Learning through community service : assisting others, learning themselves

The incorporation of service learning into the tertiary sector is not as easily implemented given the administrative and teaching culture of universities. This paper will present some initial findings in relation to the development of an academic literacy service learning strand within a larger service learning unit. University of Western Sydney 2nd and 3rd year students were involved as mentors working with 1st year, NESB (Non-English speaking background) student mentees, who had difficulty with academic literacy in their first semester of study.