Globalisation has placed a growing importance on English language speaking and listening. Prior research indicates that many international students from Asia, studying in Australia, face serious learning difficulties and lack confidence in speaking and taking a proactive role in classrooms. The paper reports on data gathered in interviews with students from five Asian nations, which suggest that these learning difficulties are grounded in weaknesses in students' prior learning experiences--focused on grammar and reading skills in teacher-centred classrooms, not conversational skills--and in beliefs about language learning instilled during schooling. The paper proposes strategies for overcoming these problems.