Course "Writing Emails that People Want to Answer"

We write emails more frequently than papers, books, and various reports. Quite often, it is the effectiveness of those emails that determines the fate of our papers, books, reports, conference talks, collaboration projects, guest lectures, etc. In this advanced one-day course, we will look at finer aspects of emailing in English. We will start by revising the format, structure, and standard types of emails; then we will pay special attention to solving problems by emails. We will also focus on strategies for avoiding inappropriately straightforward and combative expressions, unintentional accusations, and making the emails polite, but firm and effective. We will compare Russian and English emailing conventions, practice the language used in emails, and discuss situations in which emails require a response, and in which they don’t. We will also discuss and practice editing techniques, which will help spot and correct mistakes before hitting the send button. At the end of the intensive course, participants will have an opportunity to ask questions and get group feedback on their challenging emailing cases. Bring your emails, we’ll help!

Trainer: Tatiana Golechkova, Ph.D., Assistant Professor at the Department of Humanities and Languages at the New Economic School, a Cambridge Delta qualified EFL teacher and teacher-trainer with broad experience in teaching academic writing and speaking to undergraduate and graduate students as well as academics. Tatiana's areas of special interest include strategies for effective communication, public speaking, genre features and sociocultural peculiarities of English academic texts.

Dates: September 23 (8 a/h)
Time: 10:00 - 17:30 (with breaks)
Format: online

English level requirement: C1

How do I get accepted? You should be a full-time employee from teaching or research staff at the HSE.

The course is offered on a competitive basis. Please fill out an online registration form and write a motivation letter in English (about 300 words). Please describe your experience of business and academic correspondence in English and the difficulties you have faced. Explain how the new skills are relevant to your teaching and / or research.