Steve's sandbox

Tag: study abroad

  • Lauren Maslin: Case Study – Land of the Morning Calm: South Korea 2024 – 2025

    I chose to go to South Korea because I was fascinated by its history and very different culture than my own. I also believed that living there would be the best way to learn the language in its natural context, beyond the classroom.

    “Going to South Korea as a language exchange student showed me that challenges and difficulties shouldn’t hold you back. With patience, courage, and a willingness to embrace new experiences, it’s possible to achieve things you might never have thought possible.”

    Before going, I felt a little apprehensive because moving abroad meant saying goodbye to everything familiar and being apart from loved ones for a long time.  At the same time, I was curious about what I would learn whilst living abroad, and I was excited to meet new friends and travel to places I had never been before. I already knew a little about South Korea’s customs and culture through K-dramas and a local Korean church, but I was eager to experience these things first-hand.

    The first thing I noticed when I arrived was that everyone was speaking Korean. It seems obvious, but it immediately made me realise how different daily life would be and how important it would be to practise the language in real-life situations. Not only was the language different, but the food was incredible. From my previous travels, I had learned that food can build bridges across cultures and languages, and this proved true in Korea. I was invited out for dinner with some fellow students, and we had so much fun trying the side dishes, kimchi, bulgogi, and spicy tteokbokki. The final course was several rounds of singing in a local noraebang and a commemorative photo taken in a Korean style photobooth (the crazy hats, wigs and sunglasses were optional!) Sharing meals like this helped me connect with others and feel part of the university community.

    There were, of course, many differences in the culture of a Korean university compared to an English university. At my home university, I took a variety of classes, from workshops to lectures, and there was a lot of interaction between professors and students. Debates among students was encouraged. At the Korean university, the dynamic was different. I had to adjust to a more formal structure, where respect and hierarchy were emphasised. For example, I addressed professors using formal titles rather than their first names, which felt unfamiliar at first but taught me a lot about Korean culture and etiquette. Learning Korean in Korea was challenging, especially in fast-paced lectures but I improved by practising with classmates. studying in the peaceful university library, and a healthy dose of hopeful guessing! These differences helped me develop new academic skills and adapt to a learning environment very different from what I was used to. Learning in Korean was tricky, particularly in lightning-fast lectures,

    I spent time with classmates from all over the world, so Korean quickly became our common language. During breaks, we would chat in Korean, which helped me practise and improve my skills in a relaxed setting. Professors also organised field trips to help us expand our knowledge of Korean culture, providing further opportunities to use the language in real-life contexts. Through a language exchange, I made close friends with a few Korean students, who introduced me to their wider social circles. I am still in contact with them, and we continue to exchange languages. Building friendships and sharing cultural experiences was incredibly fun and rewarding, helping me feel connected to the university community.

    One of the hardest parts of living abroad is being away from familiar surroundings and support networks. Everyday tasks, like navigating a new city or understanding local customs, could feel challenging, and language barriers sometimes made communication exhausting.

    I quickly had to learn how to communicate in Korean, either by asking for help from my teachers or  by connecting with both fellow international students and local Korean friends. Facing these challenges helped me discover more about myself—how I handle uncertainty, what gives me resilience, and how curiosity and openness can turn difficulties into meaningful learning experiences. I even signed myself up for a K-pop dance audition which pushed me far out of my comfort zone and gave me an unforgettable experience!

     

     

    After a while, I found myself feeling comfortable living and studying abroad. I was surprised at how much confidence I had gained and how much my Korean language skills had improved. This experience showed me that challenges and difficulties shouldn’t hold you back. With patience, courage, and a willingness to embrace new experiences, it’s possible to achieve things you might never have thought possible. Living abroad helped me grow in independence, resilience, and self-belief, and gave me a deeper appreciation for learning in new cultural contexts.

     

    “Living and studying abroad for a year has had a profound impact on me. It has influenced the career I hope to pursue and changed the way I view the world.”

    Now that I have lived and studied abroad I feel more connected to global events, noticing not just what affects me locally but how broader issues shape people’s lives everywhere. This experience also taught me skills I will carry forward, such as adaptability, independence, and the confidence to step into new and unfamiliar environments. It showed me that taking opportunities, even when they feel challenging, can open doors to personal growth and future possibilities I might never have imagined.

