In this section:

The spoken language    Body language   The written language

Understanding the spoken language

When you arrive in Australia, one of your initial challenges may be with the English language. Even if you have studied English for many years in your home country, you may initially have difficulty understanding the way Australians speak and expressing yourself in English. You may feel nervous the first time you interact with English speaking people who don’t understand your native accent or language. This is a common experience for people who have not lived in an English speaking country previously. Try not to be discouraged.

As the semester progresses, you will feel more and more at ease and soon discover that you communicate quite effectively with the Australian speaker.  Here are some ideas to help you with the challenges you may experience:

Verbal communication in Australia:
People may speak too fast	Spoken English may sound very quick to you at first. Don’t worry – your ability to understand will improve just as rapidly. People won’t mind if you ask them to repeat what they have said or to speak at a slower pace.
The Australian accent	Remember that every English speaking country has its own particular accent and way of pronouncing English words. You will find the Australian pronunciation of many familiar words quite different from what you are used to. You will soon get used to the sound of the Australian accent.
Abbreviations	Australians like to abbreviate or shorten words, even down to initial letters. So food technology is usually shortened to “food tech”, “breakfast” becomes “brekkie”, and a tutorial becomes a “tute”. If you don’t know, be sure to ask!
Slang	Australians, particularly students, use a lot of slang. Remember that student slang is just as hard for older Australians to understand as it is for you! If you don’t understand a word or phrase, ask the speaker what it means and how it should be used. See Australian slang for more information.
Vocabulary	Many common words in Australia and many words used in university life may not be in your vocabulary. Don’t be surprised. Just remember that textbook English is not the same as the language used in everyday life. The Australian Macquarie Dictionary may be more helpful than the Oxford or Webster’s dictionary in understanding Australian English. See Spelling Australian style for more information.

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Understanding body language

Every culture has certain “typical” behaviours; ways of standing, moving, using hands, eyes, arms, nodding the head, etc. Usually there are meanings associated with these movements or gestures, and the meaning may be different in Australia from the meaning attached in your own culture.

As Australia is a multicultural society, you may come across many different kinds of body language. Some kinds of body language are more common than others. In Australia, it is usual to look someone in the eye when you are talking to him or her. Australians think that this shows directness, attention and sincerity; but in another culture, it may be considered as impolite or improper to do this. In some cultures, it is an insult if someone gives you something with the left hand – in Australia it makes no difference.

If some non-verbal signals are insulting in your culture, don’t take it personally. For example, smiling when you are introduced to someone may be a sign of respect in your culture; in Australia, if someone does not smile in this situation, it does not necessarily mean that he or she is not respectful.

You will soon notice these differences when you start interacting with Australians. Similar observations are of course important anywhere else in the world. It is important that we learn to recognise, appreciate and respect difference as long as it is not offensive. If you are not sure ask people you know or staff at the University.

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Understanding the written language

You will come across many new words as you continue your studies. You may also find that the grammar used in some textbooks makes them difficult to understand. Here are some suggestions that may be of assistance:

• Remember every academic course (subject) has its own “language” and it may use words and expressions in ways which are quite different from ordinary day-to-day use of the English language
• Learn to recognise the key words used to develop logical arguments within sentences and paragraphs
• Take note of the way a book is organised into sections, chapters etc. The headings may assist you to quickly get a general idea of the contents
• The Learning Advisers at Student Services can assist you in acquiring the skills you need in constructing and writing an essay, thesis or report and with different techniques you can use when working your way through lots of required reading (e.g. “skimming”).

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