"I Failed My Placement" — What International Students Need to Know

As someone who works across both universities and private institutions, I've supported countless international students through their early childhood education (ECE) placements—whether it's running placement preparation workshops at the University of Melbourne, visiting students onsite, or working closely with mentor teachers to troubleshoot concerns and offer guidance.

One conversation I keep having is this: “I failed my placement—what went wrong?”

The truth is, failing a placement doesn’t necessarily mean you’re not good enough. More often, it’s about not being prepared for the expectations and cultural differences that come with early childhood placements in Australia. So if you’re an international student (or supporting one), here are some common challenges I’ve seen:

1.  Not Knowing How to Work With Your Mentor Teacher

Many students expect to be told what to do especially if they come from education systems where the teacher takes full charge. But in Australia, mentor teachers expect proactivity, clarity, and collaboration.

Here’s what makes it tricky:

• Mentor teachers supervise many students throughout the year. They may not know whether you're in your first placement or your final one unless you clearly tell them.

• If you’re being compared (even unintentionally) with another student at a more advanced stage, your performance may appear lacking.

• Institutions usually send mentor packs, but teachers rarely have time to read them in full. Don’t assume they already know your learning goals—you need to communicate them.

2.  Lack of Initiative

Don’t wait for your mentor teacher to assign tasks. One of the biggest red flags during placement is a student who’s always waiting to be told what to do. Instead, try this:

·       Start each day by letting your mentor know what you plan to observe or try

·       Ask for feedback on specific goals

·       Offer support during routines and transitions

·       Be visibly involved—not just physically present

3.  Poor Timing in Communication

Knowing when to communicate is just as important as what you communicate. Trying to have in-depth discussions during your mentor’s lunch break or when they’re juggling a group of children can lead to stress and misunderstandings. Find the right moments—during set-up, wind-down, or when they indicate they’re available.

4.   Being Too Quiet (or Invisible)

This is a big one. Some students are respectful and reserved—but to a fault. If your mentor teacher barely hears or sees you, they can’t properly assess your practice. Remember- mentor teachers are responsible for the children first. Supervising you is voluntary and often unpaid. If you don’t make your contributions visible, they may not even realise how engaged or capable you’ve been. That invisibility can lead to a "Not Satisfactory" simply because they can’t recall enough evidence.

5.   Struggling With Documentation

Many students try to write everything—and quickly feel overwhelmed. But placement documentation is not about quantity. It’s about showing insight, intentionality, and reflection. Focus on quality over length, and make sure you understand what your learning outcomes are so your documentation stays purposeful.

6.  Cultural Differences in Pedagogy

This one’s close to my heart. Play-based learning is the foundation of early childhood education in Australia. But for many international students, this is unfamiliar. I often hear:

"I don’t know how to play with children.""In my country, we use structured lessons, not play."

That’s OK—many students feel this way at first. Learning how to engage in meaningful, play-based interactions is crucial and it can be learnt. Just be aware from your mentor's point of view, sitting and observing or running overly structured activities may be interpreted as a lack of intentional teaching.

🌟 You're Not Alone

Failing a placement can be disappointing but it’s also a powerful learning moment. If you're unsure where to start, or feel overwhelmed navigating expectations, you don’t have to go through it alone. Reach out if you’d like support preparing for your next placement or unpacking what went wrong. I offer tailored coaching for international ECEC students to help you succeed in your studies and thrive in your professional journey in Australia.