Reflection of second language literacy in profession

What is academic literacy? George Braine defined that, as graduate students, not only need to build interactive relationships, to develop effective research strategies and good writing skills, and to adapt to the linguistic and social milieu of their host environment as well. (p 60)


As an EFL graduate student, I have to be acclimatized to the new cultural, and to struggle for completing the requirements that professors assign. Although I feel stressful and frustrated, I think it is the process to be a scholar/researcher in composition and TESOL field.

In “Institutional Politics in the Teaching of Advanced Academic Writing”, the article attracts my attention. In the part of “placement and course design”, students’ responses were diametrically opposed from what Christ’ suppose that “students would feel that a disciplinary-specific course might better address their needs”. (p 267) I think the opposite methods may bring its advantages to these students. As students considered that they benefit from their peers with their fields’ practices and conventions. On the other hand, if the disciplinary-specific course is implemented in ESL course, students may learn a lot through the academic discourse, and may lessen their pressure when they return their specialized program. However, I think the administrative difficulties still exist, such as the financial support, and specialized instructors. Moreover, I think “the credit and grading” is also a factor to motivate students if they should spare more time on their ESL course. As for most of students, they would study hard for credits and higher grades. Nevertheless, if there is no such restraint, would student progress in their studies? Before this, the teaching goals should set up first. What teachers should teach their students? How the ESL courses improve their English capacity? What do teachers would assist their students, such as cultural accommodation, or academic writing mastery? How do teachers advance their “academic literacy”? These should be taken into consideration. If teachers put too much pressure on students, would students improve their English proficiency, and even present better performance in their specialization?