English as a Second Language (ESL)

Established in 1992, our program was one of the first in Australia to offer a range of credit-bearing ESL subjects.

Welcome to the University of Melbourne

These subjects, at undergraduate and graduate levels, are taught by leading experts in second language learning.

Our approach to teaching is innovative and research-based, with meaningful content and authentic tasks, and frequent and individually tailored feedback.

Across our range of subjects, we provide a supportive and collaborative environment for students to develop the academic and/or professional English skills needed to succeed in their university studies, and the confidence and ability to gain employment

View our staff

Subjects

Undergraduate

Academic English 1

This subject helps students structure an academic paper, focusing on sentence structure, linking devices, paragraph development and effective citation.

Postgraduate

Presenting Academic Discourse

This subject helps graduate students advance their language skills to the level required for successful graduate study in English. Students will develop critical approaches to research, reading and writing.

Introductory Academic Program

Introductory Academic Program

Our Introductory Academic Program is a full-time, 5-week compulsory program for international recipients of the prestigious Australian Awards Scholarship (AAS).

Funded by the Australian Government, the AAS offers the next generation of global leaders an opportunity to undertake study, research and professional development with us.

We have 500-600 AAS students at any one time, the vast majority studying a Masters with a small number doing their PhD. Our program helps prepare these international students for academic, cultural and social life at the University of Melbourne.

Meet our English as a Second Language staff

Our teaching staff possess significant research expertise in English language learning and assessment, across areas including second language writing and speaking for tertiary study and employment, collaborative writing, second language pronunciation, integrated skills development, interpreting, language and migration, world Englishes, and language policy.

Profile picture of Giuseppe D'Orazzi

Dr Giuseppe D'Orazzi

Lecturer in ESL and Applied Linguistics
giuseppe.dorazzi@unimelb.edu.au
Profile picture of Kellie Frost

Dr Kellie Frost

Senior Lecturer in ESL and Applied Linguistics; Convenor, Master of Applies Linguistics
kmfrost@unimelb.edu.au +61390354944
Profile picture of Timothy Johannessen

Dr Timothy Johannessen

Senior Tutor in ESL
johannessen.t@unimelb.edu.au
Profile picture of Maria Karidakis

Dr Maria Karidakis

ARC DECRA Fellow in the School of Languages and Linguistics
m.karidakis@unimelb.edu.au
Profile picture of Debbie Loakes

Dr Debbie Loakes

Senior Lecturer, Introductory Academic Programs and ESL
dloakes@unimelb.edu.au
Profile picture of Olga Maxwell

Dr Olga Maxwell

Senior Lecturer in ESL and Applied Linguistics; Convenor, English as a Second Language Program
omaxwell@unimelb.edu.au +61390358754
Profile picture of Cynthia Nicholas Palikat

Dr Cynthia Nicholas Palikat

Senior Tutor in ESL; Convenor, English as a Second Language Program
cynthianicholas.nicholaspal@unimelb.edu.au
Profile picture of Lu Yu

Dr Lu Yu

Lecturer in ESL and Applied Linguistics
yu.l6@unimelb.edu.au
Profile picture of Carrie Peng

Dr Carrie Peng

Tutor in Linguistics & Applied Linguistics
carrie.peng1@unimelb.edu.au