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Feedback Australia
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There was less representation from Asian countries this year across Australia’s English language schools, with Western Europeans and Latin Americans more populous. Meanwhile, a small percentage of respondents were disappointed with class size.
Australia feedback at a glance
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Total number of students: (female 98, male 89, unknown 10) 197
Average age in years: 23
Average length of programme in weeks: 27
Average number of students in class: 15
Average number of hours of language tuition per week: 22
% of students who found out about their course through an agent: 60
% of students who booked through an agent or adviser: 65
% of students who had been on another language programme: 25
% of students who would recommend their school: 90
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| Respondents by world region of origin |
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Top nationalities |
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1. Asia 54%
2. Western Europe 19%
3. Latin America 13%
4. C & E Europe 5.5%
5. Middle East 5.5%
6. Africa 1%
No reply 2%
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1. Chinese 17%
2. Brazilian 8%
3. French 7%
4. Korean 6.5%
4. Japanese 6%
6. Swiss 6%
6. Taiwanese 3.5%
8. Filipino 3%
8. Indian 3%
10. Colombian 2.5%
10. Indonesian 2.5%
10. Saudi Arabian 2.5%
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| In my class there are... |
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How easy is it to practise your language skills with native speakers? |
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1. The right number of students (52%)
2. Too many students from one other country (25%)
3. Too many students who speak my language (12%)
3. Too many students (11%)
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1. Quite easy (46%)
2. Quite hard (37%)
3. Very easy (9%)
4. Very hard (6%)
No reply (2%) |
| How did you find your programme? |
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Did you book your course through an agent or an educational adviser?
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1. Recommended by an agent (59%)
2. Recommended by a friend/relative (29%)
3. I found it on the internet (8%)
4. I saw it advertised (2%)
No reply 2% |
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Yes (65%)
No (28%)
Unknown (7%)
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Student reasons for school selection included:
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“I chose this school because it specialises in foreign students”
“The website was very clear and the school is linked to UWA”
“Because it provides more academic courses than other institutions”
“Because it gives good qualifications in the major I want to do”
“Good location and not many people from only one country”
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| Before looking for your course, did you know where you wanted to study? |
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Country
Yes (83%)
No (12%)
Unknown (5%)
City/town
Yes (65%)
No (30%)
Unknown (5%)
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School
Yes (44%)
No (52%)
Unknown (4%)
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Student nationality
Asian students have dominated student enrolment figures at Australian language schools for the last two years. Having accounted for a 70 per cent share of the student nationality mix in 2007 and 72 per cent in 2008 (see LTM February 2007, pages 14-15 and LTM March 2008, pages 18-19), Asia’s share dipped considerably this year, with just 54 per cent of the student base. However, there was an interesting mix of Asian nationalities present, including Burmese (0.5 per cent), Cambodian (0.5 per cent), Nepalese (0.5 per cent). Western Europeans, accounted for 19 per cent of all respondents compared with 11 per cent in 2008. However, only two Western European nationalities managed to make it into the top 10, namely French with seven per cent and Swiss with six per cent. Latin America’s share shot up from five per cent previously to 13 per cent this year, with Brazilians (eight per cent) moving into second place behind the Chinese (17 per cent).
Student motivation
Forty per cent of all respondents fell into the 19-to-24-year-old age bracket this year, a decrease on the 58 per cent recorded last year. Seventeen per cent stated that they were business or in-service professionals, compared with 14 per cent in 2008. This year, 36 per cent of respondents said that they intended to use their English skills for further tertiary studies in Australia compared with a similar 38 per cent in 2008, while those looking to study in another English speaking country increased from five per cent to 10 per cent. Students seem to be favouring longer courses with an average length of stay of 27.1 weeks, compared with 17.6 weeks previously.
Student enrolment
Agent usage remains consistent in this year’s survey with 59 per cent of students relying on an agency’s advice when researching about a language course (compared with 64 per cent previously). And 65 per cent booked directly through an agent, down slightly on the 67 per cent recorded in 2008. Meanwhile, there was a real decline in the number of students utilising the Internet – just eight per cent found out about their school online, down from 19 per cent. Meanwhile, 29 per cent relied on the advice given to them by family and friends. Among the 25 per cent who said they had been on a previous study abroad vacation, many had learnt English in another English-speaking country – including South Africa, Ireland, Malta, the UK and Canada. However, several students indicated that they had also dabbled in Chinese, Thai and Japanese.
Standard of the schools
Average class size varied greatly from six to 30 per class. A slim majority of respondents were content with both class size and nationality mix; 52 per cent reported that there was the right mix per class, compared with 45 per cent in 2008. However, 48 per cent argued to the contrary, with 25 per cent saying there were too many students from one other country. Nationalities who shared this opinion included Vietnamese, Chinese, Filipino and Korean.
Living in Australia
Foreign students continue to find Australia an expensive study destination with 70 per cent reporting that, comparatively speaking, the cost of living was higher than at home. This included 64 per cent of all Asians and 17 per cent of all Latin Americans.
Thank you to the following schools for participating in our survey: Australia College of English Bondi, Bondi Junction, NSW; Australia College of English Brisbane, Brisbane, QLD; Australia College of English Manly, Manly, NSW; Billy Blue of English College, Sydney, NSW; Canberra College, Canberra, ACT; Embassy, Surfers Paradise, QLD; English Language Company, Sydney, NSW; Eynesbury College, Adelaide, SA; Flinders University, Adelaide, SA; Global Village, Brisbane, QLD; IH Brisbane, Brisbane, QLD; Insearch U.T.S., Sydney, NSW; Kaplan Aspect, Brisbane, QLD; Kaplan Aspect, Sydney, NSW; Lake Ginninderra College, Belconnen, ACT; Langports, Brisbane, QLD; Melba Copland Secondary School, Melba, ACT; Phoenix Academy, Fremantle, WA; PIBT Perth Institute Business & Technology, Perth, WA; SA Adelaide Language Centre, Adelaide, SA; Sea English Academy International, Maroochydore, QLD; Sydney Institute of TAFE, Sydney, NSW; Tafe International Education Center, Liverpool, NSW; University of Western Australia, Perth, WA.
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Contact any advertiser in the this issue now
The following language schools, associations and accommodation providers advertised in the latest edition of Language Travel Magazine. If you would like more information on any of these advertisers, tick the relevant boxes, fill out your details and send.
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