Resources for EAL and International Students

English Language Development Resources

Language and communication is fundamental to the discipline and practice of law. If you are studying law and English is not your first language consider building a ‘language development strategy’ into your study routine. This means thinking about how you are going to improve your general and academic vocabulary, strengthen your grammar for writing, and even developing listening and speaking proficiency. Some great English language resources are listed below:

English Language Resources

Michael Swan, Practical English Usage (2005): UniM ERC – 428.24 SWAN

Fredrik Liljeblad, Berlitz English Grammar Handbook (2004): UniM ERC TB – 428.2 LILJ

A very accessible grammar and language development book

Purdue University’s Online Writing Lab: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/

Recommended Academic writing and language skills site

HyperGrammar – University of Ottawa: http://www.arts.uottawa.ca/writcent/hypergrammar/

This site is very useful. It’s really well organised, and has a functional focus – usingverbs, building clauses, sentences, paragraphs etc.

Monash University Language and Learning online – Grammar: http://www.monash.edu.au/lls/llonline/grammar/index.xml

The Guide to Grammar and Writing, sponsored by the Capital Community College Foundation: http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/

English Page: http://www.englishpage.com/index.html

Common Errors in English: http://vlc.polyu.edu.hk/common/

Daily Grammar: http://www.dailygrammar.com/archive.shtml

ESL Gold – general English language resources: http://www.eslgold.com/index.html

ESL Resource Centre: http://eslus.com/eslcenter.htm

Speaking and Listening Skills

Randall’s ESL Cyber Listening Lab: http://www.esl-lab.com/index.htm

‘Sounds of English’: http://www.soundsofenglish.org/index.html

Merriam-Webster Online: http://www.m-w.com/

Word pronunciation, American accent

Understanding the Australian Legal System

Your studies will be easier and more interesting if you have a basic understanding of Australia’s legal system. Some awareness of current legal issues as reported in news services will also be useful.

Recommended Websites

Introductory information about Australia: http://www.australia.gov.au/about-australia

Includes information on Australia’s States and territories, government structures and population statistics, which will be useful for international students.

The history of Australia’s legal system and governments: http://www.foundingdocs.gov.au

The National Archives of Australia website, Documenting a Democracy, includes images and discussion of 110 key documents that have provided the foundation for Australia’s governments. It also includes a timeline of major political events in Australia’s colonial and national history.

The Parliament of Australia: http://www.aph.gov.au/Help/A_-_Z_Index

The website contains information about the composition of the Houses of Parliament, info sheets on various aspects of government and the Constitution, and links to key Law internet sites.

The High Court of Australia: http://www.hcourt.gov.au/about/role

Find out who sits on the Bench and take a virtual tour through the Court.

The Parliament of Victoria: http://parliament.vic.gov.au/

Who’s your local MLA? Find out what an MLA is in the parliamentary glossary.

The Australian Newspaper: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/

An Australian national daily newspaper.

The Age Newspaper: http://www.theage.com.au/

A Melbourne daily newspaper.

Recommended Listening

The Law Report: http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/lawreport/

A weekly program on ABC Radio National that considers current legal issues. Listening to this and other Australian radio programs (see: http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/) can also help international students become familiar with the Australian accent.