How to Succeed at University in English: A guide to studying at university in English when English is not your first language.

by John M. Andre

Get higher grades. Have more fun. Build a foundation for a better future.

Few people understand how challenging it is to study in a second language. This book will help you because it is written by a university professor with years of experience teaching non-native English speakers. After seeing thousands of students get their bachelor degree while studying in a second language, this book was written to bring together all of the information students need to improve their grades and have a better experience while at university.

Topics include:

Managing your time
Improving your English
How to read critically
How to take notes well
How to show understanding
How to write critical analysis
How to write an abstract
How to write a proper introduction
How to write a proper conclusion
How to edit your writing
Common task verbs
How to give a good presentation
Getting strong letters of recommendation
and much, much more

One of the best things about this book is that you can just read the section that you need to know now and then put the book down until you need it again.

Here is an excerpt from the book:

Descriptive vs critical analysis

One common problem students often have is when they are asked to apply something to some situation. They end up describing more than applying. For example, perhaps you are asked to compare different leadership styles in different situations. If you simply describe the possible leadership styles then your analysis is only descriptive and that is not good. You want to show critical analysis every chance you get (because it will increase your grade). Consider this answer to the task:

According to Goleman (2000) there are six leadership styles. Coercive leadership is where the leader demands immediate compliance. This style has a negative overall impact on the company’s culture. Democratic leadership is when the leader allows the followers to be involved in making the decisions.

This analysis is a terrible response because it is purely descriptive. It does not show any critical thinking at all. This kind of simple writing will result in very low grades. Now, consider the following:

The first situation we will consider is that of a crisis. For example, a company has been surprised by a competitor the way Nokia was surprised by the popularity of Apple’s iPhone launch in 2007. In this situation, timing is of the essence as the company’s stock price will continue to drop until an acceptable solution is found. Using Goleman’s (2000) coercive leadership, the leader of the company will demand immediate compliance. The leader will make all the decisions and there will not be feedback from the followers. The strength of this style is that the reaction of the company is quick and every moment matters. However, with only one person making the decisions it is more likely the optimal solution will not be found, unless it is a uniquely talented leader who is deciding. Democratic leadership would bring the followers into the decision-making process.

268 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 17, 2014