    Reflecting on my year in South Korea, I can see how much I have grown personally, academically, and culturally. Living abroad challenged me, pushed me out of my comfort zone, and gave me experiences I will carry with me for life.

    I am deeply grateful to the John Speak Trust for making this opportunity possible—their support not only funded my time abroad but also inspired me to embrace the experience fully. Stepping into a new culture, learning a language, and meeting people from different backgrounds can be daunting, but it is also immensely rewarding. I would encourage anyone considering studying or living abroad to be courageous and just go for it!

     

  • Bryony Heaviside: Le phare à la Renommée – July 2025

    Ce mois j’ai fait un voyage à la pointe à la Renommée, sur la côte de la Gaspésie. Ce phare est célèbre pour de nombreuses choses, principalement pour contribuer au développement de la communication marine. Quand j’ai fait ma visite, j’ai fait un tour en français pour découvrir l’histoire du phare. Le guide était incroyablement intéressant et m’a expliqué à quel point il avait été important à travers des années.

    Le phare
    La belle vue sur la mer

    J’ai appris que le phare a été l’un des premiers à intégrer ce système de communication de Morse. En transmettant des messages importants avec des signaux lumineux clignotants, ces signaux étaient reçus par les navires en mer grâce à un récepteur lumineux. De plus, le phare a fait  une grande avancée dans la technologie majeure qui a marqué un tournant dans la communication maritime. En utilisant une lentille de Fresnel, qui permettait aux phares de projeter une lumière plus concentrée (rendant les phares plus visibles), il permettait aux navires de communiquer même dans des conditions météorologiques difficiles. J’ai certainement appris beaucoup de faits intéressants et j’ai compris le rôle crucial que le phare a joué au cours de l’histoire.

    La lentille de Fresnil

    En outre, quand je rentrais dans ma ville, j’ai écouté un podcast québécois qui parle des films à venir. En tant que cinéphile, je me suis intéressée aux actualités récentes concernant Denis Villeneuve, cinéaste de la région de Trois-Rivières (une ville que j’ai visitée). Ça sera intéressant pour voir l’influence de son éducation québécoise sur son approche à une franchise emblématique comme James Bond. Avec ses films comme «Dune» je pense qu’il pourrait apporter une nouvelle profondeur au personnage de Bond. S’il inclut d’éléments culturels et visuels inspirés de sa ville de naissance, il pourrait revitaliser le film, attirant des nouveaux spectateurs. J’ai hâte de voir comment il aborde le film et j’aimerais vraiment qu’il tourne quelques scènes au Canada, notamment au phare. Je peux imaginer le prochain James Bond suspendu à une corde du haut du phare, puis disparaissant dans l’océan, pour ne plus jamais être revu. Ce serait vraiment cool!

    J’adore les road-trips!

    This month, I took a trip to the Lighthouse on the Gaspésie coast (known as Fame Point in English). This lighthouse is famous for many things, primarily for contributing to the development of maritime communication. During my visit, I took a tour in French to learn about the lighthouse’s history. The guide was interesting and explained how important the lighthouse had been over the years.

    I learned that the lighthouse was one of the first to incorporate the Morse code communication system. By transmitting important messages with flashing light signals, these signals were then received by ships at sea due to a light receiver. Furthermore, the lighthouse also made a major technological breakthrough that marked a turning point in maritime communication. By using a Fresnel lens, which allowed the lighthouses to project a more concentrated light (making them more visible), it allowed ships to communicate even in difficult weather conditions. I certainly learned a lot of interesting facts, and understand the crucial role the lighthouse played over the course history.

    Une plage sur la côte de Gaspé

    When I was returning to my town, I listened to a Quebecois podcast about upcoming films. As a film buff, I’ve been interested in the recent news about Denis Villeneuve, a filmmaker from the Trois-Rivières area (a city I visited). It will be interesting to see how his Quebecois upbringing influences his approach to an iconic franchise like James Bond. With his films like “Dune,” I think he could bring new depth to the Bond character. If he includes cultural and visual elements, inspired by his hometown, it could revitalize the film, attracting new viewers. I’m looking forward to seeing how he approaches the film and I really wish that he would shoot some scenes in Canada, especially at the lighthouse. I can imagine the next James Bond dangling from a rope, from the top of the lighthouse, and then disappearing into the ocean, never to be seen again…That would be so cool!!!

