The Academic English (Level 4) course is specifically designed for international students who are at the high intermediate comprehension level of the English Language and who plan to continue with their education in a US or UK university or college where English is the primary medium of instruction. It helps students to build confidence in proper use of academic English grammar, enrich their academic English vocabulary, and practice the command of academic English.    While the main focus of the ESL Level 4 course is to work on English grammar and vocabulary, the course is also aimed at further developing and mastering students’ advanced skills in English for Academic Purposes (EAP), such as:   Reading  Writing  Speaking  Listening comprehension skills  Researching  Presentation skills  Critical thinking   Students continue working on understanding spoken and written English and the ability to speak and write clearly and effectively. Students acquire more sophisticated academic English vocabulary and presentation skills, improve writing and thinking skills developed in English, and apply critical thinking and writing skills to a variety of academic assignments, including analyzing complex texts. In addition, the course prepares for the TOEFL examination, includes extended work on academic English and TOEFL vocabulary, pronunciation skills, conversational English, and the use of idiomatic expressions. There is required reading and writing homework, including work online, and there are tests and quizzes in class to work on testing-taking strategies.   It may include various individual and group activities, original streaming news, authentic audio and video materials, and publications that relate to topics in the textbook and reflect everyday life and cultural events in the US and worldwide.   To take this elective, students must have successfully completed the English Grammar course at CATS Boston. New international students will be considered following their Academic English placement test results.