LookAtVietnam – Many Vietnamese students in foreign countries cannot communicate effectively with local residents and have serious difficulties in their classes.

“Only after spending time to learn English here, have I been able to integrate into life with local residents and study well at the university,” she explained.

Huy, 20, who is now a first year student of Monash University, was confident when he arrived in Australia with his 7.0 score on the IELTS. He was shocked in his first days at the university because he could not understand what the lecturers said. Huy had problems talking with local students and could not exchange ideas with them about the lessons.

Huy also had to spend 10 weeks to study English so that he could follow lessons at the university.

An article published in The Guardian on June 19 focused on the poor English communication skills of international students. The reporter noted that international students cannot even hold short conversations with local residents, and that they are having to struggle with the issues caused by the language barrier.

Dave Cadman, a former lecturer of Cambridge University, said that IELTS and TOEFL are the international examinations that most accurately assess English capabilities. He explained that a score of 5.5 on the IELTS is commensurate with Upper-Intermediate level while a 6.5 is only equal to an Advanced rank.

Cadman noted that one reason for problems is that it is difficult to understand local dialects unless residents speak slowly. Another reason is students’ imbalanced skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing. For example, two students can receivea 6.5 on the IELTS, but one may communicate much better because all four skills are developed equally.

Tony Lampkin, a former lecturer at Sussex University, knows Vietnamese students in the UK well. He observed that the English used in learning is far different from the English used in daily life. Therefore, the English capabilities of many students did not improve even after several years in the UK.

Generally, after taking the IELTS exam, students must wait two or three months to complete the university application process. During that time, they may have little to no opportunities to practice English and thus they always have a hard time when they first arrive in a new country and begin trying to communicate with local residents.

Cadman recommended using ESL (English as a Second Language) websites to study English during such free time, as well as watching English-language television and films.

VietNamNet/DT