Coming full circle
by Rebecca Gill
International
research students are overcoming cross-cultural language differences,
with a little help from UniSA “Writers’ Circles” – a new learning
initiative for 2005.
Western academic writing is often technical and culturally specific, and can be a source of anxiety for some international postgraduate students.
This is where UniSA Writers Circles come in. Run through Learning Connection, the workshops were devised to help international research candidates develop their writing skills through discussions and peer review.
So far responses to the program have been especially positive, with participants expressing more confidence in their writing, and often seeing a direct improvement in their grades.
Ladda Pitaksringkarn, who is from Thailand, attends a Writers’ Circle at City West campus.
“The sessions are very practical – we learn things like sentence structure, and how to use paragraphs.”
Monica Behrend, a Learning Advisor from Learning Connection, developed the Writers’ Circle concept in 2004.
The Writers’ Circle at Mawson Lakes, which was designed for students of Engineering Research Practice, has about 80 participants.
Andrea Duff who runs the Mawson Lakes lectures, views her workshops as an academic shortcut, “an hour spent is maybe 10 saved… and a few extra marks gained.”
Master of Engineering candidate Noorul Samad moved to Australia in 2004, after completing his undergraduate degree in India.
“I attended Andrea’s class, and learnt so much about grammar and referencing, which was where I was losing marks. My writing has definitely improved.”
Duff says that although the Writers’ Circles vary in form, all share the same philosophy, “sharing, making the expectations of academic writing explicit, and providing a nurturing and non-critical environment for interaction.”