Neil Murray – författare

Now in a fourth edition, Contemporary Topics expands on its highly respected approach to developing academic listening and study skills. Organized around realistic college lectures, the text guides learners through carefully sequenced activities in skills such as note-taking, focusing attention, intensive listening, and vocabulary building. It also helps students evaluate their interests and explore possible career paths.New to This EditionNew subject areas, presented as one-on-one academic lectures, emphasize professional applications such as software engineering, multimedia design, information technology, urban planning, and social psychology.Learning Outcomes listed at the outset of each unit let students know the goals of each unit and what their learning experience will be.New audio interviews with topic experts provide context for the upcoming unit lecture.Bottom-up listening and pronunciation exercises emphasize important principles and improve real-time perception.An oral presentation activity, supported by specific preparation and delivery strategies, concludes each unit and includes the opportunity for peer evaluation.Proficiency assessments composed of short academic audio lectures and multiple-choice exams simulate TOEFL-style test format for practice on high-stakes tests.New Essential Online Resources include audio, video, and teacher materials (assessments, teaching notes, answer keys, audioscripts, presentation points, and more).Other HighlightsCorpus vocabulary drawn from the Academic Word List ensures that students are exposed to core academic vocabulary.Collaborative activities with presentation strategies and peer evaluations allow students to make connections and develop critical thinking skills.Unit comprehension tests assess students’ grasp of key concepts presented in the unit lecture.Mapped to the Global Scale of English.

Teacher’s Pack for busy instructors with: •Suggested bonus activities •Teaching notes •Answer keys •Audioscripts •Simulated TOEFL Listening Test for each unit This interactive listening-speaking series prepares students for the challenges of college lectures with a wide range of listening, speaking, and note-taking strategies and skills. The lectures are drawn from a range of academic disciplines and reflect authentic lecture settings, featuring engaging instructors and live student audiences.

 

Successful Dissertation Writing guides students through the involved process of writing an academic dissertation, developing their ability to communicate ideas and research fluently and successfully.

From conducting research, working with a supervisor, understanding and avoiding plagiarism, right through to using feedback and editing to improve the written piece, it will help students master the more technical elements of producing well-written academic work.

 

What is good academic writing? How should I present my written work? How can I improve my written work?Academic writing can be a daunting prospect for new undergraduates and postgraduates alike, regardless of whether they are home or overseas students. This accessible book provides them/students with all they need to know to produce excellent written work.

Based on their many years of experience, the authors have structured the book so as to build students' confidence in their own writing ability whilst at the same time respecting conventional ideas of what is, and what is not, acceptable in the academic domain. To reinforce student learning, the material is presented using a wealth of clear examples, hands-on tasks with answers, and logical sequences that build on earlier chapters. The first two sections of the book address the preparation and writing of assignments and research projects, while the third provides a useful toolkit containing reference materials on areas including punctuation, grammar and academic terminology.

The book includes numerous tips and insights and comprehensively covers issues such as:

Reading around a new topic The need for coherence and how to achieve it Structure and organisation Plagiarism, quoting and citing sources The main sections of a typical research project Writing style Finding your own voice Examiner expectations

It is perhaps ironic that as the global financial crisis has, in some cases, led governments and institutions to pull back from and/or set more modest goals and associated funding around widening participation, there is an ever-growing sense that the ideals buttressing the widening participation movement are becoming more universally acknowledged by educators across the globe. That acknowledgement has translated into action on the ground via such means as policy formulation, strategic planning and target setting – each of which often reflects local contexts and manifests a regional ‘flavour’. There is also, however, an increasing realisation that there are commonalities in the challenges involved with national or regional initiatives to increase the participation of non-traditional groups in higher education and that the drivers of such initiatives – and ultimately the cohorts they target – stand to benefit considerably from an open exchange of ideas and sharing of experience.This book brings together current regional perspectives on widening participation as presented by prominent academics, researchers, policy-makers, and students from across the globe. It will create for policy-makers, institutions, and individuals interested in enabling access, a useful and informative resource that will introduce, formulate, shape and reinforce the ideas and aims of the World Congresses on widening access.As the contributors maintain, in an increasingly globalised market economy and in the face of recent seismic economic, political and social change around the world, it is imperative to both secure existing talent within our populations and uncover and nurture new sources of talent. The series of essays featured in this book will explore, anticipate, and highlight themes underpinning a global movement towards a step-change in thinking, strategies, and policies – one that places youth and students from around the world at its heart.

