An intensive preparation program (64 class hours) is given to doctoral students at the IDEA to support their English language skills. Although all the beneficiaries must certify a minimum level of B2 when applying to the program, a differentiated process was introduced to homogenize the initial level. The course aims at an intensive speaking practice (based on academic discussions about doctoral research topics).
By the end of the course, the student must be proficient in the following abilities:
- Understand the main ideas of the texts that deal with concrete and abstract topics, even if they are of a technical nature, as long as they are within their field of specialization.
- Interact with native users with a degree of fluency and naturalness so that communication is carried out effortlessly by any of the interlocutors.
- Produce clear and detailed texts on various topics, as well as advocate a point of view on general topics, indicating the pros and cons of the various options.
Within the structure of the program, the most useful strategy is micro-teaching: the students themselves are immersed in an educational space in which they can teach the other participants. The topics are initially of free choice, but during the course, other transdisciplinary subjects related to the DSSP and the experience in Germany are also included.