College Crunch

It can be overwhelming to prepare a paper in a different language. Even if you speak and understand English perfectly, it is very difficult to write a paper that will be graded both on the information and presentation.

It is always recommended that ESL students find someone to review their paper before submitting it to the professor to be sure that it is error-free and written clearly. But how to find someone to help?

Here are a few suggestions.

1. College ESL Departments

If your college has an ESL Department, then that is the first place to check for assistance. Ask if they offer proofreading services to ESL students and if they don’t, then ask where to get help.

2. College Writing Centers

Most colleges have Writing Centers that help American and ESL students review their papers. Usually this is a free service, but you probably need an appointment. For the first time using the service, it is best to start exploring the possibility in advance of your paper due date. Find the Center and see if you need to make an appointment. Most editing is done by other students who are competent writers. Some larger universities offer online editing services.

3. Community ESL Center

Some cities have private ESL centers that teach English speaking and writing. This would be an additional place to check for proofreading help, but you will likely have to pay a fee.

4. Private Tutors

It would take some planning, but you could find an American student who you could pay to proofread all your papers. Many students are looking for extra money, but not all Americans are good writers. If you want to try this, then ask around for recommendations on who is a good writer. Check with that person to see if he or she is interested, and if so, then ask them to demonstrate their skill. Could you see a graded paper? Could you talk to their professors to ask about their writing? Make sure to decide ahead how much the tutor would like paid and how much time they need for editing in advance of your due date.

5. Peer Support Groups

Sometimes ESL students form editing groups. You could get together regularly and review papers together. For example, if 5 people are gathering, then you would print 5 copies of your paper, and read each paragraph out loud and then receive tips from the others. This can be a great way to learn from each other, but it also takes a lot of time and can get confusing if there are disagreements about grammar rules. It is definitely worth a try, though be sure to notice if your professors seem satisfied with your writing.

6. Online Proofreading Services

This can be an easy and convenient way to get your paper edited, especially if your deadline is soon. You do pay extra for a quick deadline. Most academic proofreading websites work very well with ESL students and it can be a good learning opportunity. These are the best websites:

http://paperproofreader.com/ ( ESL service)
http://www.papercheck.com/
http://www.scribendi.com/

7. Online ESL Proofreaders

There are several quality websites that are designed especially to help ESL students proofread their papers. However, they usually cost more than standard online proofreading sites. Here are a few that are helpful:

http://www.eslproofreader.com/
http://www.supaproofread.com/