The Iglu Guide | Blog
10 Easy ways to improve your English language skills while studying in Australia
Arriving in Australia as an international student can be overwhelming in lots of different ways, and this feeling is easily exacerbated by language barriers. Fortunately, a certain level of English language proficiency is required to meet your student visa eligibility conditions, but putting this new knowledge to the test in a fast-paced student environment is another level entirely. Understandably, it will take some time for all students to get fully up to speed. Speaking English more fluently is not just about understanding learning materials and optimising your study potential, it is key to fostering new friendships and making the most of your time away. Improving your English language skills will give you the ability to understand the more subtle nuances of what’s being said in a contextual environment, and give you a fast pass to maximising every aspect of your uni experience. Here’s 10 easy ways to get there.
1. Get chatting
Using English interactively through natural conversation is one of the best ways to improve your language competency, and a great way to help you feel more settled in those early days. Everyday life is an endless learning opportunity, and immersion is an incredibly effective way to learn. The more you listen, the more you learn and the more you chat the more you can copy. Strike up conversations with classmates, professors, locals and more. Take every opportunity to interact and pay attention to everything that is said back to you. Take these learnings away and try applying them yourself to the next situation. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes or get it wrong. Aussies are a very friendly bunch, and everyone will be keen to help you feel understood! Making mistakes is also a natural part of the learning process and actually helps reinforce new knowledge. Try not to get too lost in analysing the language structure or verb conjugation at this early stage, as the goal is merely to engage in natural conversation. If you hear an expression such as, ‘I’m running super late today’, simply repeat it verbatim and it will all start to feel a whole lot more natural. Before you know it, you’ll be chatting away like a local.
2. Watch English TV!
This is probably the only scenario where you will actively be encouraged to watch more Netflix! Watching TV and movies in English will improve your comprehension ability and expose you to a wide range of language terms. You’ll find that you start to understand conversations much better, and pick up on those sneaky slang phrases without a second thought. Don’t forget to include news programs, documentaries and soap operas for a full range of material, and you might even start thinking in English when you switch off. Some students find it encouraging to start out with kids’ programs, where it’s easier to follow along, before graduating to more adult content and even switching off the sub-titles. Listening to what people say and emulating tone and accent is a powerful way to learn fast. Keep up your good work when you’re out and about by downloading English podcasts to distract you as you travel.
3. Join a language exchange group
There are plenty of students out there that are keen to learn your own native language, so take the opportunity to create a mutually beneficial learning environment. Have a look online to see if there are any student groups you can join where you can exchange knowledge. This is a great way to get personalised feedback from a native speaker in a relaxed environment. Students can also enrol in an additional English Language course at university as a way to improve confidence in a more structured environment – particularly as they are specifically designed for international students.
4 Listen to music
Music and language are scientifically linked, and it is thought that music is an effective way to help reinforce your language learnings. At the very least, who needs a second invite to listen to Taylor Swift or Ed Sheeran? Pay attention to the words you are singing and try to imitate the pronunciation as well as you can. Search up the lyrics online so you can cross reference what you are singing with the written words. Not only will your language skills improve, you’ll discover new music and always know how to create a happy mood!
5. Read English books and newspapers
It’s always a good idea to cross reference your conversational English skills with the more formal written language that you will find in newspapers and books, as this will directly help with your academic reading and writing. Start out with more simple junior fiction that you can find in your local library and work your way up to the more complex texts. This will help expose you to a range of different sentence structures, vocabulary and tones.
6. Keep a journal
Writing a journal is a good way to improve your writing and try out new vocabulary. It doesn’t have to be pages and pages, just a sentence a day will suffice. It is thought that the act of writing something down helps reinforce learning and memory, so it’s a total win win! And if you get anything wrong, the only person to see it is you.
7. Online resources
Language learning is big business, and as the world becomes a smaller place there are plenty of learning resources available online to help you get to grips with it all. Try a language app such as Duolingo, Drops or Babbel to get you up and running, with gamified formats to keep you coming back for more. Social media is also a great way to practise your informal language skills and discover more about student culture and how it might be different to your own. Facebook has some great language groups that offer hints and tips on how to improve. You might even find an online buddy to practise with, without even leaving your room!
8. Volunteer
Many students report that their language skills showed a definite improvement by taking on a community volunteer role. Immersing yourself in real life language scenarios can have a huge impact on your ability to communicate, and the benefit of volunteering is that it provides a low-pressure learning environment. You are giving your time back to the community, and there is no expectation upon you in return. You’ll hear a wide range of accents and vocabulary, all of which will get lodged in your memory bank for later use.
9. Get into the culture
Try and attend cultural events where possible such as the theatre or art exhibitions. Language and culture are closely connected, and the more you understand about the culture and context, the better able you will be to choose appropriate language for that setting. Attending cultural events complements language learning methods in an authentic and immersive way.
10. Don’t aim for perfect
Improving your English language skills is just one of the challenges that students face when living and studying abroad – all of which take up your physical and emotional resources. Try to stay realistic and don’t get hung up on speaking absolutely perfect English. The aim of the game is to be understood, and once you have that mastered your language ability will improve exponentially.