London members’ seminar: best practice and findings about international student experience

Durham University discussed their pilot project which involved supporting international students to become curriculum advisers for academic writing courses.

The idea for the project came about after realising that while international students had contributed texts, self-study materials and cultural and/or disciplinary insights to the academic writing courses at the Durham University English Language Centre (ELC) it was on an ad hoc basis and often at the end of the year when it was almost too late to implement. 

Terri Edwards, Assistant Professor (Teaching) in the English Language Centre, who ran the project said: 

“I was staggered by the knowledge international students bring. They have great skills and assets and bring expert knowledge to institutions. 

“We need some input from international students. Tutors don’t necessarily know what it’s like to be an international student, or to write an essay in a different language.”

She added:

“I imagine writing an essay in a different language to be like trying to dance backwards in high heels.”

Students involved in the project have said that they really enjoyed taking part and that it was a chance to be “taken seriously” by the institution. 

Read the full report or view the slides from the seminar.