Thank you for sharing your perspective, Lynn. That one score on a proficiency test can indeed mean many different things in terms of language skills. As you say developing learner autonomy when studying abroad is a whole new area that language tests do not prepare you for.

Hi Jung Ung, I’m also an international student and I have a lot of sympathy with you. Although I prepared myself mentally that I may not listen and understand completely what other Australian or international friends saying in Australia, I was also really shock. It’s getting better now and I believe that the more we immerse to English, the more we can understand. I think the problem can be from the content of IELTS tests which are different from the real life. For example, in IELTS speaking, we try to cover as many as possible the criteria to get the high score, we try to use some complicated words or idioms which are barely used in Australia. In listening skills, even though we have many content relating to academia life, however, I haven’t listen to any content about intercultural communication which are really dynamic. I think the preparation about communication in multicultural country as Australia is important for international students.

I cannot agree more with Hao’s comment. Immigrants who moved from various countries, especially countries where the language spoken is not in the same language group as English or where English is not an official language can have their speaking ability vary drastically depending on what influence they have once they move to another country. I’ve noticed that a lot of Korean students only spend time with other Korean students because they are a bit intimidated by the locals or fellow students and tend to be more reserved. This results in their English ability not getting any better, despite studying abroad for several years. It is interesting how the kind of life within a country also determines speaking ability.

Wow – 5 buddies for one person?! That’s VIP very 🙂

Thanks, Hao! Different ways of learning set us up on different learning paths … like you, I think that the kind of tested English studied for IELTS can actually impede successful communication because of its excessive focus on accuracy …

Thanks, Sha! As someone who came in with an MoI Certificate, do you experience any difficulties with English or would you say your English was a good match for the English required to do well at uni in Australia?

Thanks, Brownie! Terms of address are always tricky in intercultural communication and there is no right or wrong … I usually state in the first session how I like to be addressed (either, “Ingrid” or “Professor Piller”) but this semester fewer people than usual seem to have been paying attention because I’ve been addressed by students as “Sir” (why???), “Ma’am”, and “Piller” – along with the usual “Dr Ingrid” (which I don’t mind although it sounds like I’m the agony aunt … which I often am 😉 and “Mrs Piller” (which is the only one I find truly objectionable, because it’s low on solidarity (the kind of politeness involved in using first names) and low on respect (the kind of politeness involved in using titles like “Dr” or “Professor”).
Conversely, I’m struggling with how to address international students who have one name in the system but then introduce themselves to me with a completely different English name. I know it’s intended to simplify things for me but it actually makes it more difficult to remember any name because I’ll be struggling for the longest time to figure out what the connection between a physical student in class to an online name in the system is … another challenge with Vietnamese names in particular is to figure out what the first name is (everything before the surname? Just the last element before the surname? the 2 elements before the surname?)
It’s complicated but also part of the fun of intercultural communication 🙂

Hi Lynn, I completely agree with you. “IELTS fever” has never stopped being hot in Vietnam when with an IELTS of 4.5 – 5, you are exempted from taking the English subject at the national high school graduation exam, even though there is nothing we can do with an IELTS score of 4.5.

I consider myself fortunate because I am from the Philippines, where all I need to do is submit a Medium of Instruction Certificate. This means I don’t have to pass the IELTS test to apply as an international student.

Thank you, Ingrid, for bringing the point up. I totally agree. In my opinion, the success of language learning depends greatly on the learners themselves (their autonomy and motivation).

Good point, Lynn, about language learning being a journey … all those advertising and marketing discourses that promise shortcuts and quick fixes for language learners can never live up to their promises.

Thank you, Alex. I would be interested to hear how you tackle language development in the discipline of law.