Fluency of spoken and written English in your own country is one thing, but are in the University, you’re likely to hear all kinds of unfamiliar words, jargons and phrases that are specific to classrooms, lectures and textbooks.
It’s always recommended to brush up on your academic vocabulary and writing skills whether you’ve just passed your English Language test or if you’re halfway through your degree.
Below are a few useful resources and tools that will help you with your studies-
Academic word lists
An academic word list is a good place to start. These lists contain words that are used frequently in English-language academic texts.
The top 60 most common Academic words- by vocabulary.com links to dictionary definitions and includes practice tasks and spelling games.
Exam English has 10 groups of academic words, with practice tests for you to complete once you work your way through each set.
Academic writing skills
‘Manchester Academic Phrasebank’ is an academic resource designed for international students whose first language isn’t English, it offers useful tools and examples of academic phrasing, organised according to the main sections of a research paper, such as defining terms, giving examples, comparing and contrasting and signalling transition. ‘Using English For Academic Purposes’ (UEFAP) offers a vast amount of information for international students. The ‘Writing’ section of the website section goes through structuring essays and reports, referencing and other features of academic writing.
‘Grammarly’ is an automated grammar checker and writing assistant. It offers far more than your basic spellcheck tool — the algorithms can flag context-specific grammar corrections, punctuation, wordiness and style. If you opt for the paid version, there’s also a plagiarism tool. You can install a browser extension for assistance with emails, online documents and social media, or download it for Microsoft Office.
‘Hemingway Editor’ is an online editing tool that checks for style and structure to help you organise your thoughts and suggestions — essentially, shaping your writing until it’s clear and concise. It flags instances of unnecessary adverbs, complex sentences and passive voice. There’s even a desktop app you can download for offline use.
‘ABC Learn English’ is produced by Australia’s national broadcaster and has a comprehensive website with lessons on grammar, vocabulary and the subtler aspects of language use, plus video learning content and quick audio lessons on pronunciation and word meaning.
It’s always recommended to brush up on your academic vocabulary and writing skills whether you’ve just passed your English Language test or if you’re halfway through your degree.
Below are a few useful resources and tools that will help you with your studies-
Academic word lists
An academic word list is a good place to start. These lists contain words that are used frequently in English-language academic texts.
The top 60 most common Academic words- by vocabulary.com links to dictionary definitions and includes practice tasks and spelling games.
Exam English has 10 groups of academic words, with practice tests for you to complete once you work your way through each set.
Academic writing skills
‘Manchester Academic Phrasebank’ is an academic resource designed for international students whose first language isn’t English, it offers useful tools and examples of academic phrasing, organised according to the main sections of a research paper, such as defining terms, giving examples, comparing and contrasting and signalling transition. ‘Using English For Academic Purposes’ (UEFAP) offers a vast amount of information for international students. The ‘Writing’ section of the website section goes through structuring essays and reports, referencing and other features of academic writing.
‘Grammarly’ is an automated grammar checker and writing assistant. It offers far more than your basic spellcheck tool — the algorithms can flag context-specific grammar corrections, punctuation, wordiness and style. If you opt for the paid version, there’s also a plagiarism tool. You can install a browser extension for assistance with emails, online documents and social media, or download it for Microsoft Office.
‘Hemingway Editor’ is an online editing tool that checks for style and structure to help you organise your thoughts and suggestions — essentially, shaping your writing until it’s clear and concise. It flags instances of unnecessary adverbs, complex sentences and passive voice. There’s even a desktop app you can download for offline use.
‘ABC Learn English’ is produced by Australia’s national broadcaster and has a comprehensive website with lessons on grammar, vocabulary and the subtler aspects of language use, plus video learning content and quick audio lessons on pronunciation and word meaning.