GP 12 Succeeding as an International Student: Navigating the Challenges of Academic Writing in a New Country

Once in the UK, international students encounter a variety of difficulties. They have to prove their English language skills, learn how to follow the rules of a foreign school, make friends both domestically and abroad, and discover their own sense of identity. It is estimated that the number of overseas students would rise by 5 to 6 percent yearly until 2030, thus educational institutions must carefully consider these concerns.

An online survey and follow-up interviews were used in my research at the University of Westminster to look at four major obstacles that overseas students face when they enrol in UK higher education institutions. These included prejudice, linguistic and cultural barriers, and educational challenges. Here are some customised suggestions to help you better meet these kids’ special requirements and encourage them as they pursue their academic goals.

Even in English-speaking nations, higher education establishments are concerned with improving their students’ academic writing abilities and Swansea university assignment help is actively working for the cause.

At the University of Glasgow in the UK,) along with academic writing for international students a pedagogical justification for requiring graduate and undergraduate students is also offered to complete a writing skills programme housed in a virtual learning environment. For EFL students, this kind of dedication to improving academic writing abilities is even more required.

Saudi Arabian higher education institutions may provide specialised writing courses or English for academic purposes as means of improving students’ English writing abilities. There are academic writing centres at various universities, such King Saud University’s English Writing Centre.

Nevertheless, these vital abilities continue to be a barrier and a difficulty for EFL postgraduate students.

Issue with citing scant research in scholarly writing

One of the main reasons people find academic writing difficult is a deficiency of in-depth research. Every academic paper, whether it be an essay or a dissertation, requires sufficient investigation.

This is done to enable readers to evaluate the points made and information presented in the text in a way that is satisfying to them. However, when academics only consult a small number of sources, their knowledge of the topic is likewise constrained.

Insufficient thesis statement(s)

A thesis statement draws attention to the main points in a paper and encourages readers to read on. A thesis statement may be thought of as giving a text a face.

As a result, creating and including a strong, well-supported thesis statement becomes essential. But many academic writers even the university of sheffield assignment help providers find it challenging to craft a thesis statement that is both compelling and succinct.

The tried-and-true strategy for crafting a strong thesis statement is to put less emphasis on correctness. A basic thesis statement should be written at the beginning of the book and then gradually refined as it takes shape. By doing this, you may make sure that the thesis statement remains consistent with the text’s context. (Gupta, et al., 2022)

Inconsistent changes in tone across a paper’s parts

One of the most common mistakes in academic writing, especially from novice authors, is uneven transitions. They do, however, also serve as a feature that draws attention to a writer’s command of language.

Therefore, one should have an overall perspective of their article to guarantee that readers can easily navigate between paragraphs and parts and ace in International english language testing system. After that, students ought to enlarge on each portion to read the introduction and conclusion. In order to create a bridge between these two extremes, they should finally modify them, if necessary.

Using common language terminology

Academic writing is adorned with several features. Objectivity, intricacy, formal tone, and simplicity are a few of these. These characteristics, along with a few others, prevent researchers from adopting an academic writing style.

Scholars frequently are unaware that the words and phrases they use are inappropriate for professional writing. They employ idioms, superlatives, clichés, and other forbidden terms, only to face backlash afterwards. (Besteditproof, 2017)

Succumbing to myth-writing

The last issue with academic writing on our list is one that many aspiring academic writers face.

Myths surrounding academic writing are a collection of unfounded guidelines that have a devoted following despite being illogical. One well-known illustration of this would be the idea of heavily utilising complex vocabulary to enhance a document. Writers believe that the more the number of obscure words they use in their works, the better grades they will obtain.

But they fail to understand that doing so will drastically decrease the readability of their works and trouble the readers. (Kaur & Singh, 2019)

Writing myths are widespread, and it is up to scholars to avoid them. Properly informing oneself about the writing statutes is a foolproof method.

How to overcome the challenges of academic writing?

Determine what distracts you the most, then eliminate it.

I’ve noticed that during this time, I’ve been swiping between apps—from Twitter to Instagram to Snapchat—and then the cycle repeats again. As a result, I had to remove the applications that were consuming the majority of my time, and occasionally I even shut down my phone.

Anything from social media to an untidy workstation may be a distraction. Try to minimise these kinds of distractions while you want to be working.

Additionally, if your housemates—whether they be family or friends—are your sources of diversion, please keep them around. Instead, try studying late at night or in the early morning hours when they can’t possibly divert you.

Find the best way to let go of your ideas if you feel like they are taking over.

I keep a notebook religiously, so writing is typically my go-to outlet for emotions. Other ways to let go of overpowering ideas include singing, painting, talking to close relatives or friends, and speaking aloud (though you should use caution while doing so in public). These are only a few ideas; there are many methods.

Enjoy a well-earned and fruitful break.

We occasionally squander time being ineffective by whining about our lack of productivity. Take a deliberate pause if you still have time before an impending deadline but are finding it difficult to go on.

It’s preferable to take a few hours or even days off and return feeling revitalised and prepared to tackle the next assignment. During your break, dedicate some time to activities that help you unwind. Maybe take a stroll to get some fresh air and to get out of your space.

Works Cited

Gupta, S., Jaiswal, A., Paramsivam, A. & Kotecha, J., 2022. Academic Writing Challenges and Supports: Perspectives of International Doctoral Students and Their Supervisors. [Online]
Available at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2022.891534/full
[Accessed 29 June 2022].

Kaur, M. & Singh, M., 2019. Academic Reading and Writing Challenges Among International EFL Master’s Students in a Malaysian University. Journal of International Students , 9(4).

Besteditproof, 2017. 5 Common Academic Writing Problems | How to Deal with Them. [Online]
Available at: https://besteditproof.com/en/academy/5-common-academic-writing-problems-how-to-deal-with-them
[Accessed 8 June 2017].