The reason for pursuing the third topic was to illuminate Course Directors’ views on the NNES
academic and linguistic progress and to explore the practical means at a teacher’s disposal to
encourage learning in the international postgraduate classroom. An example of the latter is the
extensive use of group projects in Cranfield MSc programmes where problems arising in classes
with multilingual students may become evident. How teachers manage, moderate and overcome the
problems arising might help to illuminate some issues in the literature about cultural difference and
second language acquisition.