    St Flavie- Un petit arrêt pour la poutine. Poutine aux crevettes (À gauche) Guédille au homard (À droite)

  • Kelly Huynh: Disfrutando del clima haciendo excursiones – April 2025

    Aproveché un fin de semana libre haciendo un viaje a Barcelona, lo que significaba que tenía dos días y una noche para aprovechar al máximo el tiempo y aprender todo lo posible sobre Cataluña. Tomé el tren desde la estación de Atocha en Madrid y el trayecto duró algo menos de tres horas debido a un pequeño retraso en las vías, pero aún así tuve suficiente luz del día para explorar la ciudad cuando llegué. Personalmente, prefiero mucho más Madrid, por la cantidad de turistas que había en Barcelona y por tener que estar siempre alerta por los carteristas. Además, sentí que le faltaba ese sentido de comunidad, aunque quizás esto se deba a que estuve allí solo como turista y no viviendo realmente en la ciudad.

    Recuerdo haber estudiado a Gaudí en mis clases de cultura en los módulos de español en mi universidad, y poder ver su obra, especialmente la Sagrada Familia, en persona fue realmente un privilegio. Las fotos que tomé no le hacen justicia para nada, y definitivamente recomiendo pagar la entrada y disfrutar de la experiencia completa por dentro.

    También pasé un buen ratito en Parc Güell, y la cantidad de escaleras y la caminata para llegar hasta allí valieron totalmente la pena. Ver todos los colores y las increíbles estructuras de lo que originalmente iba a ser una zona residencial, transformada en un parque para que lo disfruten los locales, fue impresionante. Mi parte favorita fue observar todos los mosaicos y contemplar la vista de toda la ciudad. Pude captar la visión de Gaudí de incorporar la naturaleza en sus obras, y lo logró muy bien con la escalinata del dragón, aunque lamentablemente la fuente no estaba en funcionamiento, como muchas otras en la ciudad debido a la sequía. Me quedaron muchas cosas por ver por falta de tiempo y por el clima algo impredecible ¡pero sin duda me encantaría volver!

    Muchos de mis amigos y compañeros de piso tenían exámenes parciales antes de las vacaciones de Semana Santa, así que tuve un poco de tiempo libre y decidí hacer una pequeña excursión de un día a Aranjuez en tren. Me siento mucho más cómodo manejándome por la extensa red de transporte en Madrid, y siento que es algo en lo que el Reino Unido podría mejorar, especialmente en cuanto a la accesibilidad para estudiantes, ya que viajar allí es carísimo. Aunque puede que simplemente me haya malacostumbrado a la tarifa mensual tan económica que hay aquí. El pueblo es conocido por su palacio, que es Patrimonio de la Humanidad. La entrada es gratuita los domingos por la tarde, pero solo para ciudadanos de la UE y de América Latina. Aun así, diría que la experiencia no se la puede perder, aunque tuve que pagar, porque la cola era larguísima y además hacía bastante calor ese día. Fue un plan de fin de semana perfecto, pasear por la orilla del río Tajo y por los distintos parques que rodean el palacio. Incluso vi pavos reales presumiendo sus plumas.

    En Madrid siempre hay muchos planes y eventos nuevos, y como era el comienzo de la primavera, el jardín botánico ofrecía entrada gratuita un día a la semana por la mañana. Fui a dar un paseo con algunos amigos que hice y a ver el jardín de tulipanes y las plantas que ya habían florecido. El clima era perfecto para caminar, y además había una galería dentro del jardín para escapar un poco de las multitudes. Agradezco que haya tantos espacios bonitos y tanta naturaleza, que son el descanso perfecto de estar encerrado o enterrado entre los estudios (¡que será mi realidad el mes que viene preparando los exámenes!). Momentos así siempre me ayudan a reflexionar sobre lo lejos que he llegado y también sobre lo cerca que está el final de este intercambio, aunque será una experiencia inolvidable. Estoy seguro de que seguiré aprendiendo y apreciando la cultura española incluso después de volver.

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    Hello! I love that it finally feels like spring here in Madrid, and the change in vibe was definitely needed after months of gloom. It felt like a switch was flipped because the weather in the UK was a lot better somehow.

