Course "Advanced Emailing: How to Be Polite yet Effective"
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 course, we will look at finer aspects of emailing in English. We will start by revising format, structure, and standard types of emails; then we will take a closer look at the types that will be more relevant to course participants. We will discuss the basics of politeness theory, compare Russian and English emailing conventions, and practice the language used in emails. We will pay particular attention to solving problems by emails along with strategies for avoiding inappropriately straightforward and combative expressions, unintentional accusations, and making the emails polite, but firm and effective. We will also discuss and practice editing techniques which will help spot and correct careless mistakes before hitting the send button.
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: February 21 - March 27, on Wednesdays (40 a/h)
Time: 16:30-19:30
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 emaling in English and the difficulties you have faced. Explain how the new skills are relevant to your teaching and / or research.
For more information on how to write a strong motivation letter, please read the AWC blog.