Interesting things international students need to know about Australia

Australian and Vietnamese cultures have many differences from communication style, education system, cuisine, traditional festivals or sports. To avoid Australia culture shock when entering this country for the very first time, read on to find out interesting things you should know about Australian culture and lifestyle.

Both Vietnam and Australia have considerably distinct cultural values

1. Australian communication style

1.1 Greeting culture

Australians are famous for their comfort and friendliness. They will smile and shake your hand from the first meeting, say hello "G'day" or "G'day, mate". In addition, they also call you by your name instead of saying your last name like other countries.

When introducing yourself, avoid introducing your title as that is considered complacent in Australian culture. You just need to mention your title when being asked.

1.2 Australian communication style

Australians have a habit of giving nicknames by abbreviating the names of those around them such as: Michael to Mike, Barry to Baz ... Close friends or family members tend to have unique nicknames like: Andy became Ando. So, when Australians call you by nickname, it means your relationship is going well.

At the first meeting, Australians often feel uncomfortable when being asked some personal questions such as age, finances, marital status … In addition, it is not a great idea to express your own views on specific topics such as religion and politics since Australia is a convergence of different cultures, ethnic and religious diversity. All you need to do is to discover new things and learn to adapt each unique beauty in the religion from your friends and colleagues.

Australians believe that each person has a right to feel comfortable in their own skin without fear of discrimination or judgment.

When communicating, international students often feel confused as Australians tend to use slang during their conversations. If you don't understand anything, you should ask again right away to avoid misunderstandings. Here are some examples:

• BYO (Bring your own): This word means you prepare your own beverage such as cold water, soft drinks, juice or alcohol. You can bring your own wine to BYO restaurants and pay a fee called “corkage” because they provide the glasses and service to wash them for you.

• Bring a plate: If someone says "Bring a plate" it means they are reminding you to bring a dish to share with everyone

• Fortnight – fortnight: This phrase means two weeks. Many Australians are paid every two weeks.

1.3. Be punctual and arrive on time

According to the culture of Australia, punctuality for appointments and meetings shows a professional attitude and respect for the other person. If there is any reason why you arrive later than planned, you should contact and let people know in advance.

Let's clearly remember the unique cultural features of Australia and confidently integrate into the new environment!

2. Learning culture in Australia

2.1. Freedom of speech and express personal opinions

International students who come to Australia for the first time may be surprised at the comfortable, distance-free relationship between teachers and students. Australian students often call teachers by name and attend parties or sports activities together.

In addition, students can directly ask questions related to the subject and express personal opinions if they perceive flaws in the quality of education in Australian culture. All students' opinions are happily received and considered by teachers and the school.

2.2. No examination pressure

Unlike Vietnamese education, Australian cultural characteristics do not put too much pressure on exams. Schools do not appreciate final exam results because they only show students' learning ability in a short period of time and it is potentially negative. Instead, they care a lot about the quality of essays and presentations because it accurately reflects ability through each individual's learning process

Australian schools do not emphasize test scores.

2.3. Promote self-study in Australian culture

Vietnamese international students are often surprised that their total time studying at school in Australia is only about 12 - 14 hours/week. Instead, Australians spend a lot of time self-studying at home, at the library or gaining knowledge through extracurricular activities such as group discussions, visiting museums, exhibition areas…

Therefore, Vietnamese international students need to practice self-study, actively seek information and knowledge related to the subject, and should not ask or ask people to do jobs that you are clearly capable of doing.

2.3. Freedom to debate and develop your own abilities

As a typical Australian culture, most of the time studying in Australian schools is spent on debating and solving issues related to subjects in Australian culture. Teachers often ask guiding questions to promote each student's thinking ability. Every answer, whether right or wrong, is accepted and appreciated by the teacher. Students can express their own opinions or raise critical opinions while the teacher is lecturing.

This is quite new to Vietnamese international students because Vietnamese education still follows the traditional method: students passively absorb the teacher's knowledge without asking critical questions. Therefore, when coming to Australia, students should not hesitate to express their opinions to better understand issues related to the subject and promote their critical thinking ability.

2.4. Sociable, high team spirit

As an Australian cultural characteristic, Australians promote a collective spirit, always showing comfort, closeness, friendliness and willingness to help those around them in Australian culture. Therefore, if there is anything you do not understand about Australian culture, lifestyle or school knowledge, do not hesitate to ask questions to receive the most dedicated guidance.

3. Australian culture in food, festivals & sports

The difference between Australia and Vietnam is not only reflected in communication culture and learning environment but also in culinary culture, festivals and sports.

3.1. Culinary culture

In Australian culture, Australian cuisine is a harmonious combination of many cuisines from different countries around the world, most notably European dishes. Australians prioritize choosing fresh ingredients to reduce fat and protect health.

