English as a Second Language (ESL)
Our English as a Second Language program offers credit-based subjects at undergraduate and graduate levels to support students in succeeding in their degrees. Our subjects are designed and taught by leading experts in second language learning and teaching.
Our approach to teaching is innovative and research-based, with meaningful content and authentic tasks supported by the integration of technologies for language learning and gamified learning. The main focus is on developing skills in written and oral communication, with 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 language ability to become competitive in the global job market
Subjects
Undergraduate
Academic English 1
This subject supports undergraduate students speaking English as a Second Language in their Academic English skills enhancement and critical thinking development. Students are guided to enhance their abilities to (1) evaluate academic sources, (2) develop coherent and cohesive paragraphs, (3) write different genres of texts, e.g., essays and syntheses, (4) refine their oral communication skills working individually and collaboratively, and (5) reflect on the importance of academic integrity and plagiarism. This subject also gives students the opportunity to familiarise with a large range of topics related to the Australian society.
“For those whose mother tongue is not English, Academic English is a good subject that worth to give it a shot. Not only you can improve your English in different aspects, but also you can learn the background history of Australia. Moreover, if you want to make some other international friends, it's an opportunity you can't miss. In terms of academic English aspect, the subject would teach you how to write an appropriate essay by beginning from how to search academic resources to how to set up a whole article structures and properly reference.”
Postgraduate
Academic English for Graduate Studies
This English as a Second Language (ESL) subject is designed specifically for postgraduate students with a first language other than English. In the subject, students are asked to bring topics and readings from their own programs, and they use these to work on two main scaffolded tasks over the semester, both with a written and interactive oral component: a critical review, which is a collaborative task, and a more extensive literature review, which is individual. We focus progressively on critical reading, discourse organisation and argument development in weekly seminars, introducing relevant linguistic features and how these can be used to manage reader and audience expectations in academic contexts. The subject involves extensive peer collaboration and feedback, and students have the opportunity to work with students from their own discipline areas as well as across disciplines.
“I’d highly recommend other students to take this course. It systematically teaches standard academic writing structures and formal expression rules hard to learn by self-study. What I’ve mastered about academic wording and logical organisation directly helps my essay assignments and future workplace formal writing.”
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Professional Speaking Communication
This subject is designed for graduate ESL students who wish to enhance their spoken English skills for professional contexts. Students who complete the subject will become familiar with the features of Australian English pronunciation, develop greater confidence and self-awareness in their speech, and improve the clarity and fluency of their spoken English. The subject content covers a wide range of pronunciation features, including individual sounds, sound combinations, syllable and word stress, rhythm, sentence stress, connected speech processes, and intonation. Students will also strengthen their public speaking and listening-discrimination skills, gain an understanding of the basic processes involved in speech production, and gain practical knowledge about the communicative role of sentence stress and intonation, particularly in workplace settings. Learning is supported through a variety of interactive activities. These include producing a group podcast, participating in peer speech assessment, and taking part in a simulated job interview.
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Professional Literacies
Professional Literacies is targeted for students intending to improve their oral and communication skills for current or future workplace contexts. With a focus on professional genres of writing, the overall aim of this subject is to provide students a range of opportunities to adapt their writing (vocabulary, grammar, structure) to different workplace situations, audiences and purposes. There is also a focus on collaborative writing which features prominently in a group research project, further developing soft skills such as teamwork, problem-solving and negotiation skills. This subject intends to equip students with practical communicative (written and spoken) skills they can utilise to adapt to the changing nature and demands of the modern workplace. “For those who are not very familiar with the job-hunting process, this class provides excellent guidance. Whether it's the selection of job search websites, the choice of job search information, or the writing of job application materials, all of these are very helpful.”
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Intercultural Professional Communication
This subject will help users of English as a second language gain practical skills in spoken and email-based workplace communication and develop your ability to communicate effectively and strategically in English-speaking professional settings. We will explore workplace cultures and norms of interaction, examining areas such as small talk, raising sensitive issues, making and responding to requests, producing complaints, refusals, apologies, giving feedback/criticising and others. Throughout the subject, we will focus on intercultural differences and how cultural norms impact interaction. The subject emphasizes practical skills of workplace communication but also includes theoretical accounts of cross-cultural differences in interaction.
Introductory Academic Program
Recipients of the prestigious, government-funded Australian Awards Scholarship join an elite community of global leaders at the University of Melbourne. Their journey begins with the compulsory 5-week Introductory Academic Program (IAP), an immersive experience designed to ensure a successful transition.
This program acts as a vital bridge to university life, enabling scholars to:
- Achieve academic excellence: Master the advanced skills required for success in Masters or PhD studies.
- Develop cultural fluency: Gain the confidence and understanding to navigate academic and social life in Australia.
- Build a strong network: Forge lasting connections within a diverse cohort of 500-600 fellow scholars.
The IAP is a cornerstone of the scholarship experience, preparing the next generation of leaders for success from their very first day on campus.
Meet our English as a Second Language staff
Our staff are leading experts in a number of English language learning, teaching, and assessment areas, including writing and speaking for academic and professional purposes, pronunciation, intercultural communication, professional literacies, technologies in language learning and teaching. This expertise supports research-based, innovative pedagogic and assessment design in our subjects.