SPEAKING / Debates / Presentations / Seminars

 Academic Seminars

Seminars for academic English students. What is a seminar? Seminar procedures and seminar practice lessons.

                          Seminar Phrases

What is a seminar?

Generally, it is a small discussion on a specific topic among a group of students. At university it can be a central part of the learning process from lecturers creating seminars around pre-reading texts or post-lecture discussions. Commonly, at university English language centres seminars have become a feature of testing English speaking  though fluency, conversational skills and ability to discuss complex subjects.

Pre-seminar procedures

Students are often given pre-texts and pre-listenings before the seminar to prepare. Students are expected to read and listen to texts carefully by making detailed notes and come to the seminar fully prepared.

A Seminar Test - a seminar test usually...

• consists of 6 people (one can be nominated the chair person

• a set of questions

• lasts for 25-30minutes

• The last 5 minutes summarise key points

• Students CAN use their texts and notes

The seminar process

• The group are called into a room and sit around a table.

• The questions are given out and students have 3 minutes to read and prepare

• The seminar begins with an opening statement - what you are here today to discuss?

• The students then begin to discuss the first question.

• Each student should make a contribution by referring to their notes  / texts.

• The Seminar should flow with students adding to what was previously said.

• Once everyone agrees this question has been addressed in full, then they move onto the next question.

• Important:  not all the questions have to be answered but they should be discussed in order

• Important: Sometimes choosing a chair person can create problems and it's better if the students run it collectively.

• Once the students begin to approach 25 minutes they should bring it to an end by each one summarising a main point raised.

key points to a seminar

• It should be a flowing conversation with everyone involved and contributing.
• The teacher / Tutor should not intervene if it goes quiet but let the students manage the discussion.
• Students have to show confidence and demonstrate thorough awareness of texts.
• Dominant students are penalised for not sharing and including others.
• Grouping is important (careful consideration is needed on putting students in groups)
• key debate phrases should be used  to should conversation skills -  agreeing, disagreeing, interrupting, etc...