Are you familiar with the differences between Academic English and General English? If not, you're not alone.
The main difference between Academic English and General English is in how it is used. Take writing, for example; Academic English writing is focused on accuracy, with a greater emphasis on complex sentence structures than General English, which focuses more on fluency. Academic English also has different conventions when referencing sources and presenting ideas, requiring a greater understanding of conventions and a larger vocabulary than General English. The purpose of Academic English is to convey complex ideas concisely and effectively. This is why it is important for students to understand the differences between the two types of language. By knowing what to look out for, they can write more effectively and create paragraphs that are both accurate and tightly structured.
To improve their writing skills, students can learn to write effectively by paying attention to certain details. For instance, in academic writing, it may be appropriate to use words like "utilise" instead of "use" or "facilitate" instead of "help" in your essays. However, when writing informally to a friend, it may be more suitable to use social terms like "gonna" instead of "going to" or "wanna" instead of "want to." Additionally, academic writing requires referencing to specific formatting guidelines and accurate citations of sources to support claims made within the text.
Effective communication skills are crucial for achieving success in both Academic English and General English. To ensure that students have the tools they need to be successful communicators, the EAP Space English learning platform provides a range of weekly modules and exercises to help improve communication skills in both contexts. The activities offered by the platform cover all aspects of communication, including reading comprehension, writing, listening, speaking, vocabulary development and grammar usage. Through these exercises, students can practice their communication skills in both academic and general settings. Click here to read more about the EAP Space program structure.