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Read about us in BrandeisNOW: ESL programs grow with international student body
The ESL Tutorial Program
The English as a Second Language Program at Brandeis offers individual tutorials to support the academic success of students who are English language learners. Undergraduate and graduate (GSAS) students are eligible to take weekly tutorials focusing on writing, reading, and/or oral skills.
Frequently, tutors offer guidance in understanding American culture and classroom expectations. Students often find that their tutors also serve as cultural guides, offering resources to help students navigate the unfamiliar academic landscape. If you are a teaching fellow, they will offer you practice sessions in giving effective presentations.
Our tutors are graduate students studying at Brandeis University, predominantly from English, Philosophy, NEJS, Comparative History, Anthropology, & Women's Studies. Chosen for their teaching backgrounds and for their understanding of cross-cultural issues, our tutors bring extensive international experience and fluency in many languages.
Tutees meet with tutors one hour per week, though more tutorial hours may be scheduled. Tutorials are driven by students' perception of their own needs, and tutees set the agenda. A personalized agenda with clearly determined goals will be set at the beginning of each semester.
Writing Tutorials
These tutorials focus on understanding the assignment, brainstorming, discussing ideas and theses, developing an argument, organization, grammar and syntax, and revision. Tutors work toward strengthening students' drafting and revision skills to enable tutees to rework and edit their own writing effectively. They can also help students locate research sources and decipher the particularities of citation and documentation. Tutors do not edit essays; rather, they lead students toward making their own choices.
Oral Tutorials
These tutorials focus on developing oral skills essential for full participation in the classroom. Skill areas include speaking, listening, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and idioms. Oral tutorials also help to ease the transition to life in the U.S.A. For example, students might learn how to interview for jobs, lead a lab or discussion section, or how to understand American humor or slang.
Tutorial Requests
To request a tutorial and sign up for an intake interview, please contact the Interim Director for ESL, Kimberly Sizelove. Once you are assigned a tutor, you are expected to show up each week. If you think you might only need occasional help with your writing, please make an appointment with the Writing Center consultants in the library instead. They offer both weekly appointments and a drop-in service with their consultants.