Episode title:

Breaking the Language Barrier

Episode summary:

In this episode Subclass 500, Elliot Rodriguez speaks with fellow international students about their experiences with the language barrier they encountered when moving to Australia. Throughout the episode these students share the trials and tribulations of being an international student from a country that does not speak English. Many learn the language when they arrive and are forced to learn and use this foreign language at a university level. However, the language barrier doesn't just affect non-native English speakers, Elliot discovers throughout the episode that he too has faced similar problems with the Australian accent since arriving from Miami, Florida.

At the University of Melbourne professors are strict with the translation rules for assignments, making it even harder for some students to do their class projects. This episode offers a real world take on the issue of language barriers for international students and sits down with currently and previously enrolled students. The aim of the episode is to educate people on some of the struggles that international students must go through when studying abroad. Doing so in a way that is entertaining and warm, yet newsy and informative.

Topic # 1 Dominik- Speaking on her experience (:50)

Topic # 2 Dr. Craig Smith- explaining social norms for international students (2:17)

Topic # 3 Gwen- giving coffee shop experience (4:06)

Topic # 4 JoJo- talking about the different words used in the west compared to Australia (7:44)

Topic #5 Emma Elliot- Real time example of not understanding the accents in Australia (9:26)

Contact:

Elliot Rodriguez : errodrigue@student.unimelb.edu.au

Credits:

Series Producer: Yuxuan Liu 
Senior Producer: Songyu Wu, Xuyang Liu
Host: Cissy
Sound Design: Elliot Rodriguez
Design and Social Media: Ruofeng Ning & Wen Yang
Executive Producer: Sami Shah

sami.shah@unimelb.edu.au

Theme music is "Political Test" by Igor Dvorkin (PRS) | Ellie Kidd (PRS). Audio Rights Network Limited.

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