Academic Connectionsis a four-level integrated skills course designed for students preparing for academic studyas well as for standardized testssuch as the TOEFL test. A systematic, step-by-step approach helps students develop and sharpen their language, academic, and test-taking abilities. Academic Connectionswas developed with the Educational Testing Service(ETS) and is based on extensive researchinto the actual language demands of higher education. Academic Connections is: Integrated. Academic Connectionsintegrates all four language skills and teaches students how to integrate skills and contentin real-world academic contexts. Academic.Explicit, step-by-step academic skill developmentleads to student mastery. With careful instructionand engaging practice tasks, students learn how to organize information, make connections, and think critically. Authentic. High-interestand intellectually stimulating authentic materialfamiliarizes students with academic content. Authentic tasksinclude listening to lectures, note-taking, participating in debates, preparing oral and written reports, and writing essays. Assessment-Based. Academic Connectionsprovides a variety of assessmentsand practice opportunities based upon individual needs. The Audio CD is available separately. Online Component – MyAcademicConnectionsLab MyAcademicConnectionsLab, an integral part of the Academic Connectionsseries, is an easy-to-use onlineprogram for students and teachers that saves time and improves results. Studentsreceive personalized instructionand practice. Reading and listening selections and test preparation are all in one place – available anywhere, anytime. Teacherscan take advantage of content and class management resources including online assessments, a flexible gradebook, and tools for monitoring student progress.