Are you preparing to become an international student in a place where English is the language of instruction? Here are a few strategies to make your assignments more polished. Whether you’re writing essays or lab reports, these writing tips can help ensure your work is clear, thoughtful, and concise.
What’s EAL? If English isn’t your first language, you may identify as an EAL (or English as an Additional Language) speaker and writer. This new acronym was created to replace ESL (English as a Second Language). The change reflects that many folks learning English already know a second—and sometimes a third or fourth!—language.
Enjoy English-Language Media
You’ll pick up new phrases and recognize words when listening to (or reading) English-language stories. Try podcasts, comics, your university radio station, or a popular TV show. Plus, by watching, listening to, or reading in English, you can learn more casual ways of speaking and local expressions which might not be taught in class.
Streaming TV services can make watching familiar shows in a new language easy. By switching to English audio (or “dubbing”) on a show you love, you’ll get a whole new spin on the story. Give yourself an episode or two to get used to the characters’ new voices—it can take a moment. On the plus side, when you know the story already, it’s easier to follow what’s happening. You can sometimes add subtitles in your first language, too.
Important: It’s okay if you need both the English audio and English subtitles to understand a show or movie! Even folks who speak English as their first language use both sometimes. English is an official language in 67 countries, and has over 160 dialects. That means the same words can sound different, depending on who says them.
Brainstorm in Your First Language
Because you’re more comfortable with your first language, try collecting ideas in it first. Then, as you start your first draft, work in English. By using both languages, you can actually be more creative if you start with the one you’re more familiar with. If you switch to English when you shift from planning to writing, your finished draft will sound more natural than if you translated your first draft from your birth language.
As you create your draft, it can feel challenging to look at your notes in one language and your assignment in another. But keep going! If you’re stuck on finding the perfect word, highlight it or underline it so you remember to get back to it, but keep writing.
You might be surprised to find that knowing other languages will give you insight into how English works, and, over time, you can spot similarities between the languages that can help you remember new words or grammar. Plus, you’ll almost always gain a deeper appreciation for your first language.
These writing tips work well for coursework—and for your application to study abroad! Here’s some more guidance around how to write a Statement of Purpose.
Use Big Words Wisely
The beloved writer Theodore Geisel (better known as Dr. Seuss) once wrote:
It has often been said
There’s so much to be read
you never can cram
all those words in your head.
So the writer who breeds
more words than he needs
is making a chore
for the reader who reads…
We know many post-secondary assignments have word counts. And it’s important that you show you understand the question posed in your class’ homework. Some challenging vocabulary, or technical jargon, is unavoidable.
However, the most effective writing happens when students blend plain language and technical terminology to clearly state their perspective or argument. Some complexity is natural in academic writing, as you’re discussing nuanced topics. But beware: Instructors know that sometimes, students hide a lack of understanding behind elaborate wording and technical-speak.
So, as you start writing, remember Dr. Seuss’ words, and keep it simple.
More ideas to make your writing stand out:
- Vary your sentence length. It makes it more interesting for the reader.
- Not sure if your writing is at the level it should be? Paste a section into a program like Hemingway App, which will tell you automatically.
- Ask questions in class (or during your instructor’s office hours) if there’s something you don’t understand. The person grading your work can usually tell if you’re dancing around an idea, instead of discussing it.
- Use impressive adjectives sparingly. This way, they’ll have more impact.
Here are four more apps that can support your writing process as an international student!
Read Your Work Out Loud
Reading your writing out loud might feel embarrassing at first. But it can reveal ways to improve what you’ve written before handing in your assignment. For example, if you can’t finish most sentences without needing to breathe, break them up into shorter ones.
Giving your work a read-through can also help you spot typos, or places where you’ve used the wrong word. It’s easy to skip words when reading in your head; speaking out loud forces you to slow down and helps you catch mistakes. If you use placeholder words in your first language when you can’t think of the perfect word in English, catch them on your read-through!
Try reading your work to a friend, fellow student, or family member. They can bring a new perspective to your work, and let you know which parts sounded best or if something is confusing. It can be especially rewarding to ask someone with a background or interest in the topic (like a classmate) for more targeted feedback.
No matter who you ask, be honest with your listener about how long the assignment is. If your listener falls asleep on page 8 of 12, that doesn’t help anyone!
Keep these strategies in mind as you continue on your study abroad journey. By harnessing the creativity you have in your first language, taking in English-language media, keeping your writing simple, and always reading your work over, your writing will be more effective.
Curious about studying abroad? Connect with the ApplyBoard team for international education guidance and resources.
