大三出國、全英語課程 - 國際視野 : 淡江大學大三出國通報及學分採認系統

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2023大三出國輔導通報系統 - 留學心得報告[編輯]

觀光Ａ 410860018 　李家逸　　留學學校：卡地夫大學(英國)

(一)基本資料

The university that I applied to for my year abroad was Cardiff university situated in the Capital of Wales. I started in September 2023 and finished my studies in August 2024. The exchange criteria stated that I have to participate in the school of modern languages, therefore I opted in Italian A1 and German A1 as my main modules. Alongside this, I signed up for courses such as “Language and Popular Culture,” “Teaching English as a Foreign Language” and Portuguese A1. (79字)

(二)課程學習

【照片說明：my classmates and I at the door of the venue for Italian final exam】

The module I enjoyed the most was Italian. The class was very culturally diverse and consisted of Erasmus students from countries such as Germany and Spain. Our professor was an Italian from Venice, known as Angelo. He was welcoming and sometimes could be very boundary-pushing. Through him, my Italian reading and speaking skills improved immensely due to the rule that he implemented during class which was that we could only use Italian to communicate during the lessons, which included answering or asking questions. The textbook includes eleven topics, varying from Italian cuisine, Italian gastronomy, and Italian music to Italian telecinema. Therefore, I was able to study the subject through a cultural lens, which was assistive and authentic. Around major holidays, we had to study extra class material that showcased Italian traditions, such as Christmas and Easter. Angelo always had PowerPoint prepared when introducing new grammar or tenses. We were given a copy of handouts weekly; however, all the in-class materials are still accessible online. The handouts mostly focused on vocabulary and grammar exercises which were essential for beginners. We were asked to finish three Italian storybooks for the oral exam as well, it was challenging, but I reckon that was an important part of the learning process. We don’t really get a lot of exams or assessments, however, there would be homework after each lesson. Similarly for German, there were four sessions each week. Towards the end of each session, Angelo always left us five to ten minutes to practice having small conversations in Italian on different topics each day. I have also made some friends through this quite rewarding exercise. Personally, this learning atmosphere was very encouraging for me.On top of that, one regulation of conducting assessments and exams is not allowing students put names on their work. Since all works remain anonymous, there wouldn't be any bias when tutors are marking scores.(316字)

(三)生活環境

【照片說明：a reglar sunny day visiting the cardiff castle】

The campus of Cardiff University is scattered around the northern part of the city. It is roughly twenty-five minutes of walk away from my accommodation, which is based in the southern bit. The building for the School of Modern Languages is formed by a street of two-story red houses. Other courses that I attended took place right across the street, where you can find a huge box-like building with a food court and a library attached to it. Nearby, there are a few small businesses located around the park, a tram station and the National Museum of Wales. The building of the student union is where most of the events happen. To raise awareness for social issues, the student union would provide support to different minority groups monthly, such as Women’s Month, Pride History Month, black history month, and Mental Health Month. During exam periods, students would flock to the library on campus, one located across the student union and the other near my course’s building. Unlike libraries in Taiwan, students are allowed to bring food and drink into the building, and there are floors designed for students to discuss without worrying about their volume. On top of that, the libraries normally close at 21:30, which is incredibly convenient. A huge shout out to my student accommodation; it was relatively cheap and came with a huge personal space. Except for sharing a kitchen with four other tenants, I had a bedroom with a bathroom of my own. Desk, wardrobe, radiator and mattress were all included. You could also find other facilities in the common area such as a laundromat, study spaces, a gym, a TV room, and bike parks. The best part was they hired maintainers and workers to keep the areas functioning. Two streets across from my accommodation are a cinema and the train station, which is basically the start of the city centre. Nearby, you will find the principality stadium and an arena, where rugby matches and gigs are frequently held. Inside the city centre, with endless clothing brands, drugstores and restaurants, is it a great place to spend time during the weekend. You can catch the essence of Welsh culture simply by spotting the number of pub houses in the city; they really keep the streets alive, starting from noon to midnight. There are also a handful of bakeries, coffee shops and a traditional food market that I visit weekly. Each year approaching the Christmas period, a winter wonderland will be built right next to the National Museum for friends and families to frolic. You can also celebrate the Christmas spirit by visiting the Christmas market in the city centre, where you can enjoy hot wines and roast nuts. Of course, you can get handmade decorations from local artists and vendors. I wouldn’t say Cardiff is the coldest city in the whole UK; however, it is certainly the rainiest of all considering it is a harbour. Especially throughout the wintertime, the weather would be extremely miserable, yet the good news is it doesn’t really snow in the low-altitude area in South Wales. Still, everything feels a bit gloomy and melancholic. Soon after, following the late spring, the city would be chant with greeneries and animals again. In general, if you are not a huge fan of rain or cold weather, Cardiff might not be preferable for you in the winter. Wales is famous for its well-preserved nature; countless national parks are located here, from mountain landscapes to coastal reserves. During the weekend, it is rather accessible to visit other cities from Cardiff by train, such as Penarth, Barry and Swansea. Not only do I appreciate Wales for some of its breathtaking scenery, but also for its heart-warming culture. If you ask people from other boroughs in the UK what impression they have of Welsh people, they will usually respond with how joyful and optimistic the Welsh are. The encounters that I had with Welsh citizens were oftentimes delightful. In Wales, you will find signs and captions written in two languages, English and Welsh. The Welsh language is a Celtic language, sharing the same root with the Scottish and the Irish language, Hence, you may distinguish Welsh people by their accent when speaking English, as well as Irish and Scottish. (715字)

