The
following courses are now available to graduate students whose first language
is not English. Those wishing to register should register immediately on
MINERVA because spaces are limited:
ESLN
590 WRITING FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS
ESLN 650 COMMUNICATION AND PRONUNCIATION FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS
1. COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
2. FAQs
3. CRNs AND SECTION SCHEDULE
4. CONTACT INFORMATION
1. COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
ELSN 590 - WRITING FOR GRADUATE
STUDENTS:
Course Objectives: The course is designed to help graduate students who are
non-native speakers of English with advanced English language skills develop
their academic writing and reading skills and critical thinking skills.
Students define academic writing and prepare short texts (often extracted from
their own work) of the following types: problem solution;
general-specific; problem-solution/process description; data commentary;
article summary and critique -- students who do not use such texts in their
disciplines may submit substitute assignments. A longer writing assignment
directly connected with the student's field of study (often a draft chapter of
a thesis) is submitted as a major research paper. There will be multiple drafts
and detailed instructor feedback, much of it WebCT
audio feedback. Each student also has a one-on-one conference (more
if necessary) towards the end of the course in which the longer writing
assignments are discussed in detail. Throughout the course there will be
ongoing diagnosis and correction of individual and general ESL and writing problems.
Texts: (I) Coursepack (approximately
$10.00). (II) Swales, John M., and Christine B. Feak.
Academic Writing for
Graduate Students. Second edition. English.
ESLN 650 - PRONUNCIATION AND
COMMUNICATION:
Focus is on
developing pronunciation and communication skills so that students may function
effectively in academic settings, such as at seminars and
conferences.
Instruction deals primarily with the aspects of pronunciation that most affect
intelligibility, and with the use of verbal and non-verbal techniques for
effective communication. Assessment is based on audio- and video-recorded
assignments that deal with each student’s own academic discipline.
2. FAQs
DO I HAVE
TO TAKE A PLACEMENT TEST BEFORE REGISTERING FOR THE GRADUATE WRITING
COURSE? No. Just register on MINERVA. For foreign graduate
students the McGill TOEFL (or equivalent) requirement is sufficient. Most
DO I HAVE
TO TAKE A PLACEMENT TEST FOR THE PRONUNCIATION AND COMMUNICATION COURSE? No.
DO I HAVE
TO PAY?
In vast majority of cases: No. Here is the official policy:
"Masters and doctoral students registered in a research program (thesis or
non-thesis) and who pay flat-rate tuition may take English or French as a
Second Language courses at the English and French Language Centre of McGill (or
language courses in the Department of French Language and Literature) without
paying extra tuition fees. Graduate students registered in a certificate or
diploma program, or those registered in a degree program for which tuition is
paid on a per-credit basis, will be charged fees for these courses on a
per-credit basis." Post-doctoral students are also required to
pay. If in doubt, check with your faculty.
DOES THE
COURSE COUNT TOWARDS MY PROGRAM?
No --
unless your department or committee has made it part of your program. However,
the course and your mark will appear on your transcript.
MAY I TAKE
BOTH COURSES?
Yes. Either simultaneously or in succession.
IS THERE AN IDEAL TIME IN MY GRADUATE CAREER TO TAKE EITHER OF THESE COURSES?
For the pronunciation and communication course, NO. For the writing course, in many cases, YES. We recommend
that most students NOT take the writing course during their first semester
at McGill. Such students will receive maximum benefit from the writing course
once they have acclimatized to working in an English milieu and after they
have begun to produce writing (thesis proposals, research grant proposals,
thesis chapters, papers for publication, etc.) that they can develop in class.
It might be to the benefit of new students to take other courses offered by the
English and French Language Centre. See the undergraduate calendar under
English as a Second Language or contact robert.myles@mcgill.ca
THESE
COURSES ARE TAUGHT IN THE FACULTY OF ARTS. ARE THEY DESIGNED FOR ARTS
STUDENTS? No. In fact, the majority of students come from other faculties. The
one-on-one work guarantees feedback that meets individual needs.
3. CRNs AND
SECTION SCHEDULE
ESLN 590 Writing for Graduate Students
FALL 2006
Section 001 CRN 2089 TTH 08:35-09:55 688 Sherb. rm. 325 R. Myles
Section 002 CRN 2090 TTH 10:05-11:25 688 Sherb. rm. 325 R. Myles
Section 003 CRN 4939 MW 16:35-17:55 688 Sherb. rm. 391 TBA
WINTER 2007
Section 001 CRN 1736 TTH 08:35-09:55 688 Sherb. rm. 295 R. Myles
Section 002 CRN 1737 TTH 10:05-11:25 688 Sherb. rm. 295 R. Myles
Section 003 CRN 2422 TTH 16:05-17:25 688 Sherb. rm. 295 TBA
ESLN 650 Pronunciation and Communication for Graduate Students
Fall 2006
Section 001 CRN 4152 TTH 11:35-13:55 688 Sherb. rm. 451 C. Samuel
Section 002 CRN 4153 MW 15:35-16:55 688 Sherb. rm. 491 TBA
Section 003 CRN 4154 TTH 08:35-09:55 688 Sherb. rm. 361 C. Samuel
Winter 2007
Section 001 CRN 3738 TTH 08:35-09:55 688 Sherb. rm. 389 C. Samuel
Section 002 CRN 3739 TTH 10:05-11:25 688 Sherb. rm. 395 C. Samuel
4. CONTACT INFORMATION
If you have any questions not answered above, please contact:
Graduate Writing: robert.myles@mcgill.ca
Pronunciation and Communication for Graduate Students: carolyn.samuel@mcgill.ca