From the blurb: "Academic
Vocabulary in Use is the perfect study aid for anyone using English
for their academic work. Ideal for students of any discipline, from
engineers and social scientists to business students and lawyers, it
covers all the key vocabulary you will come across in academic
textbooks, articles, lectures and seminars."
The seemingly
inexhaustible In Use series rides yet again on another wave of
carefully chosen topics and solid exercises, this time grouped around
the theme of academic English.
And hats off to the
team, they do seem to yet again have produced a truly comprehensive
volume on a clearly defined area of the language which will be of
interest to a great many students studying in English speaking countries
or situations.
Academic Vocabulary
in Use is aimed at students who already have at least a good
intermediate level and would make a valuable studying companion for
candidates preparing for IELTS and other university entrance exams.
There are 50 units, and
as usual the left-hand page gives clear explanations and examples, while
the right-hand side is devoted to practice exercises.
The units have been
grouped into themed sections. For example, the 'At academic
institutions' section includes pages on Applications and application
forms, Study habits and skills, and Online learning.
The
'Ways of talking about...' section gets down to the nitty-gritty of
dealing with Statistics, Graphs and diagrams, Cause and
effect and quoting Sources.
Under the heading
'Opinions and ideas', we see the pithy subjects of Analysis of
results, Research and study aims and Degrees of certainty,
and 'Functions' groups useful vocabulary and expressions for Making a
presentation, Comparing and contrasting and Describing
problems, amongst others.
The contents page
usefully gives examples of the type of vocabulary contained in the
relevant sections, and the academic parts are complemented by plenty of
other more general areas: metaphors and idioms such as shed light on,
remain in the dark; word combinations like heated debate,
widespread support; and fixed expressions including in a
variety of ways and be that as it may.
A useful 'Reading and
vocabulary' section offers six short articles on topics ranging from
Australia and The human brain to The World Wide Web
and International law which illustrate vocabulary from many of
the units, along with consolidating exercises.
The reference section,
finally, covers British and North American spelling variations, compares
formal and informal academic words along with measurements,
abbreviations and common symbols.
So as usual in the In
Use series, it's an extremely polished book, not one which many will
complete from cover to cover, but that's in the nature of the beast. For
specific needs it is ideal, for homework assignments on weak areas, very
useful.
Recommended, as are all
the titles in this series, for eager and self-motivated learners, as
well as teachers wanting specific topics for specific purposes. I wonder
what's coming next...
Academic
Vocabulary in Use
