The Language + Writing Support Programme is run by the Union for international students studying at UCL.
We're here to help non-native English speaking students with their academic writing and speaking. Our Peer Tutors run several different types of free activities to help you with your written and spoken English, including a regular programme of workshops, one-to-one sessions and 'Coffee and Conversation' which is a weekly opportunity to get together and practice your spoken English with other students.
Please note that the programme will launch for the 2023/24 academic year in October.
Meet our Peer Tutors
Anna Grabovac
Anna is a second-year PhD student in Linguistics. With a love of language, she has completed her MA in Linguistics at UCL and studied both Linguistics and Mathematics as an undergraduate in the US, where she’s originally from. An aspiring teacher, she has worked with ESL students before, and she is looking forward to being involved with Language + Writing Support at UCL.
Sahan Perera-Merry
Sahan is a MSc student in Social and Geographic Data Science. Born in London, he completed his undergraduate studies in Geography at the University of Bristol, where he focused on combining social theory with quantitative methods. After graduating, he worked as an ESL teacher in Spain for two years, during which he discovered his passion for teaching and education.
More about Language + Writing sessions and how they work
One-to-one appointments
You can also book a one-to-one appointment with our Peer Tutors to discuss specific pieces of written work or get help with oral presentations. These appointments are not 'classes'; a one-to-one session is there for you to discuss assignments you are working on, focussing on areas you are finding difficult and particular queries you may have. Our peer tutors cannot comment on the subject content of your assignment, but they will give you guidance on the structure, formation and language of your work where possible.
The aim of appointments is to help non-native English speaking students with their academic writing and speaking. Peer Tutors are not proof-readers and won’t be writing papers for you, but they will point out language mistakes and help you become a better editor of your own work.
- If you are using the service for writing support, you need to submit a piece of writing to be reviewed, at least 24 hours in advance. Don’t worry if you haven’t finished it, just submit as much as much as you can. The work must be no more than 1000 words.
- During the session, the Peer Tutor will go through your work with you, point out mistakes and help you to self-correct. Specific questions and queries are also welcomed.
- You can also use the service for language support e.g.to practice an oral presentation. You will receive feedback on your fluency and pronunciation. Your presentation should be no longer than 10 minutes and will need to be submitted before your appointment with the Peer Tutor.
- The Peer Tutor can’t comment on the content of your essay or presentation, only the clarity of expression.
- You may only have a total of two appointments per term. This is to allow as many students as possible to use the service.
- Appointments last for 30 minutes.
- You can amend a booking 24 hours in advance. However, if you simply miss your appointment you will not be able to reschedule.
- Peer Tutors cannot review take home exams.
- Peer Tutors are only able to assist non-native English speaking international students. Language Centre students are not able to use the service. One-to-one appointments are available to all other international students, but are mainly aimed at undergraduates in their first and second year of study. Postgraduate research students are encouraged to seek support from their supervisor in the first instance.
Appointments will become available once the programme is launched in Term 1 2023.
Workshops
Our workshops cover a variety of academic and cultural topics. They are run by our Peer Tutors and have a mixture of lecture-style teaching, as well as opportunities to practice the skills being taught with the other students. Our workshops are designed so that they will be useful whether you attend every session, or just some.
Still, have questions? Take a look at our Frequently Asked Questions.
You can also see what range of resources UCL has on offer to help you improve your written and spoken English here.
Interested in learning other languages? See here for courses run by Preply.