This course is primarily designed for students having their first experience in a Canadian academic context, and/or students who wish to further develop their academic English skills. The course will explore the following questions: How does learning happen for children and adults? How do YOU learn? How can you use the research on how learning happens to better understand and improve on the communicative and disciplinary practices in your graduate program and become successful graduate students and professionals? This course will help you 1) develop an understanding of the psychology behind learning; 2) reflect on your own learning experiences, connect them to the concepts being explored in this course and engage in critical discourse; and 3) develop and practice academic skills and strategies to maximize your learning experience in your graduate program. Topics such as cognition, cognitive biases, collaborative learning, motivation, critical thinking, online and in-person discussion strategies, academic reading skills, and academic writing will be addressed from both theoretical and practical perspectives.