6 Minute Vocabulary - Academic Vocabulary

This is the BBC . This podcast is supported by advertising outside the . This is a download from BBC Learning English to find out more . Visit our website . Six minutes from BBC Learning English dot com . Hello and welcome to Six Minute Vocabulary . I'm Neal . And I'm . Today's program is all about academic English . If you are going to study or you are studying at an English speaking university , you might be wondering how you'll cope with understanding lectures and academic texts and writing essays . Yes , academic English is different to the English . People speak and write every day . It's more formal and uses higher level words . So in today's program , we'll give you ideas for understanding words and phrases that you'll come across . And some advice for writing essays and giving presentations will also give you for studying in English . But first , let's look at three main features of academic English , difficult English vocabulary , specialist subject , vocabulary and language for organizing essays and presentations . Now , when you come across a word you don't know in an academic text or lecture , you can try to guess its meaning by looking at the context or by seeing if the word looks like a word in your own language . This is a particularly useful strategy if your own language has lots of words from a Greek or Latin , as many of the words used in academic English come from those languages . Words , for example , like microscopic , which means tiny or analysis , which means study or regeneration , which means renewal . Another strategy for working out the meaning is to look at how a word is constructed . Academic English words often have prefixes and suffixes . Remember , a prefix comes before the main part of the word and can change words . Meaning , for example , the prefix D spelt d e means removing something or reversing something . So D population means a reduction in the number of people somewhere and deforestation means clearing of trees from an area . Suffixes are attached to the end of words . A common suffix in English is spelled i . S e examples of words with eyes or stabilize characterize and specialize . And these words are spelled with a z e in American English . That's right . They are now another common suffix is eight spelt a t e words with this suffix differentiate and duplicate specialist subject words may also cause difficulty . Now you can help yourself in two ways . Firstly , prepare yourself before lectures Yes , and to help yourself with this get hold of an English English dictionary and an English subject dictionary , for example , of medicine or law or linguistics . And secondly , listen to English radio and watch TV . Now there are lots of specialist features which can help improve both your general and specialist English . And of course , the BBC website has sections which have stories on technology and science and arts , which can also help when writing your academic piece or giving a presentation . You'll need to structure and organize your writing or presentation by using signposting language . You use signposts to indicate important parts of your essay , such as stating its purpose , its structure , your views , the main points and the direction of the argument and the conclusions at the end as well . Linking words and phrases show connections between sentences and paragraphs . Yes . So let's give some examples of signposts , firstly , for starting a piece of writing . The aim of this study is to this essay argues that . Yes . And how about for ending it finally in conclusion and some examples of linking words and phrases are firstly , secondly , finally and for adding something you could write in addition . Furthermore , and if you want to show contrast , you might write . However , nevertheless , on the other hand , six minutes vocabulary from BBC Learning English . now for some tips for getting the best out of studying in English . OK , here's a good one . Have a study buddy . That's someone you can study with . You can test each other and support each other . And another one set aside time for regular language study in addition to your academic study . Time for a quiz . Complete the sentences , No one , many words in academic English come from a Latin word , the American words or see newspapers . It's a Latin words , no question to a good way to start an essay is A , for example , B , in conclusion , or C , this essay argues that and it's C , this essay argues that . And the last question is a good way to end an essay is a on the other hand , B in conclusion or C in addition . And the answer is B in conclusion . There's more about this at BBC Learning English NORCOM do join us again for more six minute vocabulary . Goodbye by six minutes . From the BBC .