IRLP

Being a part of the International Researchers Language Program was a great experience for me. The classes were complex. We started with a theoretical introduction but then we moved into practical cases. Elisabeth, our wonderful instructor, was always willing to help us in order to make our work be even more effective. IRLP gave me the opportunity to explore my academic interests. All in all, it has given me a chance to develop academic writing and provided me the framework for my current scientific work.

As an international scientist, this course has been very useful in my academic life here at Columbia University, as well as in my personal life during my postdoctoral stay. I learned tools to express myself better and above all to convey the message of my research correctly in my official presentations. I met amazing people with whom I have formed friendships and together we have shared tips, tools, and knowledge. This course has a personal, professional, and academic impact when your primary language is not English.

As a French researcher in Management and a French native speaker, I participated in the IRLP to improve my academic writing skills in English. Thanks to the course I learned how to structure a paper, to paraphrase in English, and to improve my grammar. Mixing theory and practice, this course is super concrete and a game changer in learning how to write efficient papers as a non-native English speaker. I definitely recommend IRLP!

When I read the description of the course Academic Culture and Presentations for International Researchers, I felt a great sense of relief. I was hopeful that the course would speed up my professional & social integration and interaction in the American environment. Understanding a country’s culture is valuable. It allows for better communications with colleagues or friends and it also reduces the risk of any frustrations or misunderstandings due to cultural differences. This course was indeed helpful in this regard. I learned a number of tips, behaviors and language styles that would have probably taken me some time to understand or adjust to on my own.