusion of vocabulary pages further enabled students to assimilate new terms effectively, enriching their academic lexicon and fostering a more nuanced understanding of the texts they engaged with.

This learning journey was not just for the students. Working through the different editions of the DAE book also enriched my own understanding of effective academic instruction, reaffirming the value of ongoing pedagogical development. Observing the students’ growth in articulating their research in literature reviews and enhancing their presentation skills was a testament to the practical, hands-on value the book provides.

“Discovering Academic English” has become an essential component of our academic toolkit, enriching the educational experience significantly. I am deeply grateful for the insights and advancements it has offered both our students and myself, underscoring the book’s importance in fostering academic excellence.