Challenging, changing and implementing practices for international and NESB students

This paper reports on the way that Learning Advisers have responded to these challenges by developing a systematic and comprehensive range of language and learning services for international and NESB students. These services include course specific orientation programs, computer literacy workshops, daily drop in sessions, weekly language support sessions and inter-semester language development programs that focus variously on undergraduate and postgraduate student needs.

A hallmark of the innovative approach adopted by Learning Advisers over recent years has been the embedding of language and learning support into mainstream subjects and courses. The paper draws on particular examples across discipline areas to elucidate the implementation of the embedding process. Practical examples given include working collaboratively with lecturers to integrate support materials and learning approaches into specific subjects/curriculum; delivering tailored, subject based workshops that address assessment tasks; and producing web based language and learning support materials, including online workshops.

The paper discusses ongoing language issues for international and NESB students and identifies possible strategies and areas requiring further research.