Congratulations, you’ve successfully started your degree course at the university and country of your choice. You may feel that you no longer need to have English language lessons or focus on improving your English, but the truth is, you are still going to need help.
The level and type of English language skills you’ll need to write assignments and give presentations are very different from what you have been used to. The good news is that there’s a great deal of help available to you. Let’s start by looking at the type of English language skills that you will need.
What English language skills will I need?
Here are some of the things you’ll be expected to do while at university:
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Group planning and presentations
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Take part in discussions and debates
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Read from a wide range of sources: academic journals and papers
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Note-taking in lectures and while reading
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Think critically
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Writing skills - clearly and logically present ideas, research, and findings
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Know how to use citation in written assignments – this is where you reference all the sources you have used
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Have one-to-one tutorials
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Make new friends
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Find accommodation, register at doctors’ offices, open a bank account, go shopping, and more.
What kind of help can I get?
All universities have language skills support for international students. English for Academic Purposes (EAP) programmes are designed to help with things such as presentation skills, academic English, and everyday English. These programmes take place alongside your main lectures and tutorials. You can also take a pre-sessional English course or a pathway programme prior to starting your degree course.
Some universities have a language advisory service that provides one-to-one online sessions which focus on speaking and communication skills. They will also provide a writing advisory service. This helps you with academic writing, using citation, critical thinking, and more.
Some Students’ Unions run language support through one-to-one sessions, workshops and ‘coffee and chat’. There are also language exchange programmes, which can online and face-to-face, and sometimes, free English classes too.
The help and support are out there for you. Please don’t feel shy or embarrassed to ask for it. Also, don’t view it as another subject you have to study, view it more like a helpful extra. You won’t need English language support for the entire length of your university life, but you may need it for the first few months. It will really make a difference if you’re finding academic life in English difficult.
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