English for General and Academic Purposes: Threshold and Beyond

Master 2026/2027

Type: Elective course (Foreign Languages and Intercultural Communication)

Delivered by: School of Foreign Languages

Where: Faculty of Humanities

When: 1 year, 2-4 module

Online hours: 20

Open to: students of one campus

Language: English

ECTS credits: 9

Contact hours: 92

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Abstract

This course is designed for students who aim to enhance their communicative competence in English for general and academic purposes. Emphasis is placed on all the language systems and skills employed in the following communicative strategies: reception, production, interaction, and mediation. The course is for students whose level is currently below C1 and who need to bring it to this target level.

Learning Objectives

To assist students in taking their proficiency level from B2 and occasionally B1+ to C1.

Expected Learning Outcomes

Students will communicate simple and complex ideas and arguments effectively in English, both orally and in writing, demonstrating sufficent clarity, precision, and depth of understanding.
Students will demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of upper-intermediate to advanced English grammar, vocabulary, and language structures suitable for both general and academic contexts.
Students will synthesise information from diverse English-language sources to develop well-informed, high-level insights and arguments.
Students will design and implement adequate communication strategies in both general and academic settings, showcasing an effective transition from upper-intermediate to advanced proficiency in English.
Students will identify and analyse fairly complex texts and spoken materials, using their upper-intermediate to advanced language skills to interpret and critique content effectively.

Course Contents

Education and Professional Development (B2 - C1)
Language, Literature, and Bilingualism (B2 - C1)
Psychology and Cultural Differences (B2 - C1)
Management and Lifestyle (B2 - C1)
Historical and Modern Trends (B2 - C1)

Assessment Elements

Online course
Students are to complete an online course provided. Assessed using the following completion scale: 10 - 96-100% 9 - 91-95% 8 - 86-90% 7 - 78-85% 6 - 71-77% 5 - 61-70% 4 - 51-60% 3 - 36-50% 2 - 21-35% 1 - 1-20% 0 - 0%
Creative task
In groups, students are to choose a topic from the course and complete a creative task implementing the skills learnt from the online course. The task is a project.
Participation
Present and actively participating during both classes – 1/1 point Present, not participating / participating only partially – 0,4/1 point Not present – 0/1 point Proportion (in case there are 14 classes in total): 14 participation points possible max – 10 points possible max for a mark X participation points collected by a student – ? points for a mark (X points collected * 10) / 14 = ? points for a mark (AKA final mark for participation). The rounding starts with 0,6 sharp. So 9,6 is 10, 9,56 is 9. This type of assessment cannot be retaken.
Oral exam
The oral exam is conducted in the format of the tasks practiced throughout the year. The particular format is to be announced a module in advance.
Speaking
Spoken production tasks imply tasks done both individually and with a partner or partners. This can be done both in class and via Smart LMS depending on a particular task.
Written test
The written test is to be conducted during the last week of both the 3rd and 4th modules. The tasks assess the vocabulary and grammar taught during corresponding modules as well as listening comprehension.
Writing
Written production implies submitting written papers. Written tasks are to be done only in class, on paper.

Interim Assessment

2026/2027 3rd module
0.1 * Written test + 0.25 * Writing + 0.15 * Oral exam + 0.25 * Speaking + 0.1 * Online course + 0.15 * Participation
2026/2027 4th module
0.15 * Participation + 0.25 * Writing + 0.2 * Creative task + 0.15 * Written test + 0.25 * Speaking

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

Иванова, О. Ф. Английский язык. Пособие для самостоятельной работы студентов (В1-С1) : учебник для вузов / О. Ф. Иванова, М. М. Шиловская. — 2-е изд., перераб. и доп. — Москва : Издательство Юрайт, 2026. — 357 с. — (Высшее образование). — ISBN 978-5-534-15771-0. — Текст : электронный // Образовательная платформа Юрайт [сайт]. — URL: https://urait.ru/bcode/586919 (дата обращения: 02.07.2026).
Продвинутый английский язык для гуманитарных направлений = Advanced English for Humanities : учебник / С. В. Боголепова, Л. К. Рэйчел, А. В. Бакулев [и др.] ; под ред. С. В. Боголеповой, Л. К. Рэйчел. — Москва : КноРус, 2026. — 428 с. — ISBN 978-5-406-15716-9. — URL: https://book.ru/book/960948 (дата обращения: 09.12.2025). — Текст : электронный.

Recommended Additional Bibliography

Английский язык для академических целей. English for Academic Purposes : учебник для вузов / Т. А. Барановская, А. В. Захарова, Т. Б. Поспелова, Ю. А. Суворова ; под редакцией Т. А. Барановской. — 2-е изд., перераб. и доп. — Москва : Издательство Юрайт, 2026. — 203 с. — (Высшее образование). — ISBN 978-5-534-18544-7. — Текст : электронный // Образовательная платформа Юрайт [сайт]. — URL: https://urait.ru/bcode/583672 (дата обращения: 02.07.2026).
Английский язык для гуманитариев (B1–B2). English for Humanities : учебник для вузов / О. Н. Стогниева, А. В. Бакулев, Г. А. Павловская, Е. М. Муковникова. — Москва : Издательство Юрайт, 2026. — 178 с. — (Высшее образование). — ISBN 978-5-534-14982-1. — Текст : электронный // Образовательная платформа Юрайт [сайт]. — URL: https://urait.ru/bcode/586709 (дата обращения: 02.07.2026).
Английский язык для исследовательских и академических целей (English for Research and Academic Purposes) : учебник для вузов / А. В. Бакулев, С. В. Боголепова, А. А. Греченко [и др.]. — Санкт-Петербург : Лань, 2025. — 316 с. — ISBN 978-5-507-52550-8. — Текст : электронный // Лань : электронно-библиотечная система. — URL: https://e.lanbook.com/book/503575 (дата обращения: 00.00.0000). — Режим доступа: для авториз. пользователей.
Учебник английского языка. = English Language Coursebook. Уровень В2-В2+ : учебник / А. А. Будникова, Е. Ю. Киндетова, Е. С. Молчанова [и др.] , под редакцией А. А. Будниковой. — Москва : ФЛИНТА, 2024. — 411 с. — ISBN 978-5-9765-5495-5. — Текст : электронный // Лань : электронно-библиотечная система. — URL: https://e.lanbook.com/book/447011 (дата обращения: 00.00.0000). — Режим доступа: для авториз. пользователей.

Authors

Bakulev Aleksei Valentinovich
Machneva Mariia Evgenevna

Course Syllabus