The challenge of academic writing for Chinese students within ...

prior English learning experiences have a huge impact on their learning in UK. Academic life
in UK universities challenges their competence in English. Their English ability is tested in
understanding lectures, discussing in seminars, and completing group work and individual
assignments. The participants reported they found it difficult to fully understand lectures, to
keep up with lecturers and other classmates in seminar discussions, to find appropriate words
to express their ideas, and to fully comprehend reading materials. Taking into consideration
the realities of English learning in China the problems seem unavoidable.
English language proficiency is also an issue associated with disciplinary studies. Lack of
and unfamiliarity with disciplinary vocabulary and contexts were perceived to have
caused problems in their acquisition and comprehension of subject knowledge. The
participants voiced the obstacles that inadequate knowledge of subject-specific
vocabulary and terminology was causing.
One of my degree subjects was Law. I have found it very difficult without high
language proficiency. The study of Law requires a wide range of vocabulary and
terminology. Also, you know that law practitioners and learners speak differently.
It is very hard for me. (Mikki, interview)
I‘ve found it difficult to understand some words in a different context. For
example, the same word in accounting has a very different meaning from how it‘s
normally understood. (Peter, interview)
You know, you can read novels and fiction very well but it‘s different for academic
reading. For academic books, it‘s very difficult to get a grasp of what authors want
to tell you – the underlining meanings of the text. My vocabulary is far from
enough to cope with the demands of academic works. I have to read several times
before I can come to terms with the meaning. (Rita, interview)
In order to cope with these problems, some participants reported to have read relevant
literature on the topic extensively and beforehand while others looked up words in a
dictionary.
The participants have acknowledged that English competence is more than a matter of
knowing academic vocabulary; it is involves understanding cultural aspects of the
subjects. For instance, one participant stated:
Apart from the language problem, cultural difference is another challenging issue
in my study life, which is generally impossible to overcome in a short period. Lack
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