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Learning English
in Regional Australia
Over the last ten years, Australia has become
a favoured destination for students wishing to undertake English
language training. More and more students are studying English,
in regional cities and towns rather than in large cities.
The reasons for this movement arose from a perception that
there are too many students from their own country in the
language centres of the major cities, a sense of adventure,
a perception that regional cities and towns represent the
'real Australia', and that people in these cities and towns
are friendlier.
Regional cities and towns are also less expensive
places to live, especially with regard to accommodation and
everyday living costs. Students also enjoy the ease of visiting
the Australian countryside, and in some cases the famous Australian
outback.
Newcastle, located on the east coast of Australia,
145 kms north of Sydney (the Olympic City), is one of the
regional centres that has become extremely popular with students.
Newcastle is famous for its magnificent surfing beaches and
easy access to the famous vineyards of the Hunter Valley.
People come from all over the world to the famous surfing
beaches which have produced world champion surfers. Forty
minutes away is Nelson Bay, which has year-round dolphin cruises,
and whale cruises at certain times of the year. Thirty minutes
west of Newcastle are the vineyards of the Hunter Valley,
where students can enjoy wine tasting and tours of the wineries.
The Language Centre, located in the heart of
the University of Newcastle, offers a wide variety of English
language programs, including General English and English for
Academic Purposes. For example, there is an English and internship
program, where participants undertake a prescribed English
language course, followed by work placement in their area
of choice in either Newcastle or Sydney. Upon successful completion
of the English for Academic Purposes course, many of the Centre's
students go on to further study at the University of Newcastle,
with its comphrensive range of undergraduate and postgraduate
programs, including medicine, engineering, arts, architecture,
law, science and nursing.
A unique program offered by the Centre is a
'buddy program' for all Centre students. On arrival, students
who indicate an interest in having a 'buddy' are paired with
an Australian student who will assist them with conversation
practice and Australian culture.
The Centre has excellent language learning facilities,
including large air-conditioned classrooms, a computer laboratory
with free internet access for all Language Centre students,
a computerised language laboratory, two audio language laboratories,
and a video laboratory.
Students of the Language Centre have access
to excellent facilities, including a new sports centre, with
an Olympic-size swimming pool, a gymnasium, squash ,tennis,
and volleyball courts. In addition, the Student Union Building,which
is located in close to the Centre, contains a cafeteria, coffee
shop and a bank.
Newcastle offers a wide range of reasonably
priced accommodation, including four halls of residences,
homestay with an Australian family, and shared accommodation
in an apartment, or house.
Centres like Newcastle are also popular for
group study tours, because of the variety of activities on
offer and the perceived safety of its environs. Participants
normally have homestay with an Australian family, and the
study tours combine English language tuition with afternoon
and weekend tourist and cultural activities. English for specific
purposes courses are also available for groups wanting to
develop their knowledge in areas such as business, the environment
and health, as well as their English skills.
For students looking for a unique learning experience
in a relaxing, friendly city convenient to Sydney, Newcastle
is an ideal location.
Author
Dr. Seamus Fagan
Director
University of Newcastle Language Centre
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