Academic English Skills

Our team offers support for undergraduate and graduate students with English as an additional language. 

If you learned to speak English after your first language or you are multilingual, our team are here to help you develop academic English skills.

We can work together on your writing, speaking, reading, and listening skills.

Not sure where to start? Fill out our introduction form and we'll write back to get you started.

All of our academic English help is free for Queen's students.

Individual appointments

We can help you improve your academic English. Every appointment is focused on your goals, but popular topics include grammar lessons, academic writing trends, pronunciation, and presentations.

You don't have to book more than one appointment at a time, but most students choose to come back on a regular basis.

To book an EAL appointment, use our online reservation system.

When we work together on your writing, we can

  • explore general writing skills, grammatical conventions, and cultural expectations.

  • identify trends in your writing, answer specific questions you have about writing, or practice applying writing strategies together.

Book your appointment now!

When we discuss your speaking, we can

  • work on general speaking skills, English pronunciation, and presentation strategies.

  • give you feedback on your presentations, help you practice the sounds of English, and share strategies for speaking confidently in class.

Book your appointment now!

 

When we discuss your listening skills, we can

  • collaborate on understanding lectures and conferences, finding key ideas when listening to professors, and speaking with other students in class.

  • practice strategies for understanding difficult vocabulary, participating in group discussions, and responding to what you've heard.

Book your appointment now!

When working on your reading skills together, we can

  • discuss how to get the most out of your readings and become a more efficient reader in English.
     
  • practice taking effective notes, provide strategies for understanding academic vocabulary in textbooks and journal articles, and explain how you can integrate ideas from readings into your own academic work.

Book your appointment now!

Weekly Programs

Students discuss a text at Write It

Write It

  • What? An interactive academic writing workshop

  • How? We focus on a different writing topic every week and practice different sentence-level strategies and choices by editing a paragraph together.

  • When? Tuesdays from 3.30-5.00 p.m. EST

  • Where? Queen's International Centre or attend on Zoom

Students speaking at event

Speak Up

  • What? An interactive academic speaking skills group

  • How? Practice skills and strategies for academic discussions and presentations!

  • When? Thursdays from 12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

  • Where? In person at the Queen's International Centre

students having a lively conversation

Write Now

  • What? Need some writing feedback? Have a grammar or style question? Meet with a SASS expert about your writing.

  • How? Drop by to speak with a SASS expert. No appointment necessary. Quick or complex questions are welcome!

  • When? Where? ​​​
    Alternate Mondays starting January 15 from 11.30 a.m. - 1.00 p.m. at Duncan McArthur Hall
    Wednesdays from 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at the Queen's International Centre 

Additional Support

No matter where you're studying or what commitments you have outside of university our written e-feedback service can help with your writing.

  • What is it? A chance to receive written feedback on your academic work. Feedback is given on the use of style, grammar, syntax, vocabulary, and conventions of academic English. This is not an editing service but a chance to reflect upon written feedback and develop your skills.
  • How does it work? 
    • Use our online booking system; look for consultants with an "eTutoring" option (under English Language Skills schedule) then upload your work (up to five (5) pages of writing).
    • We can provide feedback on drafts at any stage. For feedback on something specific, please leave a note at the top of your document.

  • What? A certificate program that develops your awareness of different learning experiences and expectations.

  • How? Participate in a series of online modules or in-person chats and try out some of the academic success services at Queen’s. 

  • When? The certificate can be completed on your own time, in 12 hours or less.

  • Where? Online (Sign up for the certificate on onQ)

  • Connect with other multilingual students at the Queen's University International Centre's Conversation Group. Learn idioms and expressions, practice vocabulary, and meet students from all around the world.
  • Connect with the stories of international students whenever you choose by listening to our podcast, International Voices at Queen's. Episodes  cover topics like housing, accented English, and culture shock.

“I have benefited a lot from the Write It workshops! It was like a course for me. The things I have learned from these workshops helped me to edit the writing myself. Although I still make mistakes, I believe I will be better and better! Everyone there are super dedicated in learning.”

Shirley W
Cultural Studies '22