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

In order to meet the writing requirements, I have to read extensively and do a lot
of research in the library. Now I have learnt how to retrieve information on my
own … no longer as before I am dependent on tutors and read only core text
books. (Maxine, interview)
Moreover, they have learnt to be analytical and critical, which was what they are expected to
achieve in learning in the UK HE. Compared with before, according to the participants, they
have been able to evaluate and assess the information they retrieved and make decisions on
what is relevant and what is irrelevant to a specific topic; they felt more confident in critically
assessing materials they gathered and forming their own arguments.
Extensive and broad reading expected in the academic writing, the participants
perceived, has improved their reading skills. The participants expressed their writing
skills have shown considerable improvements. They firmly believed that improved
writing not only assisted their understanding of subject knowledge but also benefited
their future career development, as one participant remarked:
My tutor back in China commented on my writing, and he said my way of
writing is more smooth and easy to read. I consider this is quite an achievement.
In my view, writing well is very important in whatever profession I opt to take
up later. (Mia, interview)
Studying in the UK has helped the participants develop their interpersonal skills and crosscultural
communication skills. Interpersonal skills refer to abilities one has developed to
interact well with others, including communication skills, listening skills and assertiveness.
Studying in the UK HE, a student will be interacting with people from different cultural and
educational backgrounds. Good interpersonal skills would facilitate their learning in the
university but also provide long-term benefits to their future professional development. That
is where the cross-cultural communication skills fit in. In addition, cosmopolitan learning
requires a greater intercultural understanding and communication. Effective cross-cultural
communication requires intercultural sensitivity and empathy. The participants have learnt to
recognize the importance of cultural awareness in interpersonal communication.
They have learnt to respect and appreciate different cultures in the process of communicating
with students from many different countries. One participant commented:
I didn‘t realize how diverse the students are in the UK university before I came
here. In my class there are students from some European countries, India,
Pakistan, and Nigeria … we have group projects together, which enable me to
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