A student-centred approach: The English Language Support Service for international students

  • Melania Pantelich Federation University

Abstract

This article outlines the purpose, development and delivery of the English Language Support Service (ELSS), which is offered to international students in their first year of study at a medium-sized university in regional Victoria, Australia. Additionally, this article explains how the support provided is contextualised, timely and appropriate to student needs, allowing students to take on new concepts with meaning and immediate application, in conjunction with their degree coursework. ELSS has been specifically designed to aid international students with their initial exposure and transition to studying in an Australian context. It aims to help international students become more assured in their place at university, and acclimatise to the Australian academic language, culture and landscape enough in order to subsequently engage confidently with their assignments and the remainder of their degree.

Author Biography

Melania Pantelich, Federation University
Melania Pantelich is a lecturer and Early Career Researcher at the School of Education, Federation University in Ballarat, Victoria. She holds a BA (Italian), Postgraduate Diploma of Teaching (TESOL and LOTE) and a Master of Teaching (TESOL and LOTE), all from the University of Melbourne. As a qualified English Language teacher, she now works in Higher Education as lecturer of the English Language Support Service. She supports international students studying a variety of degrees (Engineering, Business, Social Work and Nursing) by providing online and face-to-face assistance in the areas of study skills, understanding lecture content, and, most importantly, assignment requirements. As an Early Career Academic, Melania is committed to building a research profile examining the experiences, acculturation and identities of international students.
Published
2021-05-14
How to Cite
PantelichM. (2021). A student-centred approach: The English Language Support Service for international students. Journal of Academic Language and Learning, 15(1), 72-84. Retrieved from https://journal.aall.org.au/index.php/jall/article/view/663
Section
Research Articles