A first-year university student plans on changing degrees after claiming most of his tutorials were spoken in Mandarin.
Harry is studying economics at the University of Melbourne and said he was either the only Caucasian student, or one of few, in his subjects.
While his peers would often speak in Mandarin to each other, they would also ask questions to the tutor in the same language.
Harry claimed his tutor would then respond in Mandarin and not explain what was being discussed in English.
‘I was sort of left in the dark. It kind of dejected me from the conversation and interacting with the class as a whole,’ he told ABC Radio Melbourne Drive.
‘I was just sitting there for the attendance, essentially.’
Harry said that as tutorials are mandatory, he had to show up, but often, during group work, his peers would speak entirely in Mandarin.
He said that about one time every class a question would be asked in Mandarin, to which the teacher would respond in the same language.
‘I should’ve asked what was being discussed so that is definitely my fault but I still think it’s not acceptable for them to be speaking a language I can’t understand at all in an English speaking country,’ Harry said.
‘The classes were either silent or predominantly spoken in Mandarin for the most part.’
Harry added there was one student who would often translate for him but said that shouldn’t have to be his responsibility.
He added he believed the majority of students in the course were international students.
Harry is now hoping to defer courses to science or engineering.
The University of Melbourne it was looking into Harry’s claims and have encouraged him to make a formal complaint.