~ Ian Isherwood
For international students coming to graduate school in the United States, the adjustments to a new country, customs, and place can be pretty stressful. Add to these factors a language barrier, and this transition becomes even more difficult.
Since February 2006, non-native speaking graduate students have been able to take advantage of a fantastic resource – Judith Hertog.
As the English as a Second Language Specialist (ESL) for the Writing Program, Judith specifically helps graduate students with their writing so that Dartmouth graduate students can write clearly and effectively for class and publication.
Judith handles on average ten to twelve one-on-one
sessions with students a week and has started a reading discussion group where
she meets with students and discusses articles on current events
“I work with students whose English is really very good and very advanced. The pressure is with publication and writing.” Graduate students frequently have to contribute their research as a written project, a paper to be presented or an article to be considered for publication, so it is important to write clearly and effectively, she said.
The process can frustrate students. “It takes a long time to write. Nothing can be written in one draft.” Judith uses her sessions with students as a way to go over their drafts and to make the whole process less frustrating and more rewarding.
On her philosophy for good writing Judith said, “Some people are so intimidated by the process of writing that they think they don't sound learned enough if they use simple straightforward language; they are hiding their insecurities behind wordy sentences and don't really try to reach the reader. A good writer always keeps the reader in mind and writes so the reader can understand!”
Helpful advice for all writers, whether they be at the beginning of their careers or at the end.
