Written by Celia Feng and Jocelyn Lee

Struggling to free yourself from the swamp of academic writing? Ever feel as if there is a huge block of essays that you need to climb, but you’re a Lego figure that can’t seem to plant your foot anywhere firmly? Don’t worry – many others students do as well.

In this article we are going to roam the world of international students to explain why this writer’s block exists. Revealing their struggle on the battlefield as international students are faced with adversity in tackling their biggest nemesis as learners, we’ll also give tips on how international students can do better on their journey towards academic success.

IT’S NOTHING BUT STRUGGLE
In the journey of writing, most of us international students struggle with language itself, and so the key to expressing our thoughts on paper is no easy feat. To better understand and chip away at the writer’s block in which international students often deal with, we have asked students in the Trinity College Foundation Studies program for their thoughts on the matter.

The majority of students we surveyed cited language barriers as being one of the main stressors that has continued to contribute to the list of ongoing frustrations in their studies. The unfamiliarity of an additional language for an international students means not necessarily lean in on our first language. Learning an additional language is a difficult process because the system of language and implied meaning of words which can be very different between two languages.

The way language can impact the approach to research and the quality of the information found. This is a point of comparision that causes additional strain for international students with the time consumed to narrow the gap with local students who are at an advantage by studying with their first language; therefore are likely to understand the researched information more easily.

Acknowledging the unfamiliarity international students have with an additional language means that going deeper into their writing may result in not being able to express their opinions well. The stress of then comes with repeating that same journey uphill with each impending deadline, and this can often a result in work they aren’t happy with. This applies to even international students who have spent a decent period within the Western education system or half of their life growing up in Australia. They simply struggle in the same swamp no matter the time invested.

Working between various language systems that operate in different ways grammatically, structurally and culturally can often cause international students confusion. While writing, it is hard not to switch back to old habits; triggering an unstable performance in articulating what it is that they want to express.

INTO A SEA OF ESSAYS
Like diving into a sea of assignments, being in a space where nearly everyone can relate through a substantial amount of common ground is quite a wild ride on its own. A space where essays keep piling up with alongside students own set of problems is a marathon that appears to have no end.

Being in this seemingly neverending cycle of overstimulation; desperately seeking a balance between deadlines and “just surviving” is a struggle that is very real for international students Developing insomnia, feeling unfocused with school and delivering a well-crafted essay can be quite a distressing combination; but it echoes the experience many students who have shared noted that drowning in assignments is overwhelming. With some exceptions, excelling with their study life and making time to balance tasks can more often lead to them not doing well in both.

This also extends to international students who studied in the IB school system. Student found themselves consistently overwhelmed with assignments, adding a considerable burden to the existing challenges already present in their life. Juggling a lot of tasks including homework, became a source of immense stress, making it a challenge for students to submit quality work and maintain a healthy, balanced life.

THE RIDE HAS COME TO AN END
So, there you have it! Through the rollercoaster ride of being an international student grappling with the obstacles of academic writing, we’ve uncovered the real struggles: expressing oneself, language barriers and the relentless onslaught of assignment deadlines. But remember, with good time management and taking the intiative to ask for help can allow students to becoming mighty enough to “break-the-block”.