ESL Students
The challenges a Stetson University education provides for students speaking more than one language can be substantial. Writing, speaking, and eventually thinking in a second or third language, particularly English, is difficult. Most students attending Stetson speak English as a native language, but we can offer our international students considerable assistance when it comes to the Writing requirement.
Where to Get Help with Writing Assignments
First, ask your professor. He or she knows what problems you're having, whether it's plurals or subject/verb agreement. Make an appointment with your teacher during office hours and explain that you want to continue to improve your English speaking, reading, and writing. Then, keep your appointment by bringing in a copy of a rough draft of your assignment. You and your professor can sit down together and go over elements of writing that you're not sure of.
Second, visit the Writing Center in Flagler 209 or make an appointment. Here, tutors can help you by reminding you of what you already know: the plural indicated with an "s," when to use "a" and "an," and so forth. The tutors will not "teach" you English, but they will help you figure it out. The Writing Center hours are generally Sunday-Thursday.
Third, don't be afraid to ask someone in your class to help you by going through an assignment with you. He or she can assist you in understanding the assignment requirements; you can also ask someone to read a draft of an essay for you to identify and help you correct mistakes and errors.
Check out these possibilities for online assistance:
Purdue University's Online Writing Lab (OWL)
ESLpod.com's Podcasts for ESL students
Visit Grammar Girl for Quick and Dirty Tips for Grammar
You can also click here to sign up for Grammar Girl's emailed daily tips.
Try ESLpoint for a website organized by difficulty level.
EnglishClub.com's ESL Learning Centre provides grammar lessons and some quizzes to help.