Studying internationally is an incredibly opportunity to experience and learn to understand another culture external from your own. As a uni student from Sydney Australia, studying at the University of Wollongong the opportunity to study in another country is readily accessible. Although I can’t say I’m fortunate to have experienced student exchange myself, the notion of internationl studying is something that cannot be escaped. Whether friends of mine have left Australia to study overseas or international students pursue a semester of exchange at UOW, it’s incredibly pervasive and seems to be an unsung integral part of uni. inhabiting a new culture is a daunting task and often requires conjuring immense amounts of independence. After returning home from a 6 month cultural eyeopening experience at the University of North Carolina, students are worldly seasoned enough to warrant an update of their Instagram bio from ‘Jake|22|Sydney|Snap: jakeyboy’ to ‘wanderlust’.
However, what if you spend your entire degree, from start to finish, in a foreign country? Not to diminish the length of time that 6 months is away from home, however entire degrees would be considerably intense to pursue considering a minimum completion of a degree is 3 years and those years are some of your most formative of your life. However starting university is a blank slate for everyone is a platform for forming social connections. However what if this foreign country that you’re studying within, also speaks a language that is foreign to your own? This experience is one that is not foreign to many international students studying in Australia. In 2015, over 600,000 international students were enrolled in education programs in Australia. Nearly 300,000 of these international students were enrolled in the higher education. (Department of Education and Training 2015). It’s easy to feel ostracised in a society where vernacular is heavily embedded in their sense of identity and comradery.
The study of conducted by Peter Kell and Gillian Vlog identified that the hybridity nature of the Australian vernacular is complex and composed of multiple Englishes as well as the relationship “between international students successful negotiation of these Englishes and their well-being.” (Kell & Vlog 2006). Kell and Vlog conduce that success is not only measured through academic achievement, it is also indicative of cultural and social adjustment. There is often a tendency to view international students as a homogenous group, this perception is a product of consistent difficulties faced by them. They are inherently heterogenous, however this common ground found with uncertainty and unfamiliarity in a new environment may force this occurrence. However, it’s not necessarily the language barrier that causes this ostracisation. The prospect of international study encourages learning other languages such as English in preparation for a new country. However this alone, doesn’t cover certain cultural quirks inherent in a particular countries vernacular and students arrive “unaware of the extent to which local accents, fast speech and Australian colloquialisms are going to reduce their ability to speak and understand English in Australia” (Kell & Vlog 2006).
The main barrier between international students connecting with Australians was said to be a combination of confidence in speaking and how receptive Australian students were to meeting new people of a different culture. The same type of homogeny may exist for Australian uni students, in what is a very heterogenous society – they may be starting university for the first time as well, and naturally find comfort in familiarity and common ground. International students found creating an environment where you’re comfortably around the culture increased “proficiency in speaking and listening to English” (Kell & Vlog 2006). Acquiring Australian room mates, watching Australian films and TV shows with subtitles on as well as interacting with Australians how you can, will create a foot in the door. Alternatively, here’s the crash course.
Kell, P and Vogl, G (2007) ‘International Students: Negotiating life and study in Australia through Australian Englishes’, Everyday Multiculturalism Conference Proceedings, Macquarie University, 28-29 September 2006.
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