Texas A&M University University Writing Center
Texas A&M University | Division of Academic Affairs
Texas A&M University University Writing Center

What To Expect 

When you make an appointment, you'll be assisted by one of the UWC's trained consultants, who earn certification from the College Reading and Learning Association. Our consultants can help you with any kind of writing or speaking project and at any stage of your creative process. You'll receive personalized advice and assistance based on your project and your needs. We will focus on giving you the knowledge and skills you need to succeed. We can work with you at any stage of your project, from understanding assignments to developing and organizing content to revising your prose or practicing presentations. Group appointments are available for students working on group projects.

What Types of Appointments Can I Make?

In-person 

Meet with a writing/speaking consultant in person at Evans Library. Bring questions or ideas, papers, videos, slides, or outlines. You can also make appointments for a group working together on a project. Or we can watch you deliver a presentation and give you feedback.

Online Document Upload (Email)

Submit your papers, slides, or videos online. You'll automatically be given our next available appointment. You won't get an immediate reply, but we'll let you know when you can expect a response at the time you submit. A writing/speaking consultant will spend up to 45 minutes making comments on your work, which will be sent back to you via your Texas A&M email account. 

Web Conferencing (Zoom) 

Meet with a writing/speaking consultant for up to 45 minutes online via Zoom. You can also make appointments for a group working together on a project. We can look at papers, presentations, slides, or videos (such as videos of you delivering a speech). Or we can discuss your assignments and just brainstorm. This session type works best if you have a camera and microphone on your computer.

English Conversation Appointments

 

What are Conversation Appointments? 

Conversation appointments are one-on-one appointments with a writing center consultant where, instead of working on a paper or assignment, you have a conversation. These appointments are available to help you practice your speaking and listening skills, as well as gain confidence in making conversation in English. Conversation appointments last up to 45 minutes and can be conducted either in-person or via Zoom. The topic of conversation can be almost anything and can focus on any aspect of English conversation that you want to practice. You can come to the appointment with a specific topic in mind or ask the consultant to make suggestions.

Who are Conversation Appointments Best Suited for? 

Conversation appointments are a great resource for students 

  • who want to gain confidence in English conversation 
  • who want to practice using specific words or phrases 
  • who want to gain confidence in their listening skills or who struggle to understand some English speakers 
  • whose first language is not English and who are still getting comfortable speaking the language 
  • who want to rehearse or practice specific conversations 
  • who have technical questions about spoken English, different kinds of accents, and the pronunciation of specific words and phrases

How to Make the Most of Your Conversation Appointment

  • Think of what aspects of speaking and listening you want to improve. What are you struggling with? What about English conversation is hard for you? 
  • Think about what you want to talk about. What topics can you discuss easily? What topics do you have a lot of questions about? Is there a specific type of conversation you want to rehearse?  
  • Think about what aspects of English conversation are difficult. How can you use a conversation appointment to build comfort? What can you explain to your writing center consultant to help them understand what you are uncomfortable with? 
  • Think of what questions you may have about spoken English: What does this phrase mean? Why do American English speakers pronounce a word a certain way? What are the different connotations of this word? 
  • Remember that there are two of you participating in the conversation and be respectful of your consultant’s feelings. If they seem uncomfortable with a topic, switch to something more neutral.  

How to Book

  1. Book a 45-minute, one-on-one appointment with us! 
  2. In the question box that says, “To make your session more helpful, give us details of what you are working on and for what purpose,” write down that you are booking a conversation appointment. 
  3. In the question box that asks, “What would you like your consultant to focus on for this consultation?” write out what speaking and listening skills you want to improve, what topics you want to cover, and anything else you think is relevant.  

This information will help your consultant know your goals and expectations and make the most out of the appointment for you.  

Editing

The UWC is an educational resource. We are not an editing or proofreading service, which means we won't necessarily point out every potential error in your work. Instead, our consultations are tailored to helping you improve your overall communication skills. We can, though, over time, help you develop the skills you need to edit and proofread your own work. If you require more in-depth or urgent help with a project, we can refer you to our list of paid freelance editors. We provide the list as a courtesy but do not vet the providers.

Editors

External Resources

Campus Resources

There are a number of campus resources that provide academic help that may be of interest to students for whom English is a second (or secondary) language.