Academic English is the vocabulary and grammar that you use in educational settings – typically high school, college, or postgraduate study. It tends to be more formal and technical than the English you use in everyday conversations, and will vary depending on the subject(s) you study. For many language learners, academic English can be challenging. It requires time and practice to feel confident when communicating in an academic setting.

However, in the digital age, artificial intelligence (AI) is a great tool to support your academic English. AI tutors like ELSA are particularly beneficial as these platforms enable you to converse in English, participate in virtual courses in English, and receive real-time feedback about your English. Even better, AI tutors customize learning pathways according to your individual needs and preferences, so you have a higher chance of understanding and remembering new language.

These tutors are also readily accessible and available on the go, so you stay engaged, motivated, and making progress. Try these role play ideas with your AI tutor and prepare to be top of the class for academic English.

Five roleplay ideas to practice academic English

1. Get feedback from a professor during a 1:1 tutorial

One of the most intimidating scenarios as a language learner is having a one-on-one conversation with a tutor. With an AI tutor, you have a secure and supportive environment to practice your academic English before your tutorial. You’ll also be able to try using more complex vocabulary and rehearse speaking in a more formal manner.

During this roleplay, try asking questions related to your coursework, research, texts, and any concerns/comments you have about the curriculum. You could also ask for clarification about certain concepts or request guidance around feedback the tutor has previously given you. Alternatively, you may want to run through a presentation with your tutor, to get their advice about what to improve. Other prompts could include:

• Could you explain the key concepts covered in the last lecture in simpler terms?
• How can I improve the structure and flow of my academic essays?
• What are some effective strategies for conducting academic research in my field?
• I’m struggling with academic vocabulary. Can you recommend resources for expanding my academic language?
• What are the best practices for citing sources and avoiding plagiarism in academic writing?

2. Participate in discussions at a group seminar

Group conversations can be hard to navigate as a non-native speaker. An AI tutor allows you to actively partake in discussions, listen to responses, and respond with clarity. The result is that both your academic English and general articulation skills improve, which can help your performance in the class as a whole.

In this roleplay, present arguments to your AI tutor. Afterward, you can switch roles and ask the tutor to give you a talking point that you have to support or contest. You may also want to explore asking group participants to summarize their takeaways from a project, and then present your own, detailing similarities and differences. Other prompts for this roleplay could be:

• In your opinion, how does the research we’re reviewing align with current industry trends?
• Can someone offer an alternative interpretation of the data presented in this study?
• How do you think these findings relate to our course objectives and learning outcomes?
• What could have been done differently to get the desired results?

3. Present a project to other students

Standing in front of peers and presenting a project always demands multiple run-throughs beforehand. An AI tutor offers a calm environment to deliver your presentation and prepare for questions and constructive criticism. 

Along the way, you can ask your AI tutor for tips to speak clearly and slowly, techniques to captivate your audience, and to simulate questions that you may receive at the end. You could additionally get feedback on using more appropriate or advanced academic English vocabulary to demonstrate your knowledge in the presentation. Other worthwhile prompts are:

• I’d like to practice incorporating data into my presentation. Could you guide me on how to do this effectively?
• How can I transition smoothly between different sections of the presentation to maintain its flow?
• What are some advanced linking words and phrases I can use to connect ideas?
• I’d like to make my presentation more interactive. What activities or engagement techniques can I incorporate?

4. Navigate library and research facilities

Academic English isn’t just restricted to conversations in the classroom – it also involves getting around campus and using institutions’ resources. You’ll be interacting with librarians and other academics. So, it’s a good idea to practice asking about resources and how to access archives. If you can communicate in the politest way possible, you’ll find that people will help you as much as possible. 

You could seek guidance about how to conduct searches in the library catalog, how to correctly cite sources, how to access and interpret historical archives, and how to refine your research strategies. Other prompts you could utilize are:

• I need to find scholarly articles on ‘X.’ Can you guide me through using the library database to conduct an effective search?
• What is the best way to search through the archives? Can you show me how the catalog system works? 
• Could you provide tips to organize research findings and condense information from various sources for my literature review?

5. Coffee with a mentor

A more casual meeting like a coffee with your mentor may seem like you can talk informally, but you should still be prepared to discuss academic topics. After all, you want to make a good impression on your mentor, and you want to ensure that the language you’ll use for assignments is correct.

Try asking your AI tutor to simulate being your mentor and then ask them questions about their career. You could dive deeper into their research, the tools they used, and the connections they leveraged. Elsewhere, you could talk about how to set realistic goals, how to network in the community, and how to balance studies and your personal life. Other prompts include:

• I want to practice good opening statements to break the ice with my mentor.
• Can you help me phrase questions that inquire about my mentor’s experiences and advice?
• I’d like to express my appreciation for my mentor’s guidance. Can you assist me in crafting a sincere yet professional thank-you message?

These are just a few of the many possible role plays to carry out with an AI tutor. No matter how specific the scenario is that you want to create to enhance your academic English, an AI tutor can accommodate.
Ready to accelerate your academic English? Sign up to the ELSA AI English tutor now.