English Assist Program
The English Assist Program will help you develop your speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills for university study.
The English Assist Program is exclusive to international undergraduate and postgraduate coursework students in their first semester of study. The program has a range of activities to choose from, including self-paced lectures and modules, and weekly tutorials and small group workshops run by specialist language tutors. No preparation is required for these activities.
The English Assist Program offers three streams of support
Communicate and Connect
This series of free, interactive, conversation based workshops, running from Weeks 2-6 (from March 4 to April 5), will develop your speaking and listening communication skills, help you make new friends, and build your confidence to fully engage in your University of Adelaide studies. To attend the workshops, visit the English Assist MyUni course for a full schedule and list of topics. You can also see the schedule below.
The workshops will assist you with the spoken language needed to fully participate in key study activities such as tutorials, seminars, group projects, oral presentations, and social conversations.
Communicate and Connect sessions are run by specialist language tutors from the University of Adelaide. Classes will have a maximum of 20 students, providing the opportunity for you to get to know your fellow classmates and to receive tips, strategies and feedback from your tutor. No preparation or out of class work is required for these workshops.
Attendance at the sessions is able to be claimed towards the Adelaide Graduate Award, a free employability program that formally recognises your extra-curricular achievements.
Semester 1 2024 Schedule
| Day and Time | Location |
|---|---|
| Mondays, 12pm-1pm | Hughes 322 (just behind Ask Adelaide) |
| Wednesdays, 9am-10am | Library Writing Studio (Level 2 of the Library) |
| Thursdays, 11am-12pm | Library Writing Studio (Level 2 of the Library) |
Reading and Writing in English
This self-guided course will provide a combination of lectures and modules to help you build your skills and confidence in writing and reading in English.
Once you complete these modules, we encourage you to make a 30-minute one-on-one mentoring appointment with a Learning Advisor from the Writing Centre. These appointments can be made via the Writing Centre website, and are currently available both in-person at the Writing Centre (Level 3, Hub Central) and online (Zoom) from Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm.
To watch the reading and writing lectures, please go to the English Assist MyUni course
English for Coursework Success
English for Coursework Success sessions (ECSs) support the development of knowledge for specific disciplinary contexts. The series of free weekly sessions are designed to give you the support you need to communicate effectively in both written and spoken English for your courses.
In these sessions, you will work in small groups practising the reading, writing, speaking and listening skills needed for success both in your courses - developing confidence in discipline-specific language - and for your further studies at the University.
Semester 1 Schedule 2024
These sessions will run in the following weeks of Semester 1:
Weeks 2-4 (March 4 - March 22)
Weeks 7-9 (April 22 - May 10)
| Focus | Times and Locations |
| Commencing Undergraduate Students |
Wednesdays 2pm-4pm - Library Writing Studio (Level 2 of the Library) |
|
Commencing Postgraduate Students |
Thursdays 9am-11am - Library Writing Studio (Level 2 of the Library) |
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What do I learn in the English Assist Program?
The English Assist Program give you a lot of opportunity to practice your language skills, ask questions and get feedback from experts in English Language Teaching (ELT) from the University of Adelaide.
Each week focuses on a particular aspect of reading, writing, speaking and listening at university, for example:
- reading effectively
- writing in an academic context
- sentence structure
- paraphrasing
- academic honesty and referencing
- writing clearly and logically
- working with feedback
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Do I need to attend all of the sessions?
Attendance is not compulsory, but is recommended. Each session is a stand-alone topic, but builds on what you have previously learnt. However, your learning in a session will not be impacted if you have not attended a previous session.
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Do I get graded for the English Assist Program?
Grades and marks are not assigned - the sessions are all optional and offer a supportive environment. The emphasis is on your personal learning and helping you develop your communication skills.
Attendance at the sessions is eligible to be claimed towards the Adelaide Graduate Award.
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Is there a cost for the English Assist Program?
The entire English Assist Program is free of charge for students, and you do not need to purchase any text books or additional materials.
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When do the sessions start?
The English for Coursework Success sessions start in Week 2 of Semester 2 2023 - take a look at the timetable on this webpage for specific details.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I get access?
- Head to the English Assist MyUni course
- Look at the schedules for our Communicate and Connect and English for Coursework Success series.
- Find a time that suits your timetable, and attend the workshop each week!
- During your own time, watch the reading and writing lectures, do the practice modules, and take the quizzes to continue developing your English skills.