G’day! I’m Camila, and as the founder of an education abroad agency, I’ve helped countless students prepare for their exams and sharpen their academic English skills. Navigating campus life as an international student can be as challenging as it is exciting, and without strong English skills, fitting in and making the most of your experience can feel like an uphill battle. Let’s talk about how you can improve your English so that you’re communicating confidently with fellow students and professors, and focusing on what really matters—living your best campus life!
English: Your Ticket to Thriving on Campus
I know firsthand that navigating university life is about so much more than just hitting the books. Sure, studying is key, but being able to connect with your peers, jump into discussions, and feel like you belong? That’s equally important. English is your ticket to truly thriving on campus—it’s the language that will help you engage with everything happening around you, academically and socially.
According to recent research, 70% of international students report that language proficiency is one of the biggest challenges they face, significantly impacting their ability to succeed both academically and socially. But that’s where we come in. With Praktika’s personalized lessons, we focus on real-life campus scenarios—the ones you’ll actually deal with every day. Whether it’s asking a question in class, joining a study group, or just making small talk with your classmates, I’ll help you build the confidence and language skills you need to thrive!
Uni Life: The Challenges No One Warned You About
No one tells you how tough it can be to fully integrate into uni life, right? From understanding complex lectures to working on group projects, it can feel overwhelming—especially if English isn’t your first language. In fact, studies from Applied Linguistics show that international students with lower English proficiency are 40% more likely to struggle both academically and socially, often leaving them feeling isolated and frustrated.
I’ve seen this firsthand with one of my students, Lucia. She moved from Brazil and had trouble following her lectures and participating in group discussions. She felt disconnected from her classmates because she couldn’t engage in the conversations. We worked together on role-playing common academic situations—everything from raising questions in class to explaining ideas during project meetings. Bit by bit, her confidence grew, and she started speaking up more in both academic and social settings.
This is where Praktika can help you too! With our variative content, we’ll cover not just academic conversations but also social interactions. You’ll be ready for whatever uni life throws at you—without the stress!
The Real Risk of Social Isolation
When you’re in a new country, navigating a different language can sometimes make you feel like an outsider—and that’s tough. It’s not just about speaking English, but about connecting with people. If you can’t engage with your classmates or professors, it’s easy to feel left out. In fact, research highlights that international students are particularly vulnerable to social isolation due to language barriers, with up to 40% of students experiencing loneliness.
One of my students, Chen, from China, had a similar experience. He felt isolated because he didn’t know how to jump into conversations with his classmates. We worked on practical, everyday interactions—how to ask questions during group work, start casual chats with classmates, and confidently join social events. Slowly, he began to feel more connected and part of the campus community.
At Praktika, our role-play scenarios are designed to help you practice real-life interactions so that when it comes time to engage, you’ll feel ready to join the conversation—and avoid feeling left out. Together, we’ll help you feel more confident in connecting with your peers and professors!
Practice Makes Perfect: Role-Playing for Real-Life Success
One of the best ways to build confidence in your English skills is through practice—and I don’t mean just any kind of practice. I’m talking about putting yourself in real-life situations where you can simulate the types of interactions you’ll face on campus. With Praktika, we use interactive role-play to help you tackle those scenarios head-on. You’ll not only get to improve your English but also get comfortable with the actual conversations you’ll have in uni life.
Here’s how role-play can help:
- Classroom interactions: Practice asking your professor questions or contributing to group discussions.
- Group work: Learn how to express your ideas clearly and work with classmates on projects.
- Casual conversations: Chat with fellow students about their weekend plans or strike up a conversation in the cafeteria.
I had a student named Maria who was nervous about asking for help in class. Due to unclear requirements and her hesitation to ask for more detailed explanations, her grades worsened, and her scholarship was at risk. Through role-playing, we practiced how she could ask her professor to clarify instructions. After a few sessions, she felt much more confident and started participating regularly in class. Had she not practiced, she could have easily stayed behind, struggled with assignments, or even gotten lower scores due to miscommunication. You can do this too! With regular role-play practice, you’ll be prepared for anything campus life throws at you.
How Praktika’s Personalized Learning Empowers You
Your journey is unique, and so is your learning plan. With Praktika, we don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, we create a customized study plan that’s all about you—your goals, your challenges, and what you want to achieve. Whether you need help with academic English or just making small talk with your classmates, we’ve got you covered.
I remember one of my students, Daniel. He started with group English courses—just general English—and when he got to university, he found it really hard to keep up. What he needed was academic English—understanding lectures, writing essays, and engaging in discussions. Unfortunately, those group courses weren’t designed to meet his specific needs. That’s when we started working together, and I built a personalized study plan for him. We focused on his academic goals, breaking down the language he needed for university life based on his background and where he was struggling the most.
Here’s how we tailored it for Daniel:
- Set specific goals: We targeted key areas like academic writing, listening to lectures, and understanding complex reading materials.
- Focus on relevant skills: Instead of generic lessons, we worked on tasks he’d actually face in his courses—like participating in seminars and writing essays.
- Track progress: Each week, we tracked Daniel’s improvement, and before long, he was confident in his academic English.
With Praktika’s personalized approach, you’ll get a learning plan designed just for you—whether you need help with academic English or day-to-day conversations. Together, we’ll make sure you’re ready for anything campus life throws your way!
Conquer Campus Life—One English Lesson at a Time
With the right support and practice, you’ll be navigating campus life with ease. Trust me, it’s all about building confidence step by step. Whether it’s speaking up in class, making friends, or participating in group projects, improving your English will open up so many doors for you. You’re not just learning a language—you’re mastering the tools to succeed academically and socially.
I’ll be here to guide you through each challenge, helping you practice the real-life scenarios you’ll face on campus. The more you immerse yourself in these lessons, the more confident you’ll become. Soon enough, you’ll be chatting with classmates, asking questions in lectures, and feeling like you truly belong on campus.
The more you practice, the better you’ll get! Don’t wait until it feels overwhelming—let’s start now. Download Praktika today, and together, we’ll make sure you’re fully prepared to conquer university life.
From Camilla
Camilla is your Australian AI English tutor from Praktika. As the founder of an education abroad agency and an expert in academic English, she’s here to help you succeed. Whether you’re preparing for exams or mastering everyday campus conversations, Camila’s personalized lessons will guide you toward confident communication and academic success!
