February 18, 2003

It's not all barbecues, beer and books

Students take some time out to enjoy a coffee under the trees at the University of Canberra. — PHOTOS COURTESY OF UNIVERSITY OF CANBERRA

An Aussie talks about studying in Australia

Story by Alyssa Braithwaite (alyssab@email.com)

Editor's Note: Alyssa Braithwaite, a third year journalism student at the University of Canberra, is spending a month with the Bangkok Post as a trainee.

The smell of old books and the sound of keys tapping away on keyboards are some of the usual sensory associations with university study. But how about adding to that the scent of gum leaves and the sound of kookaburras laughing? You would find all of these at an Australian university.

Alyssa Braithwaite is spending her month-long internship working here at the Bangkok Post.— PANITI BOONMA

Australia is a popular destination for Thai students wanting to study at an overseas university. Handbooks and web sites can provide prospective students with the practical information they need for such a venture like how to apply, but what will living and studying in Australia really be like? Just ask an Aussie.

As an Australian student, I have first hand experience of living and studying in Australia. It's not all kangaroos, cricket and barbecues as is commonly believed. Though there is a bit of that as well.

Educational styles

Thai students may discover that Australian universities operate differently to universities in Thailand. In Australia, students are encouraged to take an active role in the learning process.

Australian universities place great importance on developing the ability to think creatively and independently, read widely and critically, participate in debates and function in a team.

Students are encouraged to collect and analyse data independently, raise questions and develop an argument in a logical form. This means directing your own education, rather than passively listening and learning.

Worapong Poomborplub, who is studying Tourism and Hospitality Management at Southern Cross University, discovered different approaches to learning in Thai and Australian universities.

"In Thailand the teacher gives the knowledge to the student. At my Australian university the teacher gives you ideas and you have to research by yourself."

As a student I think this is an exciting way to study, although it does require you to be disciplined. It provides the flexibility to get what you want from the course and direct your focus to areas of particular interest. One of the aims of this system is to prepare students for life in the workplace where there isn't a Big Brother figure pushing you each step of the way.

I think the flexibility is one of the strengths of this style of learning. As a journalism student, it means I can focus on writing about the type of issues I am interested in. I'm interested in social, cultural and environmental issues, while my friend loves writing about the cut-throat dealings of the business world. This style caters for both of us.

The independence of this style also necessitates that students take responsibility for their own learning. There is no one there to ensure that assignments are completed and you are up to date with your course reading. This is where the discipline comes in. I know some students who have fallen behind or failed a subject because no one is monitoring their progress and they have become lazy.

Just as the Australian university system is quite flexible, it can also be informal. This informality is particularly obvious in tutorials. Tutorials are classes of five to twenty students led by a teacher. They are often open forums for students to explore ideas, raise questions and discuss problems from the lectures, with teachers there to provide guidance only.

In a typical tutorial I participate in a discussion with my peers about one of the points raised in the lecture. As everyone contributes their own opinion we learn from each other. The teacher may answer any questions or steer the discussion in a different direction.

Participation in tutorials is seen as an integral part of the learning process at Australian universities. Many courses allocate tutorial participation a percentage of the overall course mark.

In addition to the tutorial participation mark, assessment is continual in the form of essays, reports and presentations and/or examinations. Law students often have all their assessment in the form of a final exam, whereas in journalism the emphasis is on writing a number of articles throughout the semester.

Social life, clubs and societies

Football is a popular sport with both men and women at Australian universities.

Australian universities generally try to provide a balance between study and leisure activities. Universities organise social events like comedy nights, live music, trivia nights, and sporting events.

Most students enjoy the blend of education and entertainment to provide relief from the pressure of their studies.

At the university I go to every Wednesday is market day. There are no classes between 12:30-1:30pm and market stalls are set up along the main walkway. There is also often a live band playing during this time. It is a chance to relax and socialise with other students.

The cultural clich? of Australian life being full of barbecues, beer and beaches isn't undeserved. While not all university campuses are near the sea, you can be sure to experience an Aussie barbecue and be offered an Australian beer.

The student bar at my university runs 'Beer O'clock' each Wednesday afternoon during which time beer is half price.

During the end of semester exam period, the student union at university sets up a free barbecue outside the examination hall so that students can enjoy some steak and sausages as they leave.

There is nothing like coming out of a stressful exam to the smell of a good Australian barbecue, and the chance to chew on a steak while discussing how you did. But you don't have to wait until the end of semester. On any given week there is likely to be a barbecue taking place somewhere on campus.

In addition to being a place to study, university is a chance to gain some life experience. At no other time in your life will you have the opportunity to socialise with such an eclectic mix of people and learn about other ways of life. In 2001, over 120,000 international students from more than 100 countries studied higher education courses in Australia, making Australian universities very multicultural environments.

As a result, clubs and societies representing countless nationalities, religions, sporting activities and interests have formed to cope with demand. If by chance your particular interest or background isn't already represented by a club or society, you can start your own.

