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EMLS 101ROral Communications for Academic Purposes

Units
0.50
Faculty
Arts
Subject
English for Multilingual Speakers

Not in the current Undergraduate Calendar. Shown as it appeared in 2025–26.

When it runs

  1. F24
  2. W25
  3. S25
  4. F25
  5. W26
  6. S26
  7. F26
  8. W27
  9. S27

Ran in 4 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

Designed specifically for students for whom English is not the first language, this course introduces group discussion strategies and presentation skills. Students will improve their informal and formal speaking skills to meet current social, academic, and business practices. A focus on pronunciation and vocabulary assists learners to better engage in conversations and listen to and deliver English presentations. Materials organization, rhetorical devices, nonverbal communication, group management, and intonation patterns are examined.

Prerequisites

None listed.

Antirequisites

  • Not open to fluent speakers of English

Leads to

Reviewed on UW Flow

70% liked it71% easy55% useful

From 96 ratings and 22 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • Not recommend

    Oct 2025 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • This course focuses more on body movements than actual speaking skills. This course is easy but it's NOT a bird course since the work load is heavy. Beware that you get 1% deducted from your final grade for every class you miss.

    May 2024 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Make sure you finish assignments as soon as you get them; some major tasks could take longer than you think. Other than that, fairly easy course for students who graduated high school in Canada. Recommend for students who are less introverted and willing to have a presentation in public.

    Apr 2023 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • DONT TAKE IT UNLESS U THINK 70% IS ENOUGH
    SHE IS HARSH MARKER

    Oct 2026 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Indeed, she is a nice and responsible professor. But she is a bit strict, sarcastic, and aggressive

    Dec 2025 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

27 posts and comments in 23 threads mention EMLS 101R, October 2015 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.

Spring 2023

Math - First year electives 3 points, 7 comments

“Hello! I have to select courses for my first year - I will be studying mathematics with co-op and looking forward to major in statistics in second year - and I need some advice from upper year …”

u/Competitive_Tie_165: “… first term of study: COMMST 100 - Interpersonal Communication COMMST 223 - Public Speaking EMLS 101R - Oral Communications for Academic Purposes EMLS 102R - Clear Communication in English Writing EMLS 129/ENGL 129R - Written Academic English ENGL 109 - Introduction to Academic …”

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Fall 2022

Spring 2022

CS students, what courses have you taken each term 9 points, 21 comments

“Inspired by https://www.reddit.com/r/uwaterloo/comments/v3b8nj/can\any\current\mathcs\students\let\me\know\their/ but recognizing that one term is a very narrow view, What courses have you taken each …”

u/WinniePooh888: “… MUSIC 246 SCI 206 MATH 235 coop 1 CS 370 coop 2 CS 458 3b (22fall) CS 492 CS 449 MUSIC 140 EMLS 101R CS 346”

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Winter 2021

Plan your degree! 562 points, 127 comments

“Hey UW, hope you all had an amazing break!!! We are extremely proud to announce the launch of UWPath today! …”

u/2kofawsome: “For CS it has the checklist requirement of 0.5 of list I "EMLS 101R, EMLS 102R, EMLS..." and 0.5 of list II "EMLS 103R, EMLS 104R, EMLS....". But the list II should also contain all of the list I. Great site!”

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Fall 2020

got a 60 in 1a communications course 2 points, 6 comments

“hi I just finished my 1a, and i got a 60 in my emls 102R🥲 i am in math faculty, wondering whether it will affects my future courses😂 because i remember that some courses require communication scores …”

u/uwactscquestion: “If you plan on majoring in actsci or stats, you'll need at least a 70% to take ENGL378/MTHEL300”

u/uwactscquestion: “According to the undergrad calendar, the course requires 70 in one of: EMLS 101R, 102R, EMLS/ENGL 129R, ENGL 109, SPCOM 100, 223 You can just do another course if you want”

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Spring 2019

Useful/interesting electives that are worth the money? 8 points, 18 comments

“It recently hit me I'm not too happy with spending a ton of money on a bird course that isn't interesting or useful. …”

u/ClassicISTP: “Psych 101”

u/ClassicISTP: “yeah I took it this term online, had such a bad time. well all I have for you rn are EMLS 101R, and ENGL 108D, but those depending on the prof can either be the easiest course you ever take or the most annoying.”

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ENGL129R vs EMLS101R/102R? 3 points, 3 comments

u/Anon3419200: “Can anyone comment on the difficulty of each course?”

u/dadada32s: “IF you are not particularly interested in English courses and you can take EMLS courses, do yourself a favor and take that. EMLS is for people with English as a second language (at least). …”

u/Anon3419200: “Thanks for your reply. Would you recommend EMLS101R or 102R?”

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Fall 2018

Spring 2018

Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

Calendar versions

Undergraduate Calendar