Developing Communication Skills

Being able to express yourself effectively - in speech and in writing - is critical to your success as a graduate student and throughout your career. Different kinds of writing and speaking carry with them different expectations. Consider the differences between writing your dissertation, applying for a grant or fellowship, and preparing materials for your job search. Stanford offers many resources to help improve your communication skills. Others may be available within your particular department or program.

Dissertation Writing Support

Writing a dissertation can be daunting. There are many resources to help students get started and make regular, timely progress at different stages of the dissertation writing process.

• Dissertation Writing Groups can help to provide a supportive environment for the exchange of critical feedback. Writing groups of 4 to 8 members typically meet weekly or biweekly and have helped many students navigate the dissertation writing process and improve the quality of their dissertations along the way. Everything you need to start a Dissertation Writing Group is described in this "starter kit," Starting an Effective Dissertation Writing Group (pdf file). The Hume Writing Center maintains a google group of students who are interested in finding Dissertation Writing Group members.

• Dissertation Support Groups, Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). CAPS has several on-going groups for students in the dissertation phase who seek an active support group. More information can be found here.
• Dissertation Writing in Green Library. Green Library offers space for regular dissertation writing. Join other students who are also writing. Open Mondays through Fridays, 9 am - noon, in the Velma Denning Room. More information can be found here.
• Dissertation Boot Camp. Boot Camp is a way to kick start your dissertation writing and establishgood writing habits. Boot Camp also provides a community of other students with the same goals. Boot Camp lasts two weeks, and students meet every day. Boot Camp is offered several times a year by the Hume Writing Center. Click here for the current schedule and registration. You can also create your own Boot Camp; a Boot Camp Starter Kit is under development.
• Written resources about dissertation writing. There are many books full of advice on dissertation writing; this annotated bibliography is a partial list. Of course, reading about how to write is not a substitute for writing. Many of these books are available in the Hume Writing Center or the Stanford Libraries. (Coming soon.)

Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL)

The Stanford Center for Teaching and Learning was established to support the development of Stanford's graduate teaching assistants and faculty members in their University teaching roles. CTL offers courses on teaching and public speaking every quarter. The full list of CTL courses is here.

CTL is located on the fourth floor of Sweet Hall. Contact information. The Speaking Center, a fully equipped multimedia room for students to rehearse presentations, is located in Meyer Library, Suite 123.

Oral Communications Program

CTL's Oral Communications Program helps students become better at public speaking, oral presentations, and related activities. Offerings include:

• Courses on public speaking are offered every quarter.The full list of CTL courses is here.
• Individual consultation. Schedule a one-on-one appointment with a graduate communications tutor or an Oral Comm lecturer. Rehearse your presentation (e.g., academic job talk, public presentation, oral exam), get it videotaped and receive individual feedback.
• Communication Matters A series of workshops, typically offered in Spring Quarter, providing practical skills in oral communication. The workshops typically combine interactive presentations, small group discussions, and experiential learning.

Resources for Teaching Assistants

CTL offers many resources to help graduate student teaching assistants improve as teachers. Novice TAs start with TA orientation. Experienced TAs can participate in the Mentors in Teaching (MINT) program. Individual consultation and workshops are also available.

• CTL offers quarterly half-day TA Orientation for new teaching assistants
• Every quarter CTL sponsors workshops to help students become better teachers.
• A Teaching Statement and a Teaching Portfolio are parts of the application for many faculty positions. CTL offers workshops every quarter on how to create these materials.
• CTL offers courses on teaching every quarter. The full list of CTL courses is here.
• Mentors in Teaching (MinT) program prepares experienced teaching assistants to serve as Mentor TAs - supporting the development of other TAs - within their departments.

Hume Writing Center (HWC)

A resource for Stanford writers at all levels, the Hume Writing Center provides extensive support for graduate students writing theses, dissertations, conference papers, job talks, articles for publication, research and fellowship applications, and more. HWC is located in the basement of Margaret Jacks Hall (English department, building 460, main quad). Location and contact information and the on-line appointment system. Services for graduate students are:

• Individual consultation Graduate students can make one time or repeated appointments with Writing tutors. Some tutors are lecturers with PhDs in writing-related specialities, others are graduate students who are trained to help improve writing.
• Workshops for graduate students Every quarter several workshops aimed at the needs of graduate students are offered at the Writing Center.
• Dissertation Boot Camp. Dissertation Boot Camp is a two-week-long daily intensive writing workship offered four times a year. Participation is limited. Students meet daily from 9-1 to work on their dissertations, in the company of fellow dissertators. Boot Camp is a way to kick start your dissertation, and develop life long habits of good writing.

VPGE-Sponsored Workshops

• Intellectual Leadership Workshops
  Two-session workshops, offered every quarter, help students develop and communicate a clear, long-term research agenda. Some workshops are organized by theme, others are aimed at students in particular areas, such as the humanities and social sciences.
• Communication Matters
  A series of workshops, typically offered in Spring Quarter, providing practical skills in oral communication. The workshops typically combine interactive presentations, small group discussions and experiential learning.
• I-Rite/I-Speak
  This program has been offered in the past through the Stanford Graduate Summer Institute (SGSI). Check the SGSI web site to see future courses and schedules.

Technical Communications Program

The Technical Communications Program is a resource for students seeking to strengthen their technical writing and/or speaking skills. Housed in the School of Engineering, the program primarily serves students from that school, but also welcomes interested students from elsewhere in the university. The TCP comprises two divisions—Technical Writing and Oral Communication.

• All TCP courses are primarily designed to serve the needs of engineering students, but are open to all students, from every part of Stanford.
• TCP provides individual consultation for students who want assistance on a non-credit basis. Students may arrange to meet with a writing tutor to get help with a relatively short project, such as a job letter, statement of purpose, or short paper. Students may arrange to meet with a speech tutor to get help with preparing and rehearsing presentations.
• location and contact information

Especially for International Students

The following offices can provide assistance to international students seeking to improve their English communication skills:

• English for Foreign Students Office
  This office, part of the Stanford Language Center, offers instruction at high intermediate and advanced levels for matriculated international graduate students needing further English development to accomplish their academic and professional objectives. Two English teaching methodology courses are offered in Winter and Spring quarters.
  
• Bechtel International Center, Stanford's home for our international student community, provides a wide range of services, including free informal English courses and opportunities to practice conversational skills (visit the I-Center to sign up).

 

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