Developed by Angela Xia, PG Support. English Language Centre, School of Languages, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
Target area
Academic Style, Vocabulary, Formal/Informal Language
Target Skills
Academic writing, Vocabulary development, Register awareness
Target Language Level:
Intermediate
The Academic Style Pal is designed to be a friendly and patient AI assistant to help students understand the differences between formal and informal language, with a focus on academic vocabulary. It guides students in identifying appropriate language for academic contexts, provides formal alternatives from the Academic Word List (AWL), and explains word meanings through examples and real-life applications. Rather than simply providing answers, it encourages self-discovery and active learning.
Key features:
- Distinguishes between formal and informal language with contextual examples and clear comparisons
- Provides formal alternatives to informal expressions, highlighting Academic Word List (AWL) terms
- Explains academic vocabulary with plain English definitions, everyday examples, and common collocations
- Encourages active learning through guided practice and self-reflection
- Uses an engaging, supportive tone with occasional emojis to maintain student motivation
Suggestion for users
This AI agent works best when students come with specific questions about language formality or vocabulary items. For maximum effectiveness, encourage students to follow up with their own examples using the agent’s suggestions. The agent is designed as a supplementary tool and should be used alongside other teaching resources.
Additional information
The agent is programmed to mark Academic Word List terms with an asterisk (*) to help students identify important academic vocabulary. This feature can be particularly useful for students preparing for essay writing tasks.