When coming to Australia, do not forget to enjoy delicious typical dishes such as: Ham and Pea soup served with crispy grilled garlic butter bread, Barramundi (grilled fish), Chicken Parmigiana (fried chicken covered with ham). ), shrimp Cocktail, chiko rolls, Lamingtons (sponge cakes covered with chocolate and coconut)...

In Australian culture, although the Kangaroo is an Australian national symbol, Kangaroo meat is still used to prepare daily meals such as: Kangaroo steak, Kangaroo burgers, Kangaroo sausages... In addition, You can enjoy the most unique Australian dish "Bush Tucker" made from tree roots, filtered, and simmered in hot ash.

Wine is a proud drink of Australians. Besides, some alcoholic drinks such as Rum, beer... or coffee are also chosen popularly by many Australians. It was the Australians who created foamless latte coffee with a rich flavor that is famous all over the world.

Advice for Vietnamese international student

In the beginning, when not really familiar with the flavors of Australian dishes, in Australian culture, international students can try to prepare their own food or go to Vietnamese restaurants. In big cities like Sydney and Melbourne, international students can easily find Vietnamese dishes such as Hue beef noodle soup, Vietnamese bread, and Hanoi pho... because the Vietnamese community is concentrated in these areas. . However, don't forget to take the opportunity to enjoy special cuisine to better understand Australian culture.

3.2. Festivals in Australian culture

In Australian culture, festivals are extremely diverse and take place at many times of the year. There are 3 most impressive festivals that international students should not miss:

• Ord Valley Festival: Ord Valley Festival is usually held in May and lasts about 2 weeks in Kununurra - Western Australia. When participating in the festival, you have the opportunity to experience exciting adventures with mountain bikes, swim across the Argyle River, mountain bike along the Gibb River road, dig for diamonds, and enjoy fresh regional produce. Kimberley, immerse yourself in the traditional dances of the Kununurra people...

• Laura Aboriginal Festival: Laura Festival is usually held on June 2 and is considered the largest street music festival of the year. Aboriginal communities from the Cape York peninsula converge in the beautiful town of Laura, sharing their customs and cultural identities through plays, songs, and dances right on the streets.

• Dreaming Festival: Dreaming Festival is usually held for 3 days in June in Woodford. The festival attracts a large number of visitors with unique activities such as: professional performances by aboriginal artists combined with indigenous artists from around the world, art exhibition space, films, wine and food fair...

3.3. Australians are passionate about sports

According to Australian culture, people love sports and have the most special affection for two sports: football and cricket.

In Australia, the words “soccer” and “football” have different meanings. “Soccer” refers to a type of soccer that uses a round ball. "Football" refers to Australian football, which uses a rugby ball and can pass the ball by throwing, kicking or running.

Cricket is a popular sport, often held at picnics in parks or outdoor parties, and also appears in professional tournaments. Enjoying the exciting atmosphere of a football or cricket match is also a good idea for international students when coming to Australia

Australians are very passionate, they love their cricket

4. How to adapt and integrate when studying in Australia

Australian and Vietnamese cultures have many differences. Therefore, to easily adapt and integrate into the new environment, international students should note some of the following issues in Australian culture:

• Learn carefully about the culture: Actively learning about the culture before starting your journey to Australia is a way to help you prepare mentally, understand the lifestyle of the indigenous people and have proper and limited behavior. Make basic mistakes when communicating with Australians.

• Always be on time: You should arrange a suitable schedule and arrive on time to show your professionalism and build trust and sympathy from Australians.

• Always be humble: Australians live modestly and hate ostentation. Therefore, according to Australian culture, you should not brag about yourself or show superiority because this makes them feel uncomfortable and lose sympathy.

• Avoid mentioning topics that divide Australian society: Some issues such as refugees, religious views, and politics... are sensitive issues that can get you into trouble when mentioned.

• Avoid being overly controversial or argumentative: Australians tend not to make friends with people who are too opinionated. Therefore, when arguing about an issue, you need to show a sincere attitude and listen to the suggestions of people around you in Australian culture.

In addition, for the process of studying abroad in Australia to go smoothly, the first thing to do is to choose a reputable study abroad consulting unit. With more than 50 years of experience, IDP Education is the perfect choice, playing an important role in international education by helping over 450,000 students study abroad successfully at schools in Australia, the UK, the USA, and Canada. , New Zealand, and Ireland.

IDP currently has a network of 80 international admission offices in 30 different countries and is the official admission representative of over 600 prestigious schools in Australia, the US, the UK, Canada, New Zealand, and Ireland. Besides, IDP is also the co-founder and organizer of the IELTS exam worldwide, and will give you the best support to have a great study abroad experience!

Keen to start your study abroad journey? Contact IDP and you will be advised by experts to choose the most suitable university, choose a major that suits your aspirations, participate in Australian study abroad seminars organized by IDP, practice interviews, and apply for a visa.

Book a free appointment with one of our education counselors today.

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