English for specific purpose.

[Isabel77]

Hello everyone, I hope all of you are well.

My question is: I am trying to learn English for academic purpose, most concretely, I am looking forward to studying a master degree about Political Science. So I'm not too sure on how important is for me to submerge into phrasal verbs, idioms, slang.

I should confess that doing so is very interesting because it lets me know more about the culture and gets me more friendly when talking with native speakers I guess; although is not that easy to learn all that material. However maybe I am struggling so much unnecessarily, because it would be better instead, acquiring more vocabulary of latinate verbs, adverbs, nouns, prepositions, political glossary along with listening of course, and some advanced grammar. What do you think about?

By the way, I tune BBC news everyday, but I can not understand many of words I listen to, this make me think that I should focus foremost on learning formal English given the main challenge which is to study abroad, at a university.

Can someone please give me advice, and perhaps recommending some well written books or other resources considering mi goal?

Thank you very much; and correct my English if it isn't too much trouble.
Thank you again,

Regards.

[Tdol]

Have you looked at the Academic Word List:
ESL Web Directory: Search Results

[Isabel77]

No, I had never looked at those useful lists before.

So thank you very much!