Book a virtual consultation for help with writing or study strategies

Virtual consultations are available to all currently enrolled SFU students. Students can book Virtual Consultations in the same way as previous in-person consultations, using WCOnline. Virtual Consultations are booked and hosted through WCO. 

Get free, fast, and friendly feedback from WriteAway

Undergraduate students can submit their writing assignments to Write Away for free, fast, and friendly feedback. Qualified tutors from 17 post-secondary institutions in BC and Alberta will review student submissions and provide suggestions on how students can improve their writing skills.   

Attend an online workshop

SLC workshop webinars are available virtually to all currently enrolled SFU students. Check out our Summer 2020 Workshop Guide to see available workshops this semester!

 When participants consent, we are recording the webinars for later viewing, and are posting them on our Webinar Recordings page as they become available.

Get a handout, view a video, and see more online resources

We offer a wide range of electronic resources  (handouts, videos, etc.) on many aspects of writing, English language learning, and learning strategies. From our homepage, you can browse resources for Writing, Learning and Studying, or English as an Additional Language.    Resources of particular interest during this time include: 

• Success Strategies for Online Courses 
• Time and Self Management  (including resources on concentration, focus, and motivation) 
• Exam preparation 

The SLC Media Collection includes a number of short (2-15 minutes) videos that students can watch or instructors can show in their "live" classes or post on Canvas.

Join an online group

Plurilingual Café (English conversation support)

Plurilingual Café  is a weekly workshop facilitated by volunteer peer educators on Zoom. The goals are to recognize and celebrate the rich plurality of EAL students' everyday language practices and interactions. Tasks are designed to support student learning by fostering intercultural awareness among the participants, offering opportunities to learn more about each other’s languages and cultures, and by creating spaces for the use of languages other than English as tools for learning.

VOW(e)L: the Virtual Writing Group (for everyone)

VOWƏL is the Virtual Open Writing Lab (for everyone)!

Each Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (GMT-07:00 / Pacific Daylight Time) you are invited to log into our Zoom writing room. Attendance is on a drop in basis - you do not have to attend every week or stay for the full three hours. 

The current VOWƏL session will run from May 17-August 28th. To get started, email us at vowel.writers@gmail.com or learning-commons@sfu.ca to get the Zoom meeting ID.  

  For more information, check out VOWƏL Open Writing Lab (for everyone).

Write OUT! with Out On Campus 

For two hours every Monday (11:30-1:30), the Student Learning Commons joins Out on Campus on Discord for WriteOUT! -- collaborative writing event. 

Each session begins with a short writing activity to get our creativity flowing, and continues with time to write quietly together. In the second half of the session, people are encouraged to share anything their working on that they’d like help or feedback on.

Upcoming sessions will focus on:

• Time Management (June 8^th)
• Writing Logically and Cohesively (June 15^th)
• Offering and Receiving Feedback (June 22^nd)
• Writing for Different Audiences (June 29^th)
• Making your Writing Interesting (July 6^th)
• Writing in English as an Additional Language (July 13^th)
• Respecting Writing in Different Disciplines (July 20^th)
• Descriptive and Creative Writing (July 26^th)

Hear the latest from SLC staff and students

The Student Learning Commons also publishes a blog, with timely and informal information for students and instructors. 

FIC Instructors and Students 

Learn about the SLC's remote supports for FIC instructors and students here.