    I took the opportunity of a free weekend to take a trip to Barcelona, which meant I had 2 days and one night to make the most of my time and learn all about Catalonia. I took the train from Atocha station in Madrid and the journey lasted just under 3 hours because of a slight delay on the tracks, but I still had plenty of daylight to explore the city. Personally, I prefer Madrid a lot more because the amount of tourists there were and having to remain vigilant because of pickpockets in Barcelona and the overall community feel is lacking, but this might be due to the fact that I was only there as a tourist and not actually living there. I remember learning about Gaudí in my cultural modules in my degree back home, and being able to see his work, especially the Sagrada Familia in person was truly a privilege, the photos I took did not do it justice whatsoever, and I definitely recommend paying to go inside and getting the full experience. 

    I also spent a while in Parc Güell and the amount of stairs and walking up to the site was worth it. Seeing all the colours and amazing structures of what was supposed to be a residential area be turned into a park for locals to enjoy. My favourite part was looking at all the mosaic tiles and taking in the view of the entire city, I got the vision that Gaudí wanted to incorporate nature into his works and he did it really well with the dragon stairway but unfortunately the fountain was not in service, like much of the fountains in the city due to a drought. There was so much I was unable to see due to time constraints and unpredictable weather but I would definitely love to come back!

    A lot of my friends and flatmates had midterm exams before the Easter break so I had a bit of free time and decided to take a little day trip to Aranjuez by train, I feel a lot more comfortable navigating the extensive transport network in Madrid and it is something that I feel like the UK could improve on in terms of accessibility for students, because it is super expensive to travel, but it may just be because I am spoilt with the cheap monthly tariff over here. The town is known for its palace which is a World Heritage Site, and the entry is free on Sunday afternoons but only for EU and Latin American citizens, but I would say it was a good experience regardless even though I had to pay, because the queue was insanely long and the weather was really warm that day too. It was a perfect weekend plan strolling along the river Tagus and the various parks around the palace, and I even saw peacocks doing a courtship display out in the wild.

    In Madrid there are always a lot of plans and new events, and because it was the beginning of Spring the botanical garden had free entry one day of the week in the morning, so I went to walk around with some friends I made and see the tulip garden and the plants that have bloomed. The weather was perfect for a stroll around and there was even a gallery inside to escape the crowds. I am thankful that there are nice outlets and a lot of nature which is the perfect break from being stuck inside or being buried in studies (which will be my reality next month preparing for my exams!) Small moments like this always help me reflect on how far I have come and also the finality of this exchange abroad but it will be an unforgettable experience and I am sure that I will continue learning and appreciating the Spanish culture once I return.

  • Kelly Huynh: Invierno, estudios y festividades (Dec 2024)

    Ahora que haMi grupo de Dirección de Recursos Humanos llegado el invierno, hace frío y oscurece muy temprano, pero esto no ha afectado el ambiente positivo que se siente por todas partes. Madrid sigue siendo un lugar bastante popular para los turistas, especialmente en el centro que había un mundo de gente y que generalmente trato de evitar, excepto cuando hice un camino de 30 minutos para ver todas las luces navideñas decorando las calles de Madrid en Black Friday. Fui a ver el árbol de Navidad gigantesco en la Plaza de Sol el día anterior, y ambas veces las multitudes eran insoportables, tardé una eternidad en salir de allí para regresar a piso. Lo que realmente me gusta de Madrid en invierno es que el clima sigue siendo agradable, con solo unos pocos días de lluvia, y la temperatura no es extremadamente fría. Algunos de mis amigos en el Reino Unido me contaron que han tenido nieve y que sentían temperaturas por debajo de los 0 grados.

    Diciembre también significa que los proyectos grupales y presentaciones deben entregarse, al igual que algunos de mis exámenes finales de los módulos. Encontré muy desafiante, pero también gratificante tomar mis clases en español, especialmente una vez que logré entender claramente los conceptos y pude contribuir a mis tareas. Como el fin del semestre se acerca, ya no hay tantos eventos estudiantiles, puesto que todos se toman los estudios en serio. Cuando uno de mis compañeros de clase tuvo que prepararse para un examen, me ofreció su entrada para un concierto de jazz como parte del Festival Internacional Jazz de Madrid, que se celebra todos los años durante noviembre. Personalmente, me encantan los espectáculos en vivo, y es maravilloso ver cómo las personas se conectan en todo el mundo a través de la música, lo disfruté muchísimo. Además, tengo muchas ganas de pasar el invierno en Madrid y también de disfrutar de la celebración del Año Nuevo con las personas que he conocido y que han hecho que esta experiencia sea mucho más agradable.