I am a member of the Press Club at my university, which is a club for journalism students. They organise an annual ball for members, along with other activities throughout the year.

Australia provides ample opportunity for outdoor activity like bush walking.

Outside of university, there are plenty of opportunities to take advantage of country's great weather and active outdoors lifestyle. There are many natural wonders to enjoy no matter which university you attend. Each area has much to offer in terms of outdoor experiences such as hiking, bushwalking, surfing, skiing and swimming.

Australians love sports and the international visitor will also have many opportunities to participate in organised sports or impromptu backyard games. It doesn't matter if you are a professional sportsperson or supremely uncoordinated like me, universities cater for all levels of skill.

Language

One of the major hurdles faced by Thai students studying at university in Australia is coping with the language differences. Despite passing English tests before arriving, many students find that in the classroom situation they struggle with the language.

Sansak Nakavisut, who studied at the University of Western Australia, found he had difficulty understanding the English subject matter at first.

"I totally lost my confidence even though I already passed the English test. Real life English is different from the test. You must experience it to learn it, but you do get better with time."

A good way to become familiar with real-life English is to undertake an English-language course once you arrive in Australia. Australia is a popular destination for such courses, with around 36,800 or 24 percent of all overseas students in Australia undertaking English language courses in the year 2000.

Upon completion of an English language course, students can sit for one of the major internationally recognised tests including the Cambridge test, Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). According to the Australian Education Centre, Australian institutions prefer the IELTS test which is also a requirement for many student visas.

Like Sansak, Worapong also found understanding English difficult when she first arrived in Australia. However, she found living in an English-speaking country made learning the language easier.

She says that although you can study English in Thailand, you are still surrounded by Thai people, so you continue to speak Thai. Living in an English-speaking country, you learn much more effectively because you are forced to speak the language and you hear it every day.

"I have to study hard. But talking with the native-language people has made a big difference. I am learning English more easily now."

While you may find that it takes time to become comfortable with the language, most Australians are happy to help someone who is having difficulty. Like many Australians I have travelled in countries where I can't speak the language very well and I understand the difficulties this can cause.

Living arrangements

The accommodation you choose can make a difference to your Australian experience. Many international students opt to stay at the university residences or "ressies". Here you will find yourself in contact with students from all around the country and the rest of the world, and will likely make a large circle of friends.

University residences are very popular with international students and students from out of town. According to Peter Fyfe, Director of University Residences at the University of Canberra, 40 per cent of the students living at the residences are international students.

Another option is homestay. Homestay gives students the chance to live with an Australian family in their house, offering an opportunity to experience Australian culture and lifestyle first hand. Meals are usually included, though self-catering homestay is sometimes available cheaply.

Universities maintain a register of families prepared to board international students during the academic year. Strict measures are taken to ensure that Homestay families are reputable and the accommodation is of a reasonable standard.

While Homestay can give you an insight into the Australian way of life, some students find it restrictive living with another family's rules.

You could also choose to live in a share house with other students. University notice boards are papered with notices advertising share house vacancies. That's how I found my current accommodation, and met some of my closest friends. Living with other students is great because we help each other with assignments and study.

More than meat

Australian food has come a long way since the 1950's staple meal of meat and three vegetables. Australia has one of the most progressive and cosmopolitan cuisines in the world. As a continent populated by migrants from all over the globe, their influences can be found in Australian cooking.

Such influences are also evident in the myriad restaurants found around the cities. In one suburban shopping centre you are likely to find Turkish, Italian, Vietnamese, Indian, Malay and Korean restaurants alongside one another.

Thai students who desire a bit of home-style cooking will find an impressive selection of Thai restaurants in just about any Australian city.

What the Thai visitor will find different from Bangkok is the lack of readily available cheap food 24 hours per day. While many cities have markets which offer a variety of inexpensive food, they usually run once a week only.

Sansak says what is sadly missing from the Australian streetscape is the type of food stalls which line Bangkok streets.

"We don't have to cook in Bangkok. We can buy food from anywhere and at any time. I miss that when I'm in Australia."

In general, it is cheaper in Australia to buy the raw ingredients and cook your own food than it is to eat out. Between the supermarket and the numerous Asian grocers dotted around the place, international students should have no problem finding the ingredients necessary to cook the dishes they eat at home. That is what Worapong did. "By buying the ingredients I was able to cook the Thai food I was used to, so I didn't miss it", she said.

"Also, I was shocked when my homestay family kept a lot of food in the freezer, even when it was already past the use-by date. That prompted me to start cooking my own food as well."

Despite the difficulties he encountered, Sansak believes the experience of studying in Australia was definitely worth it.

"I would advise any Thai student thinking of studying in Australia to do it. It's challenging, but there's nothing to be scared of."

From the perspective of an Australian student, I think it's a great opportunity for Thai and Australian students. As you learn about Australia, we would learn about Thai culture through you. We would love to have you.

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