It is perhaps ironic that as the global financial crisis has, in some cases, led governments and institutions to pull back from and/or set more modest goals and associated funding around widening participation, there is an ever-growing sense that the ideals buttressing the widening participation movement are becoming more universally acknowledged by educators across the globe. That acknowledgement has translated into action on the ground via such means as policy formulation, strategic planning and target setting – each of which often reflects local contexts and manifests a regional ‘flavour’. There is also, however, an increasing realisation that there are commonalities in the challenges involved with national or regional initiatives to increase the participation of non-traditional groups in higher education and that the drivers of such initiatives – and ultimately the cohorts they target – stand to benefit considerably from an open exchange of ideas and sharing of experience.This book brings together current regional perspectives on widening participation as presented by prominent academics, researchers, policy-makers, and students from across the globe. It will create for policy-makers, institutions, and individuals interested in enabling access, a useful and informative resource that will introduce, formulate, shape and reinforce the ideas and aims of the World Congresses on widening access.As the contributors maintain, in an increasingly globalised market economy and in the face of recent seismic economic, political and social change around the world, it is imperative to both secure existing talent within our populations and uncover and nurture new sources of talent. The series of essays featured in this book will explore, anticipate, and highlight themes underpinning a global movement towards a step-change in thinking, strategies, and policies – one that places youth and students from around the world at its heart.

English language and linguistics shares many of its writing conventions with those of other disciplines, but there are certain features and expectations that distinguish it as a subject. This book is written specifically to help undergraduate students of English language and linguistics develop the art of writing essays, projects and reports. Written by an author with over 30 years' experience of lecturing in the subject, it is a comprehensive and very readable resource and contains numerous discipline-related examples, practice exercises and an answer key. It includes chapters on referencing (including plagiarism, paraphrase and guidance on referencing styles), stylistic issues that often get overlooked, and writing a dissertation. The book offers practical guidance and a layout that guides students as they work though their project. It will be an invaluable reference tool that students can read cover to cover or dip into as and when required.

English language and linguistics shares many of its writing conventions with those of other disciplines, but there are certain features and expectations that distinguish it as a subject. This book is written specifically to help undergraduate students of English language and linguistics develop the art of writing essays, projects and reports. Written by an author with over 30 years' experience of lecturing in the subject, it is a comprehensive and very readable resource and contains numerous discipline-related examples, practice exercises and an answer key. It includes chapters on referencing (including plagiarism, paraphrase and guidance on referencing styles), stylistic issues that often get overlooked, and writing a dissertation. The book offers practical guidance and a layout that guides students as they work though their project. It will be an invaluable reference tool that students can read cover to cover or dip into as and when required.

Change, Strategy and Projects at Work provides a working insight into the nature of change, the formulation of strategy and the implementation of change through projects in the workplace. It is a ‘how to’ book with real practical application, containing the tools, techniques, advice and guidance you need to analyse organisational context, develop a strategic plan and manage a project.To help you in leading change and creating opportunities for yourself and your organisation, the book takes an integrated approach to managing change, developing strategy and project management, and covers:* How strategic objectives are chosen, promoting awareness of the wider organisational context and the strategic planning process* The knowledge, tools, techniques and confidence needed to act as a change agent* The skills, competencies and other attributes needed to improve your employabilityThe book is ideal as a dip-in guide for professional development, a self-study resource or a textbook for formal courses on change, strategy and project management in a work context. It is used to support the Open University’s undergraduate course ICTs, Change and Projects at Work (T226).

With university student populations becoming ever more diverse across the globe, it has become increasingly difficult for educators to presume that all students possess the necessary knowledge and skills in academic literacy to succeed in their academic studies. This timely book presents the argument for embedding academic literacies in higher education degree curricula. It supports an inclusive approach to student academic language development, where all students stand to benefit from instruction in the literacy practices specific to their disciplines. The book is split into two parts, with the first providing a number of thought-provoking perspectives on different aspects and interpretations of embedding. The second part provides a set of case studies that serve both to highlight how various theoretical frameworks inform different approaches to embedding, and to illustrate the real-word affordances and constraints at play that act as determinants of the shape, extent and success of embedding initiatives.

