Current Students Support Students for whom English is an Additional Language (EAL)
Students for whom English is an Additional Language (EAL)
- Courses
- Future Students
-
Current Students
- Support
- Enrolment
- Fees & Financial Support
- Exams & Results
- Important Dates
- Student Life
- Forms
- The Learning Centre
- Safety
- Research and Teaching
- Partners and Community
- About JCU
- Celebrating 50 Years
- Anton Breinl Research Centre
- Agriculture Technology and Adoption Centre
- Living on Campus
- Advanced Prawn Breeding Research Hub
- Advanced Analytical Centre
- Applying to JCU
- Alumni
- AMHHEC
- Australian/NZ Students
- Australian Lions Stinger Research
- Boating and Diving
- Australian Tropical Herbarium
- ATSIP
- Careers at JCU
- Association of Australian University Secretaries
- Careers and Employability
- Australian Quantum & Classical Transport Physics Group
- CITBA
- Centre for Tropical Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology
- Chancellery
- CMT
- CASE
- College of Business, Law and Governance
- College of Healthcare Sciences
- College of Medicine and Dentistry
- College of Science and Engineering
- CPHMVS
- COVID-19 Advice
- CSTFA
- Centre for Disaster Solutions
- Daintree Rainforest Observatory
- Diploma of Higher Education
- Discover Nature at JCU
- Division of Research and Innovation
- Division of Tropical Environments and Societies
- Division of Tropical Health and Medicine
- Staff Intranet
- Economic Geology Research Centre
- Elite Athletes
- Estate
- Fletcherview
- Foundation for Australian Literary Studies
- Gender Equity Action and Research
- GetReady4Uni
- Give to JCU
- Graduate Research School
- Graduation
- JCU Ideas Lab
- Indigenous Education and Research Centre
- Indigenous Legal Needs Project
- IT Services
- Information for Agents
- International Students
- JCU College
- JCU Contact Information
- JCU Eduquarium
- JCU Global Experience
- JCU Motorsports
- JCU Prizes
- JCU Sport
- Language and Culture Research Centre
- LTSE
- LearnJCU
- Library
- MACRO New
- MARF
- Marine Geophysics Laboratory
- New Students
- Off-Campus Students
- Office of the Provost
- Office of the Vice Chancellor and President
- Open Day
- Orpheus
- Outstanding Alumni Awards
- Parents and Partners
- Pathways to University
- Planning and Performance
- Planning for your future
- Placements
- Policy
- PAHL
- Publications
- Professional Experience Placement
- Queensland Research Centre for Peripheral Vascular Disease
- Rapid Assessment Unit
- Researcher Development Portal
- JCU Connect
- Safety and Wellbeing
- Scholarships @ JCU
- Staff
- Student Equity and Wellbeing
- TESS
- TREAD
- TropEco
- Tropical Queensland Maths Hub
- TUDLab
- Unicare Centre and Unicampus Kids
- UAV
- VAVS Home
- Work Health and Safety
- WHOCC for Vector-borne & NTDs
- Media
- Copyright and Terms of Use
- Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine
A guide to undertaking tertiary education in Australia to support students for whom English is an Additional Language (EAL), as well as international students in general.
A guide to undertaking tertiary education in Australia to support students for whom English is an Additional Language (EAL), as well as international students in general.
Adjusting to a new culture can be challenging. Adjusting to a new educational culture can be just as difficult.
This short video introduces tips for making the most of your time in Australia by being prepared with some coping strategies.
For assistance contact the International Student Support team
Resilience strategies resources:
The James Cook University Student Association
Townsville Tours and Trails free app
JCU Clubs and Societies Townsville
JCU Clubs and Societies Cairns
Study Planners:
Australian English is similar to British and American English, however there are differences.
This short video provides a brief overview of Australian English, and provides advice on how to adjust.
Australian Language resources:
Higher education assessment methods differ between countries. Australian universities place emphasis on showing your ability, practical skills, and critical thinking.
This short video introduces common assessment practices in Australia.
Visit the JCU Learning Centre website for further information about assessment types at JCU.
The essay is a basic assessment tool used in many Australian university courses. Understanding the basics of essay writing is essential if you want to achieve satisfactory results.
This short video introduces methods of essay planning, and basic essay structure.
Additional resources
See Essay Writing Basics for additional essay writing guidelines and support.
Download our Editing guide (PDF, 285 KB) for valuable hints on how to successfully edit your own writing.
Download our Proofreading guide (PDF, 284 KB) to help you focus on the detail of your writing: formatting, spelling, grammar and punctuation.
Each specialist area of study has a unique set of writing styles and language. These are known as genre and discourse.
This short video introduces these ideas.
Additional resources
Build your academic vocabulary. Download Choosing the right word (PDF, 232 KB) for a list of frequently used academic words.
Download our Building vocabulary guidelines (PDF, 288 KB) for help to expand your academic vocabulary using the Academic Word List (AWL). Learning vocabulary from the AWL will help you improve your comprehension of academic texts. It will also help you write assignments in an academic style.
The Academic Phrasebank developed by The University of Manchester can assist you with your academic writing. It aims to provide you with examples of some basic phrases of writing organised according to the main sections of a research paper, e.g. describing methods, reporting results or discussing findings.
Download our List of Reporting Verbs (PDF, 387 KB) to help you to use a variety of reporting verbs when referring to other people’s research in your writing.
Download the English Prepositions List (PDF, 373 KB), a booklet by Josef Essberger which lists 150 English prepositions and provides examples of their use in context. You can also test your understanding of prepositions with quiz questions at the end of the booklet (answers are provided).
The most effective way to plan for success is to prepare a study plan.
This short video introduces this critical step.
Visit the JCU Learning Centre's Getting Started guide for further information and to download our study planner templates.
In consultation with your Academic Advisor and JCU International, you may also wish to consider taking one of the following subjects as part of your degree:
EAL Resources for Students
Answers to common questions about the English language, as well as help with grammar, idioms, and academic conventions. This resource includes a number of links to online courses, grammar sites, vocabulary activities, and help with specific tasks.
Academic English Café
Take free English language quizzes on grammar and writing topics, practice with real academic vocabulary, access real model essays on many academic topics, and listen to authentic English language programs.
Education First
Work through fully interactive tests and educational games to improve your skills. There is no charge, but you do need to register to use this resource and your browser must accept cookies and have Flash Player installed. Once you are registered you can also keep track of your test scores over time. While the test itself is free, it is part of a commercial site so there are some optional extras that require payment.
EAL Writing and Reading
Learn writing and reading skills that will help you through your academic career.
The JCU Learning Centre offers a range of support services for on-campus and off-campus students.
Learning Advisors work with international students, and support students for whom English is an Additional Language (EAL).
The Learning Centre also conducts workshops to assist with academic life.