The ASBU Foreign Languages Department, Departmental English Coordinatorship (DEC) is in charge of the courses offered by the Academic English Program. The ASBU Academic English Program is designed to help ASBU students successfully complete the ASBU Preparatory School Program. The students in question are the ones exempt from the preparatory school program, or those who submit an exam result document for one of the foreign language exams indicated by the Senate meeting the minimum score requirement. Comprised of compulsory and elective courses, the Academic English Program could continue for up to four academic years depending on the decisions made by the faculties or departments of the students.

The Academic English Program ensures that students will have the academic skills necessary to graduate from their departments and to succeed post-graduation. The Program is based on the principle of lifelong learning and combines language learning with higher-order thinking skills, including critical thinking, and problem-solving, as well as analysis, synthesis, and evaluation of information. Apart from the compulsory courses, the Program offers seminars to meet students’ specific needs and interests, providing augmentation to the departmental courses.

The students have to attend a minimum of 70% percent of each course offered by the Academic English Program. Academic assessment of compulsory and elective courses is conducted via research projects, assignments, presentations, and examinations. Each of the Program’s courses equals to 2 or 4 ECTS credits. Course letter grades are awarded based on the score interval according to SSUA Undergraduate Education and Assessment Regulations.

Subprograms of the Academic English Program

• English for Academic Purposes (EAP)

EAP is dedicated to the development of such required skills as reading and writing academic texts, listening to academic lectures, and active participation in academic discussions

• English for Specific Purposes (ESP)

ESP is designed to develop the language skills required by a specific discipline or group of disciplines.

• General English (GE)

GE is designed to develop the fluency of students in every-day English, especially of those at whose department the medium of instruction is a language other than English.