The RMIT University Library Podcast launched late last year, sharing conversations with researchers, teachers and students from across the university. The podcast explores ideas shaping teaching, research, technology, culture and the future of academic libraries.
A recent episode series focuses on the International Student Experience, asking: What is it really like to study in a new country, socially, academically and emotionally?
In the opening episode of this new series, Learning, Teaching and Research Librarian Michelle Matheson speaks with Professor Catherine Gomes, an ethnographer whose research explores international student wellbeing, communication, culture and identity, and transient migration.
Their conversation highlights the complexity and diversity of international student experiences. Professor Gomes discusses common misconceptions about international students, the challenges they may encounter while studying abroad, and the social, academic and emotional dimensions of navigating life in a new country.
The episode also considers how universities can better understand and support international students, including approaches that help foster connection, belonging and wellbeing across learning environments.
Subscribe to the RMIT University Library Podcast on your preferred podcast platform to hear the latest episode and stay up to date with upcoming conversations in our International Student Experience interview series. Produced and created by RMIT University library staff in the Learning, Teaching and Research team.
So many people feel they have to change their name partly, in pronunciation or to a completely different name, that is easier for native English speakers to understand and speak. I did this, too and I don’t like my “new” name but I changed it to make it easier for everyone else. I love the sound of my original name and it is what I identify with. So maybe after 29 years I will change back and insist on people making the effort to try and pronounce it as intended. Am I doing the right thing?
Thank you for contributing to the conversation. There are many that relate with your experience.
Michaela, I for one would love to learn to pronounce your original name correctly. I feel far more comfortable using someone’s preferred name (even if I don’t get it perfectly pronounced at first) rather than an Anglo name. Both my children have names that are often mispronounced but they embrace them and (fortunately) love them. They both have “coffee names” though that they use when they’re ordering to avoid the hassle of having to repeat multiple times 🙂
Linguistic prejudice or simply not being able to understand someone with a heavy accent. Are they the same thing. Too often I call an organisation and either I can’t understand or I’m not understood. Even when I say I’m having difficulty the person doesn’t slow down. If you have a strong accent slow down. I travelled a lot when I was young. I understand how English speaking people got it easy. Immigrants definitely need assistance in English delivery in Australia. It must be incredibly frustrating. I admire their courage. My son migrated to a Scandinavian country recently, and I imagine he will have the same frustrations as immigrants here. He’s enrolled in his 4th language course and wants to be good at the local dialect. Getting angry at someone who can’t understand you or when you can’t understand doesn’t help.