(四)自我成長

【照片說明：me and my friends preparing meals during the holiday 】

In school, I have noticed that the British module system can be a bit confusing. During the module sign-up for the second term, I couldn’t find the schedules for each class. After inquiring from the school office, I learnt that students usually won’t be informed of the class schedule until they finish signing up, hence there’s a huge chance that your classes might crash. Therefore, I had to write an email to the office asking them to provide me with a list of courses that fit my curriculum. Unsurprisingly, it took about three working days to complete the process. The leading barrier was obviously the language, which means English would be the primary language. Fortunately, I have been practising my English with friends and native speakers while studying in Taiwan, so I had little trouble communicating. However, a massive inconvenience for me was to cook daily, given grocery shopping in the UK is far cheaper than dining out. Therefore, my exchange partner and I would simply do groceries at supermarkets for a weekly supply, being more sustainable. As a result of the current British policies, the cost of living is unprecedentedly high at the moment, not only for foreigners but also locals. Everything costs almost tripled than in Taiwan, including the lease, bills, food, and bus/train fares. Thankfully, almost every establishment supports online payment, so instead of carrying cash and coins, using mobile is the most common payment method. UK’s Public transportation is less convenient than Taiwan's. There were a few times we had to cancel our plans due to the striking of workers. Oftentimes, buses and trains are not on schedule and, in my opinion, heavily overcharged. Compared to Taiwan, the UK is massive. Travelling from Cardiff to another major city, such as Birmingham or London, takes at least four hours by train. Personally, I had merely explored parts of South Wales for that reason. In the cultural aspect, regionalism plays a significant role into the context of British society. If you pay attention, you will notice that accents and mannerisms are strongly diverse with different regional backgrounds. As RP being the typical accent, Welsh and Scottish are the easiest groups to spot, as some syllable is accentuated. In addition, both cultures hold more values to traditions and customs. In England, accents such as Posh or Cockney from London are quite famous. In northern England, the Scouse from Liverpool and Brummie from Birmingham are the most notorious. With each group having an individual cultural atmosphere, values and lifestyles also differ. I found this phenomenon particularly interesting; it further contributes to conversations between people across different boroughs. Jacob, a friend of mine, comes from Somerset, which is south of Bristol, England. He indicated that in Somerset, they tend to have a farmer accent since it is an agriculturally based area. And above that, Somerset has its own regional flag and other local traditions, which I find fascinating. (492字)

(五)大三出國建議

I think I had the best time during my year abroad when I decided to be more spontaneous. Whether it’s selecting modules, attending social events, or making new friends, try not to constrain yourself to your comfort zone. Get loose, explore, have fun, stay learning, and experience the culture. If you find yourself having trouble adapting to the culture or the environment, try to look for the things that you enjoy while exploring more about them. For instance, I had a hard time with the weather in the UK, however, I do find the landscapes and scenery very appealing. It can be a bit challenging to make friends in a strange environment, thus I highly recommend joining study groups, student societies or social events. At Cardiff University, at the end of each week, students can participate in an event called “language café” organised by the student union. There, students who are studying a new language can meet up with native speakers who volunteered to participate. As sports being a huge topic nationwide in the UK, there are also student societies or varsity matches to join in the university such as rugby and football. For any of those who are considering Cardiff University as your primary option, you will possibly find the learning environment just as favourable as I did. I had some of the best tutors that I have ever met, and I hope it will be the same for you. (242字)

(六)其他

Speaking of my experience as a queer person while living in Wales specifically, I can confirm that Cardiff.is a very queer-inclusive capital and a safe space for queer people to thrive. Considering individuality is being praised in British society, being gay is extremely common in the UK, hardly anyone would judge you because of it. In terms of the amount of queer individuals I met and got to know, I was able to create and cultivate queer friendships comfortably. From people I had been sharing the same living space with for a year, three out of four of my flatmates are queer people. In class, roughly half of the students as far as I know identify themselves as queer as well. Students can easily find information and counsellors through the Student Union or faculties about problems regarding their sexuality and identity. The queer community in Cardiff city centre is particularly vibrant, you can find queer organizations in every corner, such as handcrafting art classes, queer trinket shops, gay clubs and drag-themed brunch, etc. In February, during the holiday of Chinese New Year, several friends and I signed up for the first “Queering Chinese New Year Festival” organized by the local community in Cardiff. This was essentially for those who could not celebrate the Chinese New Year with their family for various reasons. In the venue, there were traditional ornaments and sections for artists/authors to promote their artwork which also funds the queer community. The event began with volunteers performing their talents, following the calligraphy class, origami class and tea-tasting activity. The night ends with guests dancing to DJs’ music. That night was one of the memorable highlights whilst I was in touch with the local queer community. (289字)

補充照片

【照片說明：cardiff】

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資料更新時間：12月01日 08:21

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