Hi Rebecca
I had my Writing Centre Coordinator draft a answer to your email. Her response is below:
Wendy
Rebecca,
Although St. Francis Xavier University courses encourage all professors to incorporate writing into their courses, the university does not offer composition classes as such. The Writing Centre developed a series of programs partly to fill this gap; in some ways our programs address your questions. Learning English for Academic Purposes (LEAP) is designed for students whose first language is not English. Although the students enrolled in LEAP tend to be international, any student can register for LEAP's fee-for-service programs.
We developed four versions of this program, three of which have been in effect for several years now: the four-week intensive program in August (LEAP 1) is for students who want to improve their academic English skills for a better start to their learning experience in an English-only academic environment; LEAP 2 (fall term) and LEAP 3 (winter term) offer students 12 lectures on topics specific to international students' academic needs and one-to-one support throughout the term.
Writing is a significant component of all the programs. Although academic advising is not our main responsibility, the information is crucial for the students, especially during LEAP 1. We often have a better sense of the students' abilities to handle a full or reduced course load, and we can offer suggestions on course requirements and degree regulations.
Students who have taken LEAP usually keep in contact with their instructors and often are regular users of the Writing Centre. They remind us how invaluable the LEAP classes and the one-to-one appointments were for them. The personalized support allows student and instructor to focus on individual problems such as grammar or plagiarism.
Sadly, many international students do not take advantage of LEAP and, without some additional support, they struggle throughout the year.
Nancy
Nancy Marenick
Coordinator
The Writing Centre
Immaculata Hall
St. Francis Xavier University
Direct line: 902-867-3897
Office: 902-867-5221
Fax: 902-867-5380
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