1 Title: Experiences of international student while
2 attending university in Melbourne
3
4 Interviewer: Cheryl Teo
5 Participant: Shana
6
7 Date: Thursday 6th April 2017
8 Time: 12:30 pm – 12:55 pm
9 Location: Library
10
11
12
13 Int. Ok, May I know what is your name, please?
14
15 Shana Shana.
16
17 Int. How old are you?
18
19 Shana Twenty
20
21 Int. And... and your... and your gender?
22
23 Shana Female.
24
25 Int. And, where you from?
26
27 Shana Mauritius.
28
29 Int. Um... your marital status?
30
31 Shana [Pause] Single.
32
33 Int. Which year did you arrive in Australia?
34
35 Shana Two Thousand and Sixteen.
36
37 Int. Ok... And, what language can you speak?
38
39 Shana English, French, and Mauritius Creole
40
41 Int. What is your highest level of completed education in 42 your country?
43
44 Shana High School.
45
46 Int. Umm... What is your educational experience in your
47 country?
48 Shana What is it?
49 Int. Umm… It’s experience when you were studying in
50 your country, how you feel? Things that you have
51 experienced?
52
53 Shana It’s completely different because… in my country...
54 there was like... umm... different language, like we
55 used to speak French and English at the same time...
56 and… it’s erm… more like…I mean not serious but
57 hmm... like hard because erm… it was based on
58 Cambridge and then… I mean here the… the
59 teachers, tutors are more friendly like than in my
60 country [ umm... laugh], They are… they are more
61 strict there.
62
63 Int. That’s good. What is the name of the University you
64 are attending in Melbourne?
65
66 Shana Victoria University.
67
68 Int. And…What is the course that you are attending?
69
70 Shana Bachelor in psychology.
71
72 Int. Ok… now, what is the year level […] are you
73 currently completing at your course?
74
75 Shana Second year.
76
77 Int. Second year, ok… Now, what motived you to study
78 overseas for your higher education?
79
80 Shana Firstly, erm…my mother… encouraged me to study
81 overseas… because in my country there… there are
82 not much like field of studies… and psychology…
83 in my country… a bit like here… because umm…
84 it’s more [ paused] it’s more like smaller than here…
85 and my mother studied psychology in Ireland and
86 then I decided to continue it in Australia.
87
88 Int. Was the decision yours or… the decision was made 89 for you?
90
91 Shana [Pause] Ermm… I mostly decided to study
92 psychology but… my mom ermm… like… ummm…
93 she has… she has major influenced in what I’m
94 studying now [ laugh]
95
96 Int. Why in particular did you choose Melbourne for
97 study?
98
99 Shana Umm… I want to come here… to study.
100
101 Int. What do you hope to achieve from your education
102 and time in Melbourne?
103
104 Shana …Mainly to become a psychologist [laugh……]
105
106 Int. What do you think when you first got to Melbourne?
107
108 Shana I won’t be able to make it [ laugh] Because umm… 109 I… I’m not used to live without my family and then
110 then I came here like… alone… and that was very
111 difficult for me.
112
113 Int. Ok, how would you describe your academic
114 experience at university in Melbourne, so far?
115
116 Shana [Pause] great [laugh…].
117
118 Int. How… ok, how would you describe your social
119 experience at university in Melbourne, so far?
120
121 Shana Umm… very nice because people here are very kind
122 and… [pause] and…and…and… and [pause] friendly
123 because they don’t… they don’t… they don’t focus
124 on cultures and then they alike… all of these…
125 they’re just friendly and like ready to help you
126 [pause] at any time.
127
128 Int. Can you tell what you have found challenging in
129 general, while living in Australia?
130
131 Shana Studying… working… living without family [laugh]
132
133 Int. Ok, what have you found to be challenging about
134 studying at an Australia?
135
136 Shana Mainly I usually speak in French and then studying in
137 holly in English is really challenging [laugh].
138
139 Int. How do you think your challenges as an International
140 student in Melbourne would differ if you were
141 university student in your country?
142
143 Shana I mean [pause] there, I will be with my family… and
144 more like I don’t have to work to pay the rent and
145 study at the same time… I would, I would be at my
146 parent’s house no worries and or intensions about
147 working… just studying and here is like you have to
148 study and work, and doing all stuffs by yourself.
149
150 Int. Ok, what has helped you through the challenges you
151 have faced as an International student?
152
153 Shana Erm… Mainly my family, my mom, dad and lil’sister
154 and friends who are really friendly with me… and I
155 think… ermm… the… the goal to be psychologist has
156 helped me to face all of this.
157
158 Int. So, why do you think this has helped you?
159
160 Shana [Laugh] ermm… mainly because if… if… ermm…
161 I was all by myself here without friends without
162 motivations I won’t be able to… like I won’t be able
163 to take this challenge and overcome of all these
164 things
165
166 Int. Does your university have learning support?
167
168 Shana Ya.
169
170 Int. And, if have, have you accessed this service?
171
172 Shana Not much but… umm… no
173
174 Int. Not much, erm… how has this impacted you on your
175 study if you never approached them?
176
177 Shana I mean if I would have approached them maybe I
178 would have got like better result.
179
180 Int. Ok, last question, based on your personal experience,
181 if you were going to give advice to another
182 International student, what would you say?
183
184 Shana [Pause] I would say never give up… like to take…
185 umm… the courage, motivation and… and… good
186 things that…that Melbourne has to face all of the
187 difficulties… like it’s only three years of being alone
188 having to work, having to study… that difficulties…
189 everything will be alright…because… you’re doing
190 this for your future… your career.
191 Int. Thank you for your time.
Int. = Interviewer Shana = Participant