Assistants for Communication in English (ACE) (Formerly known as ERIC)

NEW!! Conference Presentation Rehearsal Support

Are you preparing for a conference presentation and wondering how to make your content clearer or present with more confidence? Starting in the 2024 A2 term, we’re excited to expand our services beyond writing consultations to include Conference Presentation Rehearsal Support. This new service provides feedback on your slides and posters, along with practice sessions to refine your oral presentation skills. We’ll help you improve your timing, structure, and delivery, while also offering language support such as pronunciation corrections for key terms. Additionally, we’ll help you prepare for Q&A sessions so you can handle audience questions with confidence.

What is ACE?

ACE stands for Assistants for Communication in English. Our tutors are trained international students at the University of Tokyo who are skilled English communicators (see tutor introductions below). They provide feedback on research papers and career-related materials (e.g., resumes, statements of purpose) as part of our Writing Support service. They also assist with improving presentation skills through the Conference Presentation Rehearsal Support service.

We offer two types of consultations:
　1. Booked Consultations: Schedule a session in advance and submit your materials beforehand.
　2. Walk-in Consultations: Drop by without an appointment and get advice on your writing (available for writing support only).

Consultations are available in-person or via Zoom, depending on your preference. All consultations are conducted in English.

Important Notes:

• ACE is available to all University of Tokyo members.
• Each document or presentation can receive up to two 45-minute consultations.
• Please note that ACE is not a proofreading service. Our goal is to help you grow as a writer or presenter. If you need proofreading, please explore other services or tools designed specifically for that purpose.

Consultation Schedule and Venue:

Writing Support:

• Every Tuesday, 16:00-16:45@Library Plaza (1st Floor of the General Library) or Zoom
• Every Thursday, 16:00-16:45@Basement Floor of Engineering Bldg. #11（i.e., HASEKO-KUMA HALL）or Zoom

Conference Presentation Rehearsal Support:

• Tuesdays & Thursdays, 16:00–16:45 @ Room 324, Engineering Bldg. #8

*Check the booking page for holiday schedules.
*If you have scheduling conflicts, contact us at eric.seut[at mark]gmail.com, and we’ll do our best to accommodate.
*Please note that Walk-in Consultations will not be available on days when Booked Consultations are scheduled. Check the calendar in advance.

How to Book a Consultation

STEP 1: Reserve a session online.

STEP 2: Submit your materials via Google Form.

Please send the document you want ACE to check via a Google Form at least 48 hours before your consultation. Upon booking, you will receive the URL to the Google Form.

* If you do not send the document by the specified time, the consultation will be canceled.
* Please send the document in a Word file. Feedback will be provided using the comment function. If you wrote the document in LaTeX, send a PDF or the relevant text in a Word file.

STEP 3: Attend your consultation.

Your session will follow this general format:

～Consultation Flow～
1. Self-introduction
2. Needs analysis
3. Consultation
4. Feedback survey

Face-to-face Consultation＠Library Plaza

Online Consultation＠Zoom

Walk-in Consultations (For Face-to-Face Writing Support Only)

Walk-in Consultations don’t require an appointment. Just bring your document to the venue, and an ACE tutor will assist you. However, on days when Booked Consultation sessions are scheduled, tutors may not be available to assist you. Be sure to check the calendar before visiting.

Tips for a Productive Consultation

• Consultations are a chance to address challenges and grow as a writer or presenter. Please share the specific areas you’d like help with.
• Prepare questions in advance so you can make the most of your session.
• If something isn’t clear, don’t hesitate to ask for clarification. This is an excellent opportunity to practice international communication skills.

ACE Tutors

Mohamed (M2)

Department: Mechanical Engineering

Research Interest: Green Hydrogen Energy Systems

Message to you: Academic writing is a powerful vehicle, able to transform your groundbreaking ideas from local insights into global inspirations. The road may seem riddled with the hurdles of language and structure, but these are actually opportunities for growth and refinement. Remember, you're not alone on this journey. We're here to assist you in honing your words and illuminating your thoughts, enabling you to reach a wider audience with confidence and clarity.

Umer (D3)

Department: Civil Engineering

Research Interest: Water Resources, Hydrological Modeling

Message to you: Transforming research into compelling articles is a vital skill. It requires capturing the readers' attention, ensuring brevity, and enhancing readability—skills that are essential in the academic realm. We look forward to enhancing your academic writing prowess. Together, let's ensure your ideas shine brightly, making a lasting impression on the global stage. Let the journey towards impactful and compelling academic communication begin!

Anubhav (D1)

Department: Mathematical Informatics

Research Interest: Affective Computing; Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience

Message to you: Communication stands as a vital skill for researchers, and writing serves as a powerful tool to disseminate the implications of your hard-earned results. It's disheartening if your manuscript faces rejection or doesn't garner the recognition it deserves due to minor errors. Let's collaborate to ensure your writing shines brightly and receives the acclaim it merits. Whether it's polishing grammar, refining clarity, or enhancing overall coherence, together, we can fortify your manuscript and propel you towards becoming an even more proficient communicator for future endeavours.

Surya Narayanan (D3)

Department: Graduate School of IST

Research Interest: Deep Learning and EvoComp Algorithms, Neurocomputation, Artificial Life

Message to you: The goal of science is to make the unintelligible, intelligible." - Richard Feynman. In the words of Richard Feynman, the importance of scientific writing is in the art of clear and concise writing. You've taken the first step by putting your ideas into words. Now, let's refine your writing to make it clear, concise, and accessible to a broad audience. Effective academic writing, particularly in scientific fields, is about presenting complex concepts in a logical and coherent manner. Let's work together to clarify your message, simplify technical jargon, and present your research in a way that inspires meaningful discussions and breakthroughs. Our goal is to make your writing shine, so your research can reach its full potential and contribute to the advancement of knowledge in your field.

Ernest (D1)

Department: Chemical System Engineering

Research Interest: Electrochemical Promotion of Catalysis; Dynamic Surfaces

Message to you: I believe that every academic writer has a unique voice, and my goal is to help you find and develop your voice while strengthening your grammar, logical structure, word choice, and style. I aim to make the process engaging and to provide personalized feedback that will help your growth in academic writing. I’m looking forward to working with you and being a part of your writing journey; whether you’re working on research papers or conference presentations, please don’t hesitate to schedule a session!

Terms and Conditions

• ACE has the right to cancel clients’ consultations when observing clients’ inappropriate behaviors and misuse of service (e.g., canceling consultations multiple times without informing us, not sending the document in time, seeking a proofreading service, occupying multiple consultation slots).
• ACE tutors may not be familiar with your field of research. If you want to receive feedback on the content of the document or if you do not want to discuss anything related to the content of the document with non-experts, please seek help from your supervisors and/or lab members.

Contact Us

eric.seut[at]gmail.com (please change [at] to @)