Many people think that all they need is enough points, English skills and admission to a university in Australia is ready for life study abroad. But in fact, one of the biggest “shocks” comes from the way of learning.
If in Vietnam, you are often used to lecturers providing outlines, key content and quite specific instructions, then when you come to Australia, you may have to read by yourself, find documents, ask questions, form your own opinions and defend your arguments more. This is one of the differences that Vietnamese students should prepare for before going to study abroad in Australia.
1. Studying at university in Vietnam: There is a relatively clear learning framework
In the Vietnamese university environment, depending on the school and major, students often have access to a relatively clear subject structure. Instructors can provide:
- Course outline.
- Content of the chapters to be studied.
- Lecture slides.
- Main topics to understand.
- Instructions for tests and exams.
- Specific requirements of each exercise.
Therefore, if students understand the lesson, study hard and follow the requirements, the ability to achieve good results is often quite clear. This does not mean that the learning method in Vietnam is just memorization or lack of thinking. Students may still have to analyze, do assignments, give presentations, and research. However, the notable difference is the degree of initiative with which students take responsibility for their own learning. __________ It is necessary to provide you with all the knowledge to memorize. You may be provided with:
Reading – reading material.
Lecture slides.
- Case study – real situation.
- Open question.
- Research documents.
- Data or problem to be analyzed.
- Then, students must research and construct their answers themselves. Simply put: In Vietnam, you may be familiar with the question “What part do teachers want me to study?” In Australia, you will often encounter the question: “What do I need to learn more to answer this problem?” This is quite a big change in thinking.
- 3. Studying well in Australia is not just about understanding the lesson
Sau đó, sinh viên phải tự tìm hiểu và xây dựng câu trả lời. Nói đơn giản: Ở Việt Nam, bạn có thể quen với câu hỏi “Thầy cô muốn mình học phần nào?” Còn ở Úc, bạn sẽ thường xuyên gặp câu hỏi: “Mình cần tìm hiểu thêm điều gì để trả lời vấn đề này?” Đây là thay đổi khá lớn về cách tư duy.
3. Học tốt ở Úc không chỉ là hiểu bài
Just switching from memorizing to understanding is not enough. In many subjects at Australian universities, students must also demonstrate the ability to: Read → find sources → evaluate sources → analyze → criticize → form opinions → make arguments → defend arguments.
You don’t just need to give an answer. You also have to explain: Why do you think that answer is reasonable? What sources of information support your point of view? Are there opposing views? Do you agree with that point of view? If you do not agree, what is the reason? This is where critical thinking becomes very important.
4. “Having the right answer” is not always the goal
An assignment at an Australian university is sometimes not as simple as: Learn content A and answer question B. Instead, the assignment may present a problem and ask you to analyze it. For example, instead of just asking: “What is this concept?” you might get the form: “Analyze the implications of this issue in a specific context and evaluate different perspectives.” At this point, finding the right answer available on Google is almost impossible to solve the entire problem. You must read and think.
5. Doing homework in Australia: Resources are more important than you think
One skill international students should practice right from Vietnam is finding and evaluating information sources. Not all information on the Internet is of equal value. When writing an assignment, you may have to distinguish between:
- Academic research paper.
- Specialized books.
- Report from a reputable organization.
- Statistical data.
- Government website.
- Article.
- Personal blog.
- Social network content.
It’s important not just to find information. But you also need to know: Is this source trustworthy? Is this information relevant to the problem you are researching? Who is the author? Where does the data come from? This is an important part of academic competency at the university level.
6. Group work in Vietnam and Australia can also be very different
A familiar situation for Vietnamese students is “You do this part, I do that part, and finally put it together into one lesson.” This approach can be quite effective when the group needs to complete an assignment. But teamwork in an Australian university environment can be more demanding. A group may have to:
- Meet to agree on direction.
- Debate ideas.
- Analyze the problem together.
- Criticize other members’ ideas.
- Peer review – comment on each other’s articles or contributions.
- Unify the presentation.
- Evaluate the level of contribution of each member.
Therefore, teamwork is not simply about dividing tasks. You have to really know how to work with other people.
7. Cultural differences can appear right in group exercises
This is something that many international students only realize after coming to Australia. You can work with people from many different cultures. Each person may have:
- Different ways of communicating.
- Different views.
- Different ways of criticism.
- Different ways of managing time.
- Standards of work quality vary.
And of course, the “self” can also appear. Some people speak very frankly. Some people like to argue directly. Some people disagree but still want to maintain a good relationship. Some people want to control all their work. Some people want all decisions to be made by discussion. This is not necessarily a problem. It is part of learning to collaborate in a multicultural environment.
8. If you are used to being “held by the hand”, you may be shocked
This is probably what Vietnamese international students should mentally prepare for first. If you are used to: Teachers giving instructions → studying → taking tests → taking exams, the new environment can make you feel: “Why doesn’t anyone tell me exactly what I have to learn?” “Why are there so many documents?” “Why doesn’t the question have a clear answer?” “Why do I have to find the source myself?” “Why do we have to argue so much in groups?” This does not necessarily mean that the curriculum is more difficult. It could simply be that the way you are asked to learn has changed.
9. Three skills you should prepare before studying in Australia
If you are in Vietnam and preparing to go to Australia to study at university, you do not necessarily have to wait until you come to Australia to start. There are at least three skills you should practice first.
a. Critical Thinking – Critical thinking
Don’t just ask: “What is the answer?” Practice asking:
- Why?
- Based on what evidence?
- Is there another point of view?
- Is this source trustworthy?
- If the conditions are changed, will the conclusion change?
This is the way to move from learning to know to learning to understand and analyze.
b. Open Mind – Open thinking
Studying abroad means you will come into contact with people who think differently from you. Not every opinion different from yours is wrong. You need to learn how to: listen → understand → ask questions → analyze → respond. Open-mindedness does not mean agreeing with everyone. It meansbeing willing to consider another perspective before drawing conclusions.
c. Collaboration – The ability to cooperate
Going to school is not just an individual game. You may have to work with:
- Classmates.
- Research team.
- Project team.
- Lecturer.
- Recruiter in field operations.
Knowing expertise is one thing. Knowing how to work with others is another matter. The most important point to understand is that studying abroad is not simply bringing a Vietnamese university program to study in English. You are entering an environment that requires you to be more proactive in:
- Searching for knowledge.
- Evaluate the information.
- Build perspective.
- Communication.
- Teamwork.
- Solve the problem.
- Time management.
- Take responsibility for your own results.
Therefore, preparation before studying abroad should not only revolve around IELTS, visa application or choosing a school. You also need to prepare your learning style and thinking style.
Coming to Australia, prepare to be proactive
If in Vietnam you may be used to being given quite specific instructions, then when you come to Australia, you need to gradually shift to the mindset of “I am responsible for my own learning.” You must proactively find opportunities, proactively ask questions, proactively find documents and proactively defend your point of view. That is also one of the great values of the study abroad journey. If your goal is not just to get a degree but also want to learn, expand your thinking and work in an international environment, prepare from Vietnam. Practicing critical thinking, open mind and collaboration before leaving will help you feel less confused when entering the Australian university environment. Studying abroad is a long journey. And in that journey, proactive people are often the ones who have more opportunities to learn, adapt and develop.