With university student populations becoming ever more diverse across the globe, it has become increasingly difficult for educators to presume that all students possess the necessary knowledge and skills in academic literacy to succeed in their academic studies. This timely book presents the argument for embedding academic literacies in higher education degree curricula. It supports an inclusive approach to student academic language development, where all students stand to benefit from instruction in the literacy practices specific to their disciplines. The book is split into two parts, with the first providing a number of thought-provoking perspectives on different aspects and interpretations of embedding. The second part provides a set of case studies that serve both to highlight how various theoretical frameworks inform different approaches to embedding, and to illustrate the real-word affordances and constraints at play that act as determinants of the shape, extent and success of embedding initiatives.

The student demographic of universities today has changed quite dramatically from even a decade ago. As universities seek to internationalise, widen participation and derive attendant reputational and financial benefits, along with greater opportunities for research collaborations and industry links, they also face a growing challenge associated with what Neil Murray terms 'the English language question'. In particular, as the proportion of students of non-English speaking backgrounds entering universities increases, there is growing concern over levels of language proficiency and what this can mean for educational standards, the student experience and, ultimately, institutional standing. Standards of English in Higher Education unpacks a number of key and interrelated issues - for example, the assessment of proficiency and the structure and nature of provision - that bear on the question of English language standards, and in doing so offers a frank and critical appraisal of English language in higher education today.

The student demographic of universities today has changed quite dramatically from even a decade ago. As universities seek to internationalise, widen participation and derive attendant reputational and financial benefits, along with greater opportunities for research collaborations and industry links, they also face a growing challenge associated with what Neil Murray terms 'the English language question'. In particular, as the proportion of students of non-English speaking backgrounds entering universities increases, there is growing concern over levels of language proficiency and what this can mean for educational standards, the student experience and, ultimately, institutional standing. Standards of English in Higher Education unpacks a number of key and interrelated issues - for example, the assessment of proficiency and the structure and nature of provision - that bear on the question of English language standards, and in doing so offers a frank and critical appraisal of English language in higher education today.

Whether already a Volvo 1800 owner, a prospective owner or simply an admirer, you’ll find many useful nuggets of information here. Especially important if you are contemplating the purchase of one of the best looking classic sports cars ever produced, this handy pocket-sized book will guide you through how to select the right car, and provides essential advice on finding, buying and evaluating a Volvo 1800. Covering all versions of the 1800 from carburettor-equipped coupés to electronically fuel-injected shooting brakes (estates), you’ll find the correct original specifications, and advice on how to spot potential body and mechanical problems.

Like thousands of kids, Neil Murray dreamt of being a Rock Star. Like most he became something else, but life’s dots can join up in curious ways. The guitar didn’t stay in the attic and, now 70, he delivers a lively and informative history of seven decades of Rock and Roll, from Bill Haley to Billie Eilish. He interweaves that with his own journey, from unlikely beginnings in 50s Libya to the swinging 60s in the Hong Kong of the Vietnam War, to 70s UK, the “Sick man of Europe”, then 80s Yuppiedom, 90s hedonism and onward to the 21st century via London and Nashville. At 20, Murray was in a Punk band. At 50 and a City lawyer in London, he appeared on TV’s “Top of the Pops” with a chart hit. At 60, he went back to Uni and got a music degree. Now he’s a music producer and on the side sports a Ziggy Stardust wig playing with his mates in a Glam Rock band. He currently lives and records in a real 70s Rock Star’s house. He’s the School of Rock for his grandkids. Can dreams come true, at least in part? What life lessons are there along the way?

This volume provides a fascinating glimpse into the complex language ecologies of Southeast Asia. Adopting a relational perspective, it considers their significance for the region, its peoples, the policy and practice of language teaching, learning and assessment and the fate of local languages. It gives particular prominence to the relationship between English and Chinese, it's likely transformation at a time of significant global change and the impact that these two languages and their synergy will have on the place of other languages and dialects. Dynamic Ecologies: A Relational Perspective on Languages Education in the Asia-Pacific Region draws on the research and insights of key scholars in the field and provides case studies that illustrate the impact of relevant language policy in countries including Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, South Korea and Australia.