Dr Xiangping Du is an Academic Skills Tutor at the University of Hertfordshire, UK, supporting students in a wide range of academic skills areas. She studied in both a Chinese and English higher education environment, and understands the different academic expectations from her own experience both as a student and as a Tutor. Her research in investigating Chinese students’ perception of motivation towards, and identification with, the English language, enhanced her understanding of the academic challenges Chinese students face when they come to study in an English context.