Individual Consultations
Students can book individual consultations with an Academic Language and Learning (ALL) lecturer. They can ask for guidance about many aspects of their academic work, including how to:
- plan a study program
- improve critical reading
- take effective notes
- approach the writing of their thesis, report or assignment with confidence
- analyse an assignment question
- answer the assignment question appropriately
- prepare an essay outline
- improve the structure of the assignment
- develop a strong argument
- integrate written sources into text
- avoid accidental plagiarism
- improve their grammar
- improve their presentation skills
Presentations
Students who have to give a presentation at a seminar, tutorial or conference can book an individual consultation to practise their presentation in the presence of an ALL lecturer and get expert feedback on how the presentation can be improved.
Written work
In individual consultations, students can submit drafts of written work to an ALL lecturer for feedback. This service is available for both coursework and research students in any school.
When submitting a draft of a paper, coursework students should include:
- the name of the course for which the paper is written
- the exact wording of the question or topic
- the word limit
- the required submission date
Please carefully note the following:
- No grading - It is not the role of the ALL lecturer to give a grade for the paper or assignment or to evaluate the academic content of the paper. This is the role of the lecturers in the courses. However, the ALL lecturer is able to guide students to develop learning strategies to improve their own work.
- No proofreading - It is not the role of the ALL lecturer to proofread and edit assignments or to 'fix' the English. However, the ALL lecturer is able to guide students to develop strategies to correct their own errors and to improve their own writing by showing them where they have not made the meaning clear.
We recommend that students make two appointments for a coursework assignment.
- Firstly, visit an ALL lecturer, with a plan or outline of your assignment. This is advisable as the ALL lecturer will be able to check that students have answered the question before completing a full draft.
- Secondly, after visiting an ALL lecturer with the plan or outline, students can bring a draft of the assignment to the next appointment so that the lecturer can give further feedback.
Confidentiality
Confidentiality is an essential part of the program. No details of consultations with any named student are divulged without the express permission of the persons concerned.
How to make an appointment
To make a booking for an individual consultation, please click here
If there is no consultation time available on the day you want or you have any queries, please phone (02) 6268 8454 or email: knowALL@adfa.edu.au
Notes to read before your appointment
Please make sure that you read the notes below when you book an individual consultation
- If you want help with a written assignment, please try to send an electronic copy to the lecturer at least 24 hours before an appointment so that he/she can read your draft before you meet.
- If you are unable to send the assignment in advance or have not finished the complete draft before the appointment, bring whatever you have written to the consultation and the lecturer will try to give you as much help as he/she can in the time available.
- Always remember to send the ALL lecturer the exact wording of the question for each assignment. Without this vital information, the lecturer cannot comment on your draft.
Cancellations
- If you want to cancel or change the time of your appointment, please email: knowALL@adfa.edu.au or ring: 6268 8545.
- Do not do this at the last minute, however, as it will be too late for someone else to make an appointment.
- Cancellations on the actual day are not acceptable unless you have a medical certificate, as some part-time lecturers come to the office especially to meet you.
- As there are a limited number of consultations each week and they are very popular, you are advised to book well in advance.