I start my job as a sessional tutor at the University of Brighton’s  International College on Monday 21st May.  The job is lecturing foundation mathematics to overseas students. The level of mathematics is about that of UK A-levels.

Overseas students for whom English is not their first language do present some challenges.  In my experience, the biggest issue is the use of words or phrases that just don’t arise in conversational English.  Simple words and phrases that we take for granted can really throw international students, which in turn can diminish their confidence.

Many of the other issues are really no different to home students, though the intensity may be different. For example, all students get home sick, but this is amplified when in an alien culture.

I am looking forward to gaining more experience of lecturing and this will in fact be the first time I have actually delivered a course.  Most of my previous experience has been in a more supportive role as a teaching assistant and a personal tutor.