How to use digital advisers to improve academic writing

Share International students might not have received much teaching in English before coming to university, leaving them less confident in their academic writing ability. Even if their writing is skilled, the common misconception that native English language users are more proficient than foreign language users can easily exacerbate self-doubt. This piece introduces digital advisers, who can be a source of support for international students who don't feel confident with academic writing. It explains who they are and how they can support students who are less confident in writing in English. Digital advisers create online resources and discussions on academic writing, PhDs and academia more generally. Digital advisers include, but are not limited to, professors, librarians, admission directors, deans of graduate schools and PhD candidates. A student can access content on their commute, while eating, on a walk, while exercising, or even when doing the dishes, letting the advice seep into their daily life. Daily engagement with digital advisers allows students to naturally absorb academic vocabulary, syntax and “actions” in academic writing (for example, summarising or critiquing). Five ways to master British slang as an international student Six tips for learning English online Their creations span videos, blog posts, podcasts, audiobooks, social media pages and much more. One example is the YouTube channel created by Professor Tara Brabazon, the dean of graduate research at Charles Darwin University , where she has uploaded 350 videos on almost every aspect of graduate school. ADVERTISEMENT Other topics, such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and poster presentations, are discussed in the podcast Hello PhD by Joshua Hall and Daniel Arneman, who met while studying at graduate school. Strictly speaking, these digital creators are not official advisers for their audience. Nevertheless, they are advisers because their experience and advice […]