Academic Connections is a four-level integrated skills course designed for students preparing for academic study as well as for standardized tests such as the TOEFL(R)test. A systematic, step-by-step approach helps students develop and sharpen their language, academic, and test-taking abilities. Academic Connections was developed with the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and is based on extensive research into the actual language demands of higher education. Academic Connections is: *Integrated. Academic Connections integrates all four language skills and teaches students how to integrate skills and content in real-world academic contexts. *Academic. Explicit, step-by-step academic skill development leads to student mastery. With careful instruction and engaging practice tasks, students learn how to organize information, make connections, and think critically. *Authentic. High-interest and intellectually stimulating authentic material familiarizes students with academic content. Authentic tasks include listening to lectures, note-taking, participating in debates, preparing oral and written reports, and writing essays. *Assessment-Based.Academic Connections provides a variety of assessments and practice opportunities based upon individual needs. The Audio CD is available separately. Online Component -- MyAcademicConnectionsLab MyAcademicConnectionsLab, an integral part of the Academic Connections series, is an easy-to-use online program for students and teachers that saves time and improves results. *Students receive personalized instruction and practice. Reading and listening selections and test preparation are all in one place -- available anywhere, anytime. *Teachers can take advantage of content and class management resources including online assessments, a flexible gradebook, and tools for monitoring student progress. ukryj opis