Working on your English language skills

You probably already know a lot about English grammar, but many EAL students find it difficult to apply their knowledge in the particular kind of academic style that is required in an Australian university. Often this is because of different cultural understandings around the use of language, especially written language. For example, what is ‘logical’ here might not be ‘logical’ in your home culture, or vice versa. And the English you have been exposed to in your country, through reading or listening, might look or sound a little different to the way English is written or spoken here.

If this sounds familiar, you’ve come to the right place! In this section we will look at some of the issues that many EAL students have when they first come to Australia, or when they first start studying at a tertiary level here.

Take a look at the sections below, and if you still have questions make an appointment to speak with a Learning Advisor. We’re here to help!

Features of written academic English

The video below is an introduction to academic writing for students who have English as a second/additional language.

This second video looks at some common grammar and sentence structure issues:

Developing your academic reading skills in English

Having problems with all the reading you have to do at university? You’re not alone there! The video below looks at some reasons why it’s difficult, and also suggests some strategies to help you become a more effective and efficient reader at university in Australia.

Developing your listening skills in English

In this section there are 4 videos. The first is a general introduction to some of the listening issues facing EAL students at JCU. Videos 2 – 4 then look at some aspects of spoken English in more detail, to help you better understand spoken English.

Important tips for speaking English more confidently

Many people find speaking in another language quite stressful. We’re often scared that people won’t understand us, or that they will think our accent or pronunciation is funny. It can be hard to make ourselves speak up in another language, but when you’re studying at university you often don’t have a choice. This video has some tips for making the experience of speaking English at JCU easier and more comfortable.