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. Stanford offers many resources to help improve your communication skills. Others may be available within your particular department or program.

Could you use some practical help with writen and oral communication skills?
Think about:

• writing your dissertation or other research papers
• presenting your ideas to your advisor or to other faculty and students
• preparing a draft of a research proposal
• going onto the job market
• etc. etc,

Stanford Programs

The following offices can provide resources to develop written and verbal communication skills:

• Center for Teaching and Learning
  This Stanford office was established to support the effective communication of knowledge and the love of learning, particularly for graduate students in their roles as apprentice scholar/teachers. See in particular:
  
  • Oral Communications Program Resources for Graduate Students
  • CTL courses
  • location and contact information
• Hume Writing Center
  A resource for Stanford writers at all levels, this Center provides extensive support for graduate students writing theses, dissertations, conference papers, job talks, articles for publication, research and fellowship applications, and more. See, in particular:
  • workshops for graduate students
  • Dissertation Bootcamp
  • individual consultation
  • location and contact information
• Technical Communications Program (School of Engineering)
  This 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. See, in particular:
  • courses (open to non-Engineering students)
  • individual consultation
  • 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).
  
  

Dissertation Writing Support

Dissertation Writing Groups can help to provide a supportive environment for the exchange of critical feedback. These support groups 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 Writing Center maintains a google group of students who are interested in finding Dissertation Writing Group members. Contact the Writing Center to find out more.
  
  

More workshops

• 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.
• Intellectual Leadership Workshops
  Two-session workshops, offered in the Fall of 2009-10, help students in the humanities and social sciences develop and communicate a clear, long-term research agenda.