There are many Nepalese who arrive in Australia with the expectation that their English will improve naturally, as everyone speaks it. They believe that the words will stick if they live there day by day. However, the situation for the majority of students and workers is far from this. They are busy. They are attending university, have part-time work and life in a new country to deal with every day. There it is not one seamless journey but rather small pieces of learning English you see here, there, everywhere: a bit with a customer, a bit at the university, a bit with a friend. There are three different types of English which you need to use each day and none of them is sufficient itself.
The Three kinds of English that you meet every day.
1. University English
Formal, academic language (lectures, readings, essays and assignments). It helps for reading and writing, but not anything else like talking to your classmates or asking a quick question in a tutorial.
2. Workplace English
Instructions are quick and concise, whether you are working in a café, a warehouse, aged care, retail and delivery. Your manager may say "Can you give me a hand with that?" or "No worries, just pop it over there." Your co-workers are from many countries, which means that you hear all sorts of accents. Talking to co-workers is as important as doing the job.
3. Everyday Life English
Ordering coffee, talking to your landlord, calling a bank, chatting at the bus stop. Australians speak with a relaxed pace and shortened words, such as "servo", "brekkie" and "arvo", and they use slang. This is not included in your textbooks or in your school English lessons in Nepal.
These three worlds are so different that learning English in Australia becomes a patchwork of conversations, lectures and bits of English.
The reason why speaking is often the most difficult part of grammar.
A large number of students in Nepal are able to read and write English. We learned about it in school for years. Speaking, however, is different and there are a number of common reasons:
In Nepal, school English emphasized grammar and writing. We rarely practiced fast, unplanned conversation.
We say it in Nepali and translate later. At the time that the sentence is ready in English, the conversation has moved on.
We fear what we might do wrong. We don't want to say something the wrong way, so we don't say it, which means no practice.
We spend a considerable time with our Nepali friends. This is normal and calming, and reduces the amount of daily English exchanges.
In the university speaking is planned (presentations, seminars), in real life it is unpredictable. It's not enough to live in a country where English is spoken to be fluent with the language. It's a result of consistent and intentional practice, preferably with feedback.
Good English Is More Than Grammar
In Australia, real communication includes:
Speaking in various voices to various individuals : a professor, a manager, a friend
Knowing various Australian accents and speaking styles
Listening to what someone is saying, and understanding the meaning of the words, rather than just the words themselves
Feeling comfortable with casual, everyday expressions
A lot of students focus solely on perfect grammar and neglect it during the course. These are typically the things that make you feel at ease at work, at a job interview or when you're making Australian friends.
How to make time to practice when you are already so busy
Lectures, homework, rotations, rent, calls home to family. One can say, “I will practise English later”, and the latter never arrives.
This is why so many Nepali students overseas choose online English classes. There's no need to make special travel arrangements, and you can schedule classes to fit your schedule and work hours. You can also work on exactly what you want, whether it's workplace English, conversational fluency or speaking without freezing.
Why guided coaching makes a big difference
You can only go so far with practicing by yourself. If we don't get feedback, the same mistakes will be made again and the same hesitation remains. A skilled teacher can identify patterns you may not be able to see for yourself, such as:
Not stopping for a long enough time before speaking
Using very formal English in casual situations
Difficulty understanding high-speed, informal English pronunciation
Coaching also allows you to practice real-life scenarios before you encounter them: job interview, phone interview with a bank or employer, a discussion with a new Australian friend, or a team meeting. And when the real time arrives, it's not so terrifying, it's familiar.
How Online Class Nepal helps Nepali students living abroad
We know what the exact problems are that can be faced by a Nepalese student while he/she is working abroad, as we have already assisted many learners to overcome them in Online Class Nepal.
What makes us different?
Trained teachers that have taught for 10+ years. You develop confidence in a gradual manner from teachers who know how to build it.
We are aware of the needs of Nepali learners. We know where Nepali speakers typically struggle, from pronunciation to sentence structure to the habit of translating from Nepali.
Spoken English focus. Classes focus on speaking, listening and actual conversation rather than grammar rules.
Real-life, practical lessons. Workplace English, everyday Australian conversation, phone skills, interviews and casual small talk are practiced.
Flexible online classes. Study and work from the comfort of your home in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth or wherever, at times that work for you!
Personal feedback. We identify your strengths and provide specific feedback on what you are doing well and what you need to change it's a supportive setting and mistakes are encouraged.
Confidence building. Our goal is for you to speak without freezing, whether it's with your boss, your professor or your neighbor.
Final Thoughts
While there is an English speaking environment there, it does not mean that you will be fluent. When you practice for a purpose, receive guidance from experienced teachers, and link university, work and daily life English together, real progress will be achieved. It doesn't have to be done by yourself. Whether you are a Nepali who is looking to speak English with greater confidence in Australia, Online Class Nepal is here to assist you.