Studying, working and living in an English speaking country will be a challenge if you are unable to communicate. However brilliant your ideas may be will not matter if you cannot be understood. To enjoy the work-life balance Australia has to offer, a good command of the language is a necessity. Also, however skillful you may be, you cannot be put to good use in the economy if you do not have the ability to communicate.

If you are applying for skilled migration in order to migrate to Australia from Singapore, you must overcome the English language requirement – the only exception for those who originate from a native English speaking country. As immigration is a legal process, the Australian authorities will need evidence to prove that you have enough English skills, so that your skills may be realized. Native English language speaking countries for whom the English requirement may be weighed include citizens of the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States of America, Ireland and the New Zealand. Generally, if you hold a passport of any other country, then you need to fulfil the English language requirements.

What are the Accredited English testing Systems?

Australian Immigration acknowledge English proficiency results from the following accredited testing systems:

1. International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
2. Occupational English Test (OET)
3. Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT)
4. Pearson Test of English and Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE)

Whichever you should undertake, you will need to achieve the relevant score for that particular component.

Improving your English

According to some theories, language acquisition skills happen in the early development of a person. Language acquisition is something that comes as a result of first, hearing. If you are deaf, it is most likely that you are going to be dumb, or you will struggle with speech. It is important to put emphasis on listening to how proper English may be spoken. Our advice to people from non-English speaking environment who are tempted to speak in their native language is that effort is have to be made for you to distance yourselves away from the native language environment by exposing your ears to proper English. One of the best resources whereby subconscious may occur happens to be listening to radio station such as British Broadcasting Corporation.

Investing your time and effort into improving your English is critical if you are going to receive a successful application for permanent residency (PR) to Australia. While English courses can be helpful, English skills for adults are something which can be quite a challenge to attain. If your English is not good, it is highly unlikely that you will struggle in attending English courses. However having said that, even if you have very good English skills, you can still end up doing poorly on English test, and that is where attending a course may become useful. English has to be something that is innate or acquired, and not something that can be taught. If you do not have the interest in the language or if you do not put much effort to acquire the language, no matter how good your teacher is, you are never going to improve your English. The courses can act as a reflection of your abilities when put in a test environment – the course can simulate the test environment to such an extent that you actually gain a reflection of what your strengths or weaknesses may be as you are taking the English test.

For many of these English testing systems, the four components; listening, reading, written and spoken, must all achieve a certain standard. If you are very strong in other three components, but you are weak in one component, it could still affect you negatively. You have to put in more effort to correct the component which you are weakest in. It is important not to overlook your English proficiency if you are really looking forward to achieving your dream life in Australia. Consult us if you feel you need to know more about the importance of English proficiency in your Australian Visa Application.