Where to go for help with course work and assignments

Do you know who you should go to for help when you have questions or concerns about course content and assignments?  

Unfortunately, waiting until the night before an assignment is due is usually too late to get useful help.

If you are struggling with any aspect of your course work, assignments or study, seek help sooner rather than later.  If you ask for help early on, there will a range of people and resources that may be availalbe to support with your study.  

The following flowchart shows you who you can go to for help.  Also see the links in the notes* below to find out what Subject Librarians and Student Learning Services Advisors do and how they can help you with your learning.

Flowchart: Where to go for help with assignment questions and problems

*Note: a Subject Librarian is a specialist librarian who can help you with information searching in your subject/displine of study.

 Visit the Libraries and Learning Servcies page for Subject Librarians in the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences to find out who you can contact for help with Health Sciences-related information searching questions.

 Visit the Libraries and Learning Servcies page for Subject Librarians in the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences to find out who you can contact for help with Nursing-related information searching questions.

**Note: A Student Learning Services Advisor is a support person in the university who can help you with your study goals, skills and development.  They can assist you to develop your academic writing, reading, presenting and study skills capabilities.  

For Māori and Pacific students, there are specialist Student Learning Advisors at Te Fale Pouāwhina (TFP) who can support you in your learning.

Self-talk that Interferes with Studying

The following "Self talk checklist" developed by Texas A&M University is a useful way to begin to think about areas where we can sometimes hold ourselves back - like the internal 'voice' that we speak to ourself (sometimes without realising it).  It can be helpful to check the list below each day to see how many negative self statements we might be using.  

Then, we try to elimate as many as we can from the list below. 

Self-talk checklist

1. I don't feel like studying.

2. This material is too difficult / hard.

3. I'll never need to know this.

4. I don't need to study now ....... I can do it later.

5. This is too much material to cover ... I won't have time to finish anyway.

6. It doesn't really make any difference whether I study or not.

7. I don't like the professor/teacher.

8. I can't concentrate ... ... People distract me.

9. I can't study and do things I want to ... I have other things I need to do now.

The excerpted information above is from Texas A&M University.

In the 2 minute video below Gemma - a current postgraduate student in the School of Population Health - shares her thoughts on how she felt when she began her transition to postgraduate study.

Did you know some of your greatest study help could come from your faculty Librarians?

If you have any worires about completing course work or assignments, make time to visit with a Librarian in the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences.  Librarians can support you with questions relating to academic and information literacy - that means how to do things like:

• searching the library database for relevant readings for assignments or
• how to complete academic referencing for the sources of information you find or
• how to develop a well structured written report with paraphrasing of readings and sources of information.

"Ask a Librarian" Online If you are not able to physically get to campus to meet with a Librarian, you may be able to ask your question online with the "Ask a Librarian" site on the Libraries and Learning Services homepage.   You may also be able to arrange a time to discuss your question or problem with a librarian over the phone.

There are key people here in the Libraries and Learning Services team who specialise in helping students and staff with information searching.

Librarians at the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences
	Lorraine Nielsen Subject Librarian, Philson Library (Nursing/Medical and Health Sciences) Phone +64 9 373 7599 ext. 86158  Email lm.nielsen@auckland.ac.nz
	Danielle Moreau Subject Librarian, MAPAS - Subject Librarian for Māori and Pacific Health, Tāmaki Library, (Medical and Health Sciences) Phone +64 9 373 7599 ext. 85258 Email dc.moreau@auckland.ac.nz
Librarians in the University of Auckland
	Anahera Morehu Library Manager, Arts, Māori and Pacific  Phone +64 9 373 7599 ext. 82881 Email a.morehu@auckland.ac.nz
	Judy McFall McCaffery Pasifika Liaison Librarian Phone +64 9 373 7599 ext. 83165  Email j.mcfall@auckland.ac.nz

Get to know your way around the online website and physical spaces in the University of Auckland

You may find it helpful to keep this list on hand for the future when you begin your study.

The following links may be more helpful to you once you have begun your first semester of study with the University of Auckland.

	University of Auckland A-Z Directory For finding information/places/people across the University, go to the A-Z directory.
	Ask Auckland For a database of answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) by University of Auckland students, visit Ask Auckland. Current students AskAuckland Future students AskAuckland
	Finding your way to classes To find your way around campuses in Grafton, Tāmaki and other locations, visit the university's Campuses and Transport page.  Here you can learn how to find the location of your classes as well as learn about free shuttle bus services between campuses and parking.
	Getting around the different campuses Download a copy of the different campus maps to locate where you are going in Grafton, Tāmaki, City campuses and beyond!

Get English language support through the ELE Team

If English is not a strong first language for you it may be really important to talk with an English Language Advisor early on in your study.  They work in the area of the University called the English Language Enrichment Team.  You may wish to first speak with an advisor from Te Fale Pouāwhina who can support you with identifying any English development needs you may have.

The ELE Team will be able to help you decide if you would benefit from one-on-one English Language Support.

ELE Team Contact details
	Phone an English Language Advisor +64 9 373 7599 Ext. 82134
	Email an English Language Advisor ele.sls@auckland.ac.nz Website: http://www.library.auckland.ac.nz/ele
	Visit the ELE Team in Auckland: Check the opening hours of the ELE centre. The "ELE" team is located in the University of Auckland's city campus, near Alfred and Symonds Streets in the Kate Edgar Information Commons Building on Level 1.   Visit ELE on level 1 of the Kate Edger Information Commons building (opposite The University Bookshop).   2 Alfred Street, Level 1, Information Commons Building, Room 101

English Language Proficiency Test - DELNA

You will need to complete the University of Auckland's DELNA test - this is an English language online test that all students in the University of Auckland must complete before they can graduate.  It is much better to do this test at the start of your programme.  Then you can get help with your English for free if you need it.

Ten useful expressions in English to use when asking for help in speaking or writing

The International House Bristol has a created a useful list of phrases you can use when you want to ask for help in writing or when speaking, if English is not your first language.

You may also find it helpful to visit the International House Bristol website to see other sections for English for second/other speakers - you may find some of these sections assist you in your academic reading, writing and speaking.