The goal of this Bridge to BU course is to prepare students to function independently as undergraduates at BU. Students work on developing accuracy and fluency in speaking so that they can take on the role of active participants in BU classes. Through extensive reading and listening exercises, they increase their vocabularies and hone strategies for extracting key information. They sharpen their listening skills in order to take notes and be able to participate in academic discussions with multiple participants. They learn techniques for delivering effective oral and slide presentations. They learn the importance of class participation, expand cultural awareness and gain experience working on a team. They write clear, well-developed essays on complex topics and demonstrate an understanding of citation rules. They revise and edit their work with increasing independence. They examine and apply test taking strategies. They prepare to take the Institutional TOEFL. They increase their awareness of the academic culture of BU.