Summary
Being a student at the University of Glasgow has been a fantastic experience both academically and personally. Although I thoroughly enjoyed my first two years of university in Glasgow, I realised that spending some time in a new educational and cultural environment would increase the benefit that I could gain from my education. Due to this, in 2013, I transferred to study abroad at the University of Nottingham, Ningbo, China for one year. Not only was this an unforgettable experience, but it gave me an opportunity to grow both personally and professionally.
Learning outcomes
I spent a year in China in order to expand my knowledge of different cultures, to learn Mandarin, and to learn to interact with Chinese people on a personal and professional level. More specifically, I aspired to develop my communication and leadership skills by working with Chinese people in both academic and professional work environments. Lastly, I hoped to learn how to become part of a new community and to engage in creating value within this new intercultural community.
Impact on Academic Studies and Employability
Having lived and studied in China has helped me expand my comfort zone and feel better prepared for future life from both an academic and employability perspective. I had the opportunity to submerge myself in new teaching methods and learning strategies. This taught me to be flexible and accommodating to different cultures when writing material for assignments and has made me more comfortable and confident in both myself and my ability to succeed academically. Being surrounded by a new culture has at the same time developed my employability skills: from learning a new language and learning to interact with a new culture, to working with Chinese people and, ultimately, managing a new student society aimed at Chinese students. In all of these respects, I have developed my experience base and what I can now speak about and offer to potential future employers.
Activities engaged in. |
Graduate Attributes Developed |
Applying to study abroad
During my second year at the University of Glasgow, I was introduced to the optional study abroad programme. I knew that this was a competitive program and that having a strong desire to participate would not necessarily guarantee me a place. Recognising this challenge, I decided to be resourceful and responsible for my own success and so I allocated myself several hours per week purely for research and application purposes. In order to be accepted I had to be investigative: I identified and met, in person, with key decision makers in the selection process and made sure that they knew me, my achievements and potential. In order to get a head start, I also contacted previous students that had studied abroad in China and found out as much as I could about their experience and why they were accepted. I then applied these findings to my own application. Due to this effective planning process, I completed the application well before the deadline and was able to showcase in my personal statement how well informed I was as to the process, the grading systems, the challenges that I could expect, and the costs of living. As a result of my efforts, I was accepted for my dream study abroad year in China. As part of this experience I learned the value of putting my name in front of key decision makers and having what some people call an "elevator pitch" ready. This refers to a 5 minute informal presentation where I can summarise to a potential employer who I am, what are my achievements and why I should be selected. This in turn helped my improve my effective communication skills. |
Investigative
Academic
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Learning Mandarin
While living in China I took a module in Mandarin. This was an exciting experience as I got to learn the basics of the language which I was then able to practice with locals. Learning Mandarin was a major personal goal and in order to succeed I had to be adaptable. Thus I contacted my home university and received permission to allocate some of my credits to mandarin classes and signed up for an extra 40 hour mandarin course outside of university. After finishing the academic year, instead of going back home or travelling, I relocated to Beijing, found a Chinese host family and lived in a non-English environment for 6 weeks while attending an intensive 5 hours/day course to further develop my Mandarin. As a result I was able to pass the international HSK Level 3 (equivalent of European B1) examination and am now continuing learning towards HSK Level 4. Through this experience I learned that by being adaptable and resourceful even the goals that seem to be impossible can become achievable. |
Adaptable
Academic
Personal
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Starting a Dancing Society
When I was still in high school I had a chance to first try couple dancing. In university I had a chance to try salsa and fell in love. I realised that dancing salsa was much more a game than anything else and this aspect of dance fascinated me. However, on arrival at the University of Nottingham in Ningbo I was surprised to hear that they did not have any Latin dancing societies. Furthermore from speaking to students and staff I noticed that there clearly was demand from people and a high interest. Due to this I decided not to wait and started a Salsa society. After reserving a weekly spot at the campus gym, sending out emails, printing posters and promoting through word-of-mouth, I had a fully functioning weekly 3 hour dancing class with a total of 50 active members. Soon after I arranged 3 other teachers who were helping with some of the classes. Starting a society was an incredible opportunity to develop my self-confidence and initiative. With nothing pushing me but an idea and a love for dancing, I had to break through the barrier of procrastination and take action. Beyond self-confidence, starting the salsa society was a great chance practice organisation skills as I had to manage marketing, bookings, class content, teachers and most importantly finding attendees. |
Confident
Personal
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Living in Beijing
After finishing my academic year in China, I had a big decision to make. I could either spend my summer working as a manager at the Southwestern Advantage company in America, a place where I previously worked for two summers and did very well. Or I could stay in China to further develop my language skills and to experience life in China outside of a University campus. I decided that learning Chinese and living in China would in the long-term be more beneficial for my personal development and future success. Thus, using my existing networks, I was able to arrange accommodation with two Chinese families in Beijing that were willing to host me for 3 weeks each. Next I found a language school that agreed to give me a substantial discount. Finally, I packed my belongings and took a train to Beijing where I would no longer be living in the protected environment of the University of Nottingham campus. Living with a Chinese family was the most culturally interesting and integrating aspect of my year in China. The fact that they did not speak any English was very challenging, but it largely facilitated the acceleration of my learning complimented by the 5 hours of classes per day that I took at the Language school. As a result, I completed my language course having passed the HSK level 3 exam, considered to represent an elementary level of proficiency in the language. |
Resourceful and Responsible
Academic
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