Introduction: What this e-book is about

This electronic book provides transdisciplinary tools and guidelines that will help you to autonomously learn how to handle six oral genres (that is, types of text in spoken language, with their corresponding stylistic conventions) common in professional and academic environments. The materials it contains have been designed by the staff of the Department of Linguistics Applied to Science and Technology at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid and organised precisely into those two blocks: professional and academic, each composed by three chapters corresponding to three different types of oral texts essential to build the soft skills you will need to develop the competencies required along your higher education and future career.

Chapters pivot around the video as a dynamic learning tool with a double purpose: to show you motivational testimonies of fellow students, teachers, and full-fledged professionals, as well as instructional linguistic and discursive points. Closing every chapter there is a section for self-assessment, with which you can evaluate the knowledge acquired.

One of the most advantageous features of this e-book is its modularity. Contents have been divided into six small self-teaching units which may be consulted either sequentially or independently, thus enabling the user to set his/her own learning pace and focus. The materials are, in addition, reusable and inter-operative in diverse contexts and for various purposes, as well as accessible, since their digital format facilitates their storage and retrieval.

Furthermore, the flexibility and brevity of this learning tool make it possible to relieve classes of theoretical explanations and make room for more practical and interactive activities, such as the practice of authentic communication, critical thinking (e.g. class discussions) and co-evaluation of peer performances.

We want to express our deepest thanks to all the colleagues, students, and professionals who have volunteered to contribute to this didactic resource. Without them, it would have for sure been less vivid, encouraging, and empowering.

Carmen Sancho Guinda

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