No many many moons ago when I got my license, in the fair state of Victoria @ 1979, there were automatic and manual licenses then, only wimps got a auto license in those days.
As my test was in a small country town, it was the local copper doing the driving test, he was severely hungover from a big night before, he was looking pretty green around the gills!
He just got me to drive down the street to the chemist shop, he went in to get some pills to ease his sore head, and got me to drive straight back to the cop shop to fill out the paperwork!
I think when you went for yours, as you'd already held a license they just probably didn't worry about the difference and gave you a manual one anyway.
And you still don't have to speak English now, they will still have an interpreter for you if required