    Un collage de unas calles con las luces de navidad

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    Now that winter is here, it is cold and dark very early but this has not stopped the positive atmosphere all around. Madrid still appears to be quite a popular place for tourists especially in the centre, which I generally tried to avoid except to do the 30 minute walk to see all the Christmas lights on Black Friday decorating the streets of Madrid. I went to see the giant Christmas tree in Sol Plaza the day before and the crowds were very unbearable both times and it took forever to finally escape and get back home. What I really like about Madrid in winter is that the weather is still nice, with only a few days of rain and that the temperature is not extremely cold, as I heard from some of my friends back home that they had lots of snow and it felt like below 0 degrees.

    December also means that group projects and presentations are due as well as some of my final exams for my modules. I found it very challenging but also rewarding taking my classes in Spanish especially once I was able to understand the concepts clearly, and was able to contribute to my assignments. Since the end of the semester is approaching, there are no longer as many events hosted or student gatherings as everyone takes their studies incredibly seriously, and when one of my classmates had to prepare for an assignment, I was offered their ticket to a jazz concert as part of the Jazz festival of Madrid, which takes place every year during November. Personally, I love live shows and it is lovely seeing people connect all around the world through the medium of music and I had such a good time. I really am looking forward to spending the season in Madrid and also enjoying the New Year celebration with the people I have met that have made this experience much more enjoyable.

     

     

     

  • Kelly Huynh: Aventuras de otoño en Madrid (Nov 2024)

    Ver las hojas se vuelven marrones en otoño es una de mis cosas favoritas y aproveché la tarjeta de transporte ‘abono joven’ para viajar dentro de la provincia de Madrid por solo 8 euros al mes. Hice amigos con estudiantes locales que nos recomendaron un lugar llamado El Castañar de El Tiemblo, e hicimos el viaje de 1 hora y 30 minutos desde Príncipe Pío y solo tuvimos que pagar €1,25 extra ya que viajábamos a Castilla y León. El ambiente en el pueblo se sentía como una pequeña comunidad donde todos conocían cada uno de ellos y fue muy agradable pasar un rato en la naturaleza.

    Los árboles en el bosque (El Castañar)
    Disfrutando del paseo por la naturaleza.

    Era difícil de navegar al principio porque el único punto de información estaba cerrado por la tarde, pero los habitantes nos ayudaron mucho. Cuando pedimos direcciones de un puesto de comida, el comerciante e incluso los clientes vinieron a nuestro rescate y nos dieron consejos sobre el autobús para subir al bosque. La ubicación es popular, ya que muchos padres llevan a sus hijos para ver los castaños y mi amiga solía ir allí muy a menudo antes de mudarse a la ciudad para la universidad. Por desgracia, estaba muy concurrida en ese día y el último autobús estaba completamente lleno, pero una pareja amable que también estaba haciendo su camino en coche se ofreció a llevarnos allí y de regreso. También eran de Madrid y a menudo disfrutaban conduciendo aquí durante los meses de otoño y tuve una conversación con ellos sobre el Reino Unido y cómo era uno de sus destinos favoritos para viajar. El paseo por el bosque era muy tranquilo y relajante, que era justo lo que necesitaba desde que vine aquí.

    Durante el mes de noviembre, hubo una Fiesta del Cine durante 3 días donde las entradas para las películas estaban al precio reducido de €3,50. Fui a ver “La habitación de al lado” de Pedro Almodóvar que fue lanzada el mes pasado. Me gustó mucho su otra película “Volver”, y vi muchas similitudes en la producción y cinematografía de su obra más reciente. También visité el Mercadillo de Motores que tiene lugar el segundo fin de semana de cada mes durante la mayor parte del año, y personalmente lo preferí mucho más que El Rastro, fue mucho más organizado y no demasiado concurrido. El mercado estaba situado dentro del Museo del Ferrocarril de Madrid donde tenían en exhibición trenes y máquinas de vapor de diferentes periodos de tiempo, y también se podía entrar en algunos de ellos, que era muy chulo.

     

    El Mercadillo de Motores

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    Watching the leaves turn brown in autumn is one of my favourite things and I took advantage of the ‘abono joven’ transport card to travel within the community of Madrid for only 8 euros a month. I made some friends with local students who recommended a spot called El Castañar which is in the town of El Tiemblo, and we made the 1 hour and 30 minute journey from Principe Pio and only had to pay 1.25 extra since we were travelling to Castilla y Leon. The atmosphere in the town felt like a small community where everyone knew each other and it was very pleasant spending some time in nature. 

