此系列分為「聽說」與「讀寫」兩大學習課程，各有四個級數。以呈現學科實境經驗方式，使用實際學術授課內容及相關領域教科書之內容精華，讓學生輕鬆進入學術領域，涵養學術力。
「聽說」部分主要運用真實的授課環境內容，幫助學生模擬和學習學術場合中所使用的會話及學術字彙(AWL)，並練習正式和非正式的學術場合演說，及發展相關課程的授課筆記能力。
學生能從學科的實境經驗授課之方式，學習學術英文技巧和相關領域字彙，並藉由深入更多擬真的學術場合經驗，獲得所需之學術英文技巧，培養學術能力。
The Academic Encounters Second edition series uses a sustained content approach to teach skills necessary for taking academic courses in English. There are two books for each content area. Academic Encounters Level 3 Student's Book Listening and Speaking with DVD Life in Society engages students through interviews and academic lectures on stimulating topics from the field of sociology. Topics include culture shock, gender roles, and ways of solving crime. Students develop crucial listening and note-taking skills, discuss content, conduct interviews, and make presentations. A Student DVD includes all of the academic lectures. Topics correspond with those in Academic Encounters Level 3 Student's Book Reading and Writing Life in Society. The books may be used independently or together.