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English Courses for International Students

These courses are open only to matriculated Stanford international graduate students (and to undergraduate students by consent of instructor). We cannot accommodate outside students, postdocs, visiting scholars, university staff, or student spouses. To reserve a space in courses, students should consult the EFS website before signing up on AXESS. Click here for detailed instructions.

Note that all the EFS courses below are 3 unit courses; however during the academic year students may sign up for just 1 or 2 units (the course load remains the same). During the summer all are 3 units: a reduction in units is not allowed.

FEATURED IN SPRING 2012: EFS 694

EFS 694 Communication Strategies for Professional Life
For advanced graduate students.  Task-based practice of language appropriate for professional settings such as consulting, startups, and related teamwork.  Simulate the roles of manager, applicant, subordinate, and co-worker.  Prerequisite: 693A,B or consent of instructor.
Autumn, Spring 1-3 units

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EFS 690A Interacting in English
 Strategies for effective interaction in academic settings. Emphasis on functional language used in typical university settings, including active listening, asking questions, and contributing ideas and opinions. Activities include simulation and discussion, with feedback on pronunciation, grammar, and usage.
Autumn, Winter, Spring 1-3 units

EFS 690B Academic Discussion
 Refinement and practice of discussion skills with attention to pronunciation, grammar, and appropriateness for specific tasks.  Preparation for effective participation in classroom and research group communication.. Detailed feedback  on usage.   Prerequisite: 690A or consent of instructor.
Autumn, Winter, Spring 1-3 units

EFS 690C Advanced Interacting in English
Communication skills for extended discourse such as storytelling and presenting supported arguments. Development of interactive listening facility and overall intelligibility and accuracy. Goal is advanced fluency in classroom, professional and social settings. Identification of and attention to individual patterned errors.  Prerequisite: 690A or B or consent of instructor.
Winter, Spring 1-3 units.

EFS 691 Oral Presentation
For advanced graduate students. Practice in academic presentation skills: strategy, design, organization, and use of visual aids. Focus on improving fluency and delivery style, with videotaping for extensive feedback on language accuracy and usage. Prerequisite: 695A or consent of instructor.
Autumn, Winter, Spring, Summer 1-3 units

EFS 692 Speaking and Teaching in English
For non-native speakers who must teach in English. Focus on developing clarity, intelligibility, and effectiveness through weekly presentation simulating actual teaching assistant responsibilities. Extensive feedback on comprehensibility, interpersonal and intercultural communication skills.
Autumn, Winter, Spring 1-3 units

EFS 693A Listening Comprehension
Strategies for effective listening in an academic setting, with a focus on identifying key ideas in lectures. Practice in understanding words and phrases commonly encountered in classroom settings. Work with computer-based exercises to promote comprehension of rapid, natural speech.
Autumn 1-3 units

EFS 693B Advanced Listening Comprehension
Development of listening strategies and vocabulary for understanding English in a variety of academic and non-academic contexts.  Discussion and interpretation of communicative intent.  Emphasis on effective strategies, with  computer-based and video exercises plus an  individual project.  Note: currently offered as a blended-learning course with one class meeting per week and the remainder online. Prerequisite: 693A or consent of instructor.
Autumn, Winter, Spring 1-3 units

EFS 694 Communication Strategies for Professional Life
For advanced graduate students.  Task-based practice of language appropriate for professional settings such as consulting, startups, and related teamwork.  Simulate the roles of manager, applicant, subordinate, and co-worker.  Prerequisite: 693A,B or consent of instructor.
Autumn, Spring 1-3 units

EFS 695A   Pronunciation and Intonation
Recognition and practice of American English sounds, stress, and intonation patterns for greater comprehension and intelligibility. Analysis of problem areas.  Assignments include audiotaping exercises for instructor's feedback.
Autumn, Winter, Spring, Summer 1-3 units

EFS 695B  Advanced Pronunciation and Intonation
Continuation of 695A, focusing on American English sounds, stress, rhythm, and intonation patterns.  Emphasis on self-monitoring, integrated with short videotaped presentations. Biweekly tape assignments.  Prerequisite: 695A and consent of instructor.
Autumn, Winter, Spring 1-3 units

EFS 696 Understanding American Humor
For advanced graduate students. Focus on recognizing rhetorical devices, joke and character types common to spoken humor in the US. Listening practice with advanced audio and video materials and colloquial spoken English, analysis of film and television transcripts and cross-cultural discussion.  Prerequisites 690B, 693B, or consent of instructor
Winter, Spring 1-3 units

EFS 697 Writing Fundamentals
A course in written communication with a focus on improving grammatical accuracy and vocabulary, building fluency, and learning the structure and conventions of English correspondence, reports, and short academic papers. Open to undergraduates by permission.
Autumn, Winter, Spring 1-3 units

EFS 698A Writing Academic English
Prepares graduate students to write academic papers; emphasis on fluency, organization, documentation, and appropriateness for specific writing tasks.
Autumn, Winter, Spring, Summer  1-3 units

EFS 698B Advanced Graduate Writing
For graduate students experienced in English writing and currently required to write for courses and research. Class meetings and frequent individual conferences. Prerequisite: 698A or consent of instructor.
Autumn, Winter, Spring, Summer  1-3 units

EFS 698C Writing and Presenting Research
 For graduate students completing major research projects. Revising and editing strategies for preparing papers, conference abstracts, and poster presentations. Adapting content and style to different audiences. Students present their research with participant feedback. Prerequisites: 698B and 691 or consent of instructor.
Fall 1-3 units

Last updated February 16, 2012