Academic Success
Registration & intake
Exam accommodations
Instructional/classroom accommodations
FREE & FLEXIBLE SUPPORT FOR
WRITING & LANGUAGE
The Student Learning Hub at UBC’s Okanagan campus provides free writing and language support for undergraduate students. Join us and develop your confidence, independence, and proficiency in academic communication. Don’t wait—successful learners access support early and often.
Upcoming closure: April 14 to May 9, 2025.
The last day to meet with a Writing and Language Consultant is April 11.
Writing and Language services resume on May 12 to support you during the summer semester.
Connect with a consultant
First-time user or need help booking?
If you have trouble accessing QReserve or need help booking an appointment, please contact learning.hub@ubc.ca.
Appointment format options
There are a variety of ways that writing and language consultants can support you.
You can select which option works for you when you book your appointment through QReserve.
- Asynchronously through E-feedback
Although this option does not involve meeting with your consultant, it must still be scheduled through QReserve. Once you’ve booked your appointment and uploaded your paper, you will receive an E-feedback letter from your consultant within three hours after your scheduled appointment slot. - In-person at the Student Learning Hub (LIB 237)
It’s always best to book your in-person appointment through QReserve in advance as consultants can book up and are not always available for drop-in appointments. - Online through Zoom
This is a virtual, scheduled appointment where you and your consultant will connect online through Zoom. - Hybrid: online and in-person
When consultants have hybrid written next to their name on the QReserve schedule, this means that the consultant is available to support you both online and in-person. You will be able to select which mode works best for you.
Writing consultations
With support from a peer writing consultant, you can sharpen your drafting, writing, and revising skills while learning strategies for navigating the confusing world of academic writing.
Undergraduate students from every discipline, working on any type of written course assignment (or presentation), are welcome. Get support for all stages of the writing process:
- developing a draft
- clarifying an argument
- organizing written materials
- understanding editing techniques
- creating effective sentence structures
- integrating sources
- maintaining academic integrity
- building beneficial writing habits
Our tutors focus on you, the writer, not the paper, and thus don’t “edit” or “proofread.” Instead, they listen/read carefully, answer questions about approaching different types of writing assignments, and provide feedback on how a reader experiences your writing.
To book with a writing consultant:
The above link will take you directly to the Writing consultant calendar. Alternatively, you can login to access.qreserve.com/ ubcostudentlearninghub and locate “Writing Consultations” in the list of services. Hovering your cursor over the title will show you a Calendar link to view the Writing Consultation schedule.
Additional resources & FAQs:
French and Spanish consultations
Available now for Winter Term 1!
We offer support for all undergraduate students enrolled in Spanish and French classes at UBC Okanagan. This term we are please to be able to offer Japanese support as well. The tutors will assist students in understanding how to:
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- use reference tools effectively to access the grammatical concepts needed to resolve specific language issues
- understand language conventions for sentences, punctuation and spelling
- practice pronunciation
To book with a language consultant:
The above link will take you directly to calendar for language appointments. Alternatively, you can login to access.qreserve.com/ ubcostudentlearninghub. Locate “Language Consultations” in the list of services. Hovering your cursor over the title will show you a Calendar link to view the language consultant schedule.
English Language Development
In recognition of the academic excellence and rich diversity that students with language backgrounds other than English bring to our campus, the Student Learning Hub offers free English language acquisition supports for students.
We offer peer support to develop English speaking skills so students feel more confident presenting their work, participating in class and conversing with classmates and instructors. Our specially trained consultants provide you with a comfortable, informal environment for you to practice, ask questions, and get individualized support for your unique needs.
Intake for ELD support is open for the 2024-2025 Academic Year. If you are interested in English Language Development support, please fill out the form below and a consultant will reach out to you:
English Language Conversation Circle
Do you want to practice your English speaking skills? Join our English Conversation Circle
In this friendly and relaxed learning environment, you will have the opportunity to practice speaking English with other learners.
These sessions open to anyone at UBC Okanagan who would like conversational speaking practice, including undergraduate students, graduate students, and post-doctoral fellows.
Come and join us to practice your English speaking skills in a comfortable and supportive setting.
Additional Support for English Language Learners
English as an Additional Language (EAL) for Work-Life Success
English as an Additional Language (EAL) for Work-Life Success is a series of three twelve-week English courses (36 hours total per course) designed to build language skills and confidence communicating in the workplace and other areas of life. Learners will gain new English skills, learning strategies, and a greater understanding of how communication works in Canadian workplaces. In addition, learners will practice new language while working in pairs and teams to explore work-related topics and problems.
Project Literacy
A community partnership between UBC Okanagan Library and Project Literacy Central Okanagan Society has enabled Project Literacy to bring their One to One Tutoring Program for English language acquisition to the UBC Okanagan campus. Each Winter Term (September and January intakes), the Project Literacy Education Coordinator will organize up to 20 tutor/learner matches. The Coordinator will arrange to meet with each learner to help them determine their goals and objectives, as well as assess their baseline literacy skills.
Appointments are arranged between the PL tutor and the learner, so do not book through the Student Learning Hub online booking system.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tips on preparing for my session?
Our consultants are trained to help you at the level you are at and can help you pinpoint your areas of difficulty. However, it’s important that you share some written work with your tutor so they can accurately assess and address your unique needs and goals.
Whether you are just getting started or in final revisions, prepare to share or provide your tutor with:
- The assignment description and/or rubrics (as provided by your instructor)
- Anything you’ve completed so far (ex. a rough plan, a full draft, a brainstorm or mindmap, or even a sentence!)
- All questions and concerns you would like to address
The Student Learning Hub tutors will not assist with citation questions or reference list formatting as our campus library already provides excellent citation and research support. If you need assistance with citations, contact the library through this form or find your subject librarian.
Have a quick citation question? Get support from AskAway a live chat service that connects you with librarians from across British Columbia.
If you are a graduate student, post-doc, or faculty member, please make an appointment with the Centre for Scholarly Communication.
Working on a grad school application, Honors thesis, or paper for publication?
If you are an undergraduate student working on a graduate school application, Honors thesis, or paper for publication, please contact learning.hub@ubc.ca.
See our faculty resources to learn more about how best to refer students for writing or academic integrity support.
