Leading Academic Discussions

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Target Audience:

English for Academic Purposes (EAP) instructors and intermediate to advanced English learners preparing for or attending postsecondary education. It is also relevant to teaching assistants and students leading seminars or group projects.

Context for Application:

The book can support academic speaking courses, university preparation programs, seminars, and group work in online or face-to-face settings. Teachers can use its language examples and situational tasks to help students practise opening discussions, asking focused questions, encouraging participation, and keeping conversations productive. Companion videos provide opportunities to observe and analyse discussion skills.

Value:

The available sample offers concrete language examples and practice situations that connect discussion skills with academic and professional contexts. Its emphasis on both participation and leadership helps teachers prepare learners to contribute to group discussions and guide them effectively. Attention to politeness, voice, and body language supports communication beyond grammatical accuracy.

Description:

This book helps students develop the language and skills needed to participate in and lead academic discussions. It covers six discussion moves: starting, involving participants, managing participation and content, maintaining discussion, clarifying agreement, and summarizing and closing. Examples, practice tasks, and video analysis activities address discussion language, pronunciation, stress, tone, and nonverbal communication.

Resource link
University of Michigan Press — Leading Academic Discussions

APA citation
Lockwood, R. B. (2021). Leading academic discussions: What every university student needs to know. University of Michigan Press. https://doi.org/10.3998/mpub.11676738

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