From April 14 to May 27, 2025, the School of English Studies at Xi’an Fanyi University launched a specialized lecture series—Core English Skills Training Camp—tailored for first-year Honors Program students. Three workshops focused respectively on grammatical frameworks, listening/speaking proficiency, and writing strategies, delivered by the Honors Program trainer team to strengthen key learning pathways.
Workshop 1: Grammar Foundations – Demystifying Complex Sentences
The inaugural session, English Grammar: Building Linguistic Frameworks, commenced on April 14 in Classroom 4211T. Associate Professor Ma Qing centered her presentation on “grammar as cognitive scaffolding.” Through live deconstruction of CET-4 reading passages, she illustrated the synergy between grammatical rules and complex sentence comprehension. Demonstrating core extraction via the subject-predicate axis, she analyzed recurring errors in tense usage and non-finite verbs. “Grammar,” she emphasized, “is not rigid code but a scaffold for meaning—true command comes from understanding its expressive purpose.” Interactive exercises sparked vigorous discussion among attendees.
Workshop 2: Listening-Speaking Advancement – A Structured Approach
On April 16, Trainer Wang Qichao presented Sustained Progress in Listening & Speaking: From Foundational Practice to Advanced Expression. The workshop followed a three-level progression. Foundation: AI speech analysis addressed pronunciation gaps, while authentic scenarios (airport announcements, academic dialogues) sharpened listening accuracy. Breakthrough: Connected speech patterns (linking, reduction) were decoded to overcome comprehension barriers. Advanced Output: TED talk case studies demonstrated academic discourse frameworks, teaching students to structure arguments using the claim-evidence-example triangle. Wang stressed: “Precision in input determines excellence in output.”
Workshop 3: Writing Transformation – Crafting High-Score Essays
Concluding the series on May 27, Trainer Nian Xiaorui unveiled CET-4 Writing Tactics: Strategies and Analysis. Targeting common pitfalls, she revealed grading rubrics’ “three golden criteria”: coherent structure, logical flow, and linguistic precision. Through comparative analysis of model essays, she demonstrated: Replacing fragmented narratives with three-paragraph logic chains; Avoiding Chinglish traps while strengthening cohesion through transitional phrases; Upgrading basic vocabulary to academic terms naturally; Personalized feedback addressed student samples, supplemented by exclusive writing templates and brainstorming tools for exam readiness.
Curated by the School of English Studies, this series leveraged the trainers’ expertise (grammar theory, applied linguistics, and composition pedagogy) to create an integrated input-processing-output mastery cycle. Participant feedback highlighted exceptional value beyond expectations.
From grammatical frameworks to tiered listening-speaking development and precision writing techniques—this initiative charts a clear pathway for Honors students toward linguistic excellence.
