I really like the way that you helped me and I’m very thankful. I like these kinds of interactive consultations a lot. It’s been a good semester. All my doubt today is over with.
About Coaching (Formerly 1-to-1 Consultations)
The English Language Center (ELC) offers Individual Language Coaching that is designed to meet the speaking and writing needs of Vanderbilt University students, faculty, and scholars who use English as an additional language.
Due to the varied cultural and linguistic backgrounds of the university’s students, faculty, and scholars, abilities and needs for accomplishing course speaking and writing requirements may vary significantly for those who use English as an additional language from those who use English as a first language. To address these needs, the coaches at the ELC are well acquainted with typical speaking and writing styles of people who use English as an additional language.
Coaching sessions are collaborations between clients and coaches and they provide constructive feedback to help speakers and writers develop strategies for success in the academic context and in every day life.
Expectations
Clients and coaches are expected to conduct themselves as they would in any professional setting. This means that questions about another’s romantic life or comments about another’s appearance, even if intended as a compliment, are not appropriate and will not be tolerated.
Logistics
Eligible clients may schedule up to three, cost-free, 50-minute coaching sessions per week.
Sessions are available from 8 am to 9 pm, Monday through Friday while classes are in session (excluding summer sessions).
All sessions are virtual. If, for reasons of accessibility, you require in-person sessions, email the ELC at elc@vanderbilt.edu with your request.
Scheduling and coaching sessions occur on WCONLINE. Eligible clients may create a free account on WCONLINE using a valid Vanderbilt University email address.
Employees of the Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) are not eligible for Individual Language Coaching.
Types of Appointments
Speaking appointments focus on language issues in academic or conversational spoken English. These appointments may also center on listening practice. Pronunciation feedback may be given but will not be the focus of the appointment.
Writing appointments focus on language issues such as clarity, grammar, punctuation, word choice, tone, and word order. Clients may schedule writing appointments at any phase of the writing process. Law students should schedule writing appointments with ELC staff.
Pronunciation appointments focus on pronunciation issues in academic or conversational spoken English. These appointments should be scheduled with ELC staff.
Vanderbilt Students who are applying to the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Programs may schedule appointments with ELC staff for coaching on any phase of their applications. These appointments should supplement rather than replace advising provided by the VU Career Center.
Students enrolled in the ELC's self-paced resources—Academic Communication for Post-Docs, Academic Communication for Scholarship Fellows, EBP (English for Business Purposes), and TEFL Intro (Teaching English as a Foreign Language Introduction)—may schedule an appointment with an ELC staff member to discuss resource content.