Small talk to big connections with Academic Learning Centre

By Mary Bolling

A weekly English Conversation Club at CQUniversity Melbourne has been a surprise hit, with hundreds of students flocking to share culture, food and connection.  

CQU’s Academic Learning Centre (ALC) has offered the lunchtime session since the start of the year, and lecturer Dr Vicky Chang said the club’s popularity grew rapidly.  

“We knew students wanted opportunities to improve their English, and to make new friends – but we also realised, they had a lot of questions our sessions could help address,” she explained. 

“So we offer different themes every week, for instance how to find a job, how to improve wellbeing, how to tackle exams… and students have loved the chance to explore Australian culture and Aussie slang too!” 

From small groups of just 10 and 20, now more than 100 students attend the English Conversation Club at the Melbourne CBD campus every week.  

CQU’s International and Wellbeing Directorates, Library and Melbourne campus teams, as well as student ambassadors and advisors, help support the popular events.  

Master of Project Management student Eshita Mou moved from her home in Bangladesh to study at CQU, and said the ALC had helped her feel at home in her new community. 

“I wait all week to come here, it’s just no pressure, no formal lectures – just relaxed conversation, and sharing our ideas and our stories,” she said.

On Wednesday 1 October, the club celebrated its Term 2 break-up with a pizza party, with 300 students enjoying lunch, trivia and enthusiastic conversation.

CQU Melbourne is home to more than 3000 international students, studying a wide range of degrees across IT, engineering, business and accounting, healthcare, sonography and laboratory medicine. 

CQUniversity students across TAFE, undergraduate and postgraduate courses can all access ALC support, to grow confidence as independent learners.  

Happy students shared feedback after the Conversation Club break-up, including: 

“ALC club helps everyone to interact with others, so even introverts have to interact. It helped me to come out of my comfort space.” 

“The services make me to understand how report referencing is done, and also gives us a chance to explore the various career opportunities, and meet with new friends.” 

“Very supportive to the students and most importantly love the friendly faces of the team! There’s so much I have learnt from their personality and confidence!” 

Dr Chang is an award-winning English teacher and has been with CQU’s ALC since 2023.  

The Academic Learning Centre supports students across CQUniversity’s national footprint and online, explore their services at the ALC website.