The who, what, why, where and
when of studying in Australia
We asked five people working in ELT in Australia to tell us more about working and studying in the country. Kathy Coutts is the director of studies at CELUSA (Centre for English Language in the University of South Australia); Svetlana Hurford is the director of studies at Regent Australia in Port Douglas, Queensland; Rick Jones is the business development manager for ISPC (International Student Placement Centre) in Sydney; Darren McGuire is the assistant marketing manager at Hawthorn in Melbourne; and Charlotte Sandeman is the marketing officer at CET (Centre for English Teaching) at the University of Sydney.
Who goes to Australia to study English?
Svetlana: It's a mix of individual adults, professional people,
university students and families with kids.
Charlotte: Due to Australia's geographical location there are
a lot of students from Asia - especially Japan, South Korea, Thailand,
China and Taiwan - but Australia also receives European, Latin American
and Middle Eastern students.
Kathy: Based on 2005 English Australia statistics, there were
101,087 students. Of these, 79 per cent came from Asia, 13 per cent
from Europe, 6 per cent from the Americas and 2 per cent from the Middle
East. The top nationalities are Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Indonesian,
Thai, Taiwanese and Brazilian.
What courses are on offer?
Charlotte:
General English, academic English, Cambridge Examination preparation,
IELTS and TOEFL preparation, intensive academic writing.
Kathy: There is a considerable range of courses on offer depending
on the state and the institution. Queensland English language centres
offer English for surfing and scuba diving! The most popular courses
are those related to general English and English for academic purposes.
Many university English language centres offer direct entry courses
which remove the need for students to undertake an IELTS test prior
to entering university.
Rick: Schools now offer a range of courses for international
students. Students are able to choose between full time and part time
English courses. Part time courses allow students to undertake part-time
jobs or participate in internships. Students can choose other specific
courses including hospitality and design.
Svetlana: At Regent Australia in Port Douglas, Queensland, we
offer Intensive General English, Exam preparation (IELTS and Cambridge)
and Business English courses, as well as group Study tours for teenagers.
Why choose Australia?
Rick: Australia is fast becoming an attractive destination
due to its climate and beaches. No longer is Australia seen as too far
away, and it now provides a popular alternative to destinations in Europe
and the United States.
Darren: Australia is such a big place. You can be skiing and
snowboarding in one part of Australia or relaxing at the beach in another
part at the same time of year. It's different and a very multicultural
place. People in Australia are very easy-going, and it is a very safe
place to study.
Kathy: The lower cost in comparison to other English-speaking
countries, lifestyle and climate are cited as reasons for studying here.
Student visa holders can work up to 20 hours per week, and there is
opportunity to combine study and travel and to stay with an Australian
family.
Charlotte: It's got a great climate, beautiful and diverse ecology,
friendly locals, culturally diverse cities, the unique outback, wonderful
food and high-quality teaching, and it's a memorable experience that's
different from the norm.
Svetlana:
I couldn't agree more. We recently took a group of our students rock
climbing near Cooktown to see Aboriginal rock paintings that are 15,000
to 18,000 years old. Can you imagine the thrill our students from Europe
experienced when they reached the top of the range with its stunning
views and a whole gallery of ancient Aboriginal pictures, each one telling
a Dreamtime story? Then we went to Cooktown and from Grassy Hill looked
down on one of the most spectacular natural harbours in Australia (more
dramatic than Sydney Harbour, in my opinion). The empowering feeling
is hard to describe.
Where do most people tend to study English?
Rick: Sydney is the most popular destination, as this is the
most well-known city, famous for attractions such as Bondi Beach and
the Sydney Opera House. Other cities such as Melbourne and Brisbane
are fast becoming popular alternatives to Sydney.
Svetlana: Most students go to the big cities, but the trend is
changing. The safety record and quality of life in smaller places is
much superior to that of urban areas. Also, host family accommodation
is better quality and close at hand - there are no transport costs.
Darren: I think it depends on the type of place you like to live
in, but Melbourne is certainly the most multicultural city in Australia.
It also has lots of festivals, great food and shopping.
When is the best time to go?
Kathy: Our centre's busiest time is from October through to
February, which is getting into the Northern Hemisphere's winter months,
but due to our generally mild winters and the great geographical and
climatic variance, there generally no preferred time.
Rick: I think between November and March is the best time to
go to Australia, as people can take advantage of the summer climate.
Darren: Yes, summer is especially a great time. The weather's
hot, and people in Melbourne love to eat at outdoor restaurants and
cafes, so there's a really good feeling in the city. And if you want
to go for a swim after dinner, then the beaches are only 10 minutes
away.
Charlotte: Winters, in Sydney especially, are pleasant with blue
skies. Queensland can be humid with hot and wet summers and cooler and
wet winters. Melbourne is famous for having four seasons in one day.