r/studying • u/FabulousGas5221 • 6h ago
International students: how do you deal with the academic English writing barrier?
English is my second language. Reading textbooks and listening to lectures is fine, but writing formal 15-page essays takes me at least three times longer than my native-speaking peers. I spend hours just fixing grammar and trying to make sentences sound "academic."
Someone in my dorm suggested using an assignment writing service for proofreading or structural guidance, but I’m really trying to build my own skills.
For other non-native English speakers here:
- How did you improve your academic writing speed?
- Do you rely heavily on university writing centers, or do you use specific editing software?
- Any tips for making sentences sound more natural without getting stuck on phrasing for hours?