PLE Events

Remark

PLE : Pillar of Language Education

Language can become one of your greatest resources in university.

It opens doors to learning, collaboration, and opportunity.

University does not give you a map – it teaches you how to draw your own.

University does not prepare you for today’s society – it empowers you to shape the future.

The Goal of my journey in university:

academic foundation, a meaningful career, a sense of identity…

Start by a powerfyl tool : communication.

Two Fundamental Forces at uni :

  • The Stone of Thought – Your solid expertise. Algorithms, eqations, theories, models. The unshakable foundation of everything you will become.
  • The Water of Language – Your soft power. English and Chinese. The fluid medium through which ideas flow, connect, and grow.

English :

  • Understand lectures & complex ideas
  • Reading and analyzing academic papers
  • Writing clear essays and reports
  • Delivering powerful presentations and contributing effectively to discussions

Key : A clear structure, a confident opening, and an invatation for others to respond

So the water is :

  • Clear : for precise thinking
  • AZAbundant : for big ideas
  • Energizing : for powerful expression

How to write Email

  • Not to memorize rules for email writing
  • Use email as a practical situation
  • An audience-centered framework for effective

The best channel depends on the situation.

  • Audience
  • Purpose
  • Ugency

To write an email :

  • Purpose first
  • Relevant context only
  • Clear next step

Also:

  • Complicated != Profensional

Before Sending, think if the audience know :

  • Who is writing ?
  • Why are they writing ?
  • What do they need from ?
  • How should I respond ?

The process:

  • Salutation : Dear Prof. X
  • Context
  • Request / Next Step
  • Courteous closing : Thank you for your help
  • Identifying information : Best zhangxixi T01

Formula : Subject = What is this about + Request

Expand Vocabulary

6 Types of principles to make your own vocabulary bank :

  1. contextual words
  2. secondary-use words
  3. precision words
  4. confusing words
  5. word families
  6. natural-speech words

Brain learns from Context, Connections

Contextual words : Your own storyline to conclude all the words. Also use AIGC tools to create different scenarios.

Secondary Use :

Example :

  • bridge the gap
  • scrap the old software
  • He chairs the meeting
  • I need to table this discussion
  • I second the proposal to increase funding.
  • She is a new hire so she needs time to settle down.

Precision Words :

Example : (Use more powerful and stronger words)

  • show -> demonstrate -> exemplify
  • make…longer -> extend -> prolong
  • improve -> enhance -> optimize
  • say sth. is bad -> criticize -> condemn -> denounce

Confusion Words :

  • effect & affect
  • compliment & complement
  • principle & principal
  • historic & historical

Word Families

Natural Speech

Learning Resource

  1. English Listening & Speaking Lab : 8 sections, then get a certificate Self-paced (On canvas)

  2. Academic communication Essentials

  3. Competiton

    • 3MT : Three Minute Thesis
    • 5MRP
    • FLTRP ：外研社杯

  4. Lang+ Activities : A series of activities | Improve fluency, build confidence, make friends

    • Academic English Cafe : create the context to use in academic scenarios
    • Board Games
    • Table Read : Take the role of a character
    • English Chit-Chat

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