Project "Five-o’clock Tea at the AWC"

Academic writing can be daunting at times, making us feel stuck in our journey. However, many issues, from overcoming the writer’s block to handling feedback, can be effectively dealt with when the researcher feels efficacious in their academic writing skills. 

Join us in the workshop focused on self-efficacy, a motivational construct that functions to promote goal achievement. The workshop will equip you with writing self-efficacy strategies coming from positive psychology research. You will engage with a writing self-efficacy test, reflect on its results, and discuss strategies that enable academic writing self-efficacy. 

Speaker: Evgenia Lubennikova, BA in Applied Linguistics, MSLU (Moscow), MSc in Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology, UEl (London). Evgeniya carries out research into parental, student, and teacher wellbeing. She offers training sessions on positive psychology and coaching psychology in academia and language schools. As an English teacher, she runs workshops to prepare students for international exams.

Language: English

Participants' Feedback:

• “The workshop provided a unique opportunity for self-exploration, working on academic material from different angles, and collaborating with peers for alternative perspectives. 

  The language-rich environment fostered communication and new knowledge about self-efficacy strategies.”

  “The successful application of positive psychology to academic writing and the identification of strengths and areas for improvement were transformative, helping me unlock hidden potential in my academic pursuits.”

The topic for the meeting is “Art or Prank?” In 2005, artist Damien Hirst's dead shark is claimed to have been sold for $12 million. Why was the price so high? Where may modern artists derive inspiration? What messages might they try to transmit?

Come to the meeting to:
• discuss these questions
• watch a video about modern art, and
• and participate in debates.

Speaker: Yulia Chanturidze, Ph.D., is an associate professor at HSE University. She has been teaching English there since 2013. She is also a trainer of the HSE Academic Writing Center, an author of self-study materials for researchers, and organizer of extra-curricular activities.

Language: English

Participants' Feedback:

• “The practice was highly beneficial for improving both our language and performance skills.”

• “The verbal discussion was successful in creating a collaborative and intellectually stimulating environment, with the teacher or speaker employing effective strategies to encourage participation and maintain interest.”

• “The debate that took place was engaging and stimulating, with participants presenting compelling arguments and counterarguments."

See the discription in Russian

The topic for the meeting is “Why women are paid less.” On average, women in Russia earn 30-35% less than men. Does the whole world observe a similar trend? What are the reasons behind this? Is this a penalty or a choice? And how do countries cope with this?

At the meeting we:

• watched a Netflix video about the gender pay gap

• talked about its reasons

• discussed the solutions offered by some countries

• suggested other ways of coping with this issue.

Speaker: Yulia Chanturidze, Ph.D., is an associate professor at HSE University. She has been teaching English there since 2013. She is also a trainer of the HSE Academic Writing Center, an author of self-study materials for researchers, and organizer of extra-curricular activities.

Language: English

Participants' Feedback:

• "A new format – tea, film, and discussion – is great! Interesting topic for discussion, which involves all participants."

• "I was impressed by a friendly atmosphere of this meeting: an interesting film, an opportunity to practice English, and cookies."

See the discription in Russian

See the discription in Russian

See the discription in Russian

We’re inviting you to join our journey by the English Enigma Express within the series of Five o’clock tea meetings at the AWC to celebrate the upcoming New Year. 

The ultimate goal of the journey is to enhance such English language skills as active listening, asking questions, providing definitions, and even guessing, which are bound to come in handy when you step out of the Express into the world of academic communication. 

Our dining car will provide you with a warm atmosphere and tea with cookies, which are just what the doctor recommends in wintry weather. The entertaining format and surprises that we have prepared for you will make your journey even more memorable.

Speaker: Yulia Chanturidze, Ph.D., is an associate professor at HSE University. She has been teaching English there since 2013. She is also a trainer of the HSE Academic Writing Center, an author of self-study materials for researchers, and organizer of extra-curricular activities.

Language: English

Participants' Feedback: 

• “A well-thought-out scenario, intriguing tasks, and an amazing atmosphere!”

• “The event united people from different backgrounds in a natural and effortless way. Additionally, we expanded our academic vocabulary.”

• “Excellent organization of the event! It was super fun, and I received an enormous boost of energy and pleasant impressions from interacting with colleagues.”

• “A wonderful atmosphere and an opportunity to "activate" speaking skills.”