    El cine donde vi ‘La habitación de al lado’

    The town was hard to navigate at first because the only information booth was closed for the afternoon but the locals helped us out a lot. When we asked for directions from a food stall selling snacks, the owner and even the customers gave us tips about the shuttle bus. The location is popular as many parents take their children into the forest to see the chestnut trees and my friend used to go there very often before she moved into the city for university. Unfortunately, it was very busy on this day and the last bus was completely full but a kind couple who was also making their way up by car offered to take us there and back. They were also from Madrid and often enjoy driving here during the autumn months and I had a conversation with them about the United Kingdom and how it was one of their favourite destinations to travel to. The walk in the forest itself was very peaceful and relaxing which was just what I needed since coming here.

    During November, there was a Fiesta del Cine for 3 days where the tickets for movies were at the reduced price of 3.50 euros. I went to see Pedro Almodóvar’s “La habitación de al lado” which came out last month. I really liked his other film  “Volver”, and I saw a lot of similarities in the production and cinematography of his newer work. I also visited the Mercadillo de Motores which takes place on the second weekend of every month for most of the year, and personally I preferred it a lot more to El Rastro, it was a lot more organised and not too busy. The market was located inside the Museo del Ferrocarril de Madrid where they had trains and steam engines from different periods of time on display, and it was possible to enter some of them too which was very cool.

  • John Daniel: 月报二，八月：语言课程快结束了 Language school is almost over, August 2024

    再次你好！谢谢您看我第二个月的月报！我很激动跟你分享最近一个月所有的经历。

    在7月底，我必须与几个好朋友说再见。他们只是语言课程7月份的学生。我们收取成绩凭证后（见下图），我们直接开始安排一个小小的庆祝晚会来彼此告别。

    Hello again and thank you for reading my second monthly report! I am excited to share with you what has happened over the last month.

    At the end of July I had to say goodbye to a few friends who were only staying for the July section of the language course. After we received our certificates (pictured below), we got straight to organising a little celebratory evening to say farewell.

    收取我们第一个月的成绩凭证
    Collecting our first months’s certificates

    应为Aurelie是一半法国一半中国的人，而且在上海长大了，所以她有很多当地朋友，让我们在在一起度过了周五晚上。要是你在想为什么这些人并不看起来像经典中国那样，原因是他们几乎都是一半法国人！他们都在上海法租界区的一个学校读书了。

    Because Aurelie is half french, half chinese, and grew up in Shanghai, she has a lot of local friends and we spent Friday night with them. If you are wondering why most of these lovely people do not look typical Chinese, it is because nearly all of them are half french! They all went to french school in the french concession area of Shanghai.

    与当地朋友们出去玩儿
    Hanging out with local friends

    我们现在在语言课程八月份期中，因此我们最近进行完我们期中演讲。我选择的话题就是抽烟遭害健康的事实。真个话题挺难让感性却的，为的是大家当然已经知道抽烟对身体健康有害。 为了让他更有趣起见，我在我的社交型抽烟的习惯集中注意力，然后为什么有些人容易地上瘾，却其他人连跑步一会儿也非抽一支烟不可。 比如说，我参考了一位优秀的中国马拉松跑者。他50岁以上，一辈子都接连不断地抽烟，甚至马拉松中不断抽烟，却还是在3个小时30分钟以内跑完了 — 这比我最近3个小时39分钟跑完的马拉松快了！

    Now we are halfway through the August section of the language school and we have just finished giving our mid-term presentations. The topic I selected was smoking and how it harms your health. This is quite a difficult topic to make interesting because we obviously all know that it damages your health. So to make it fun, I focused on my bad habit of being a social smoker and the reasons why some people become easily addicted and yet some people cannot go for a run without having a cigarette mid-way through! For example, I referenced that amazing Chinese marathon runner. He was over 50 years old, chain-smoked his entire life, even chain smoked during the marathon, and still managed to complete it in under 3hours 30 minutes – this is faster than my most recent marathon time of 3 hours 39!

    八月分的期中报告
    August term’s mid-course presentation

    在另一个晚上，我跟我的韩国朋友一起去了酒吧。始终，我们想了为什么比平常跟吸引注目，然后我们才意识到那天是七夕节日，人们有可能以为我们在约会！好像很多在中国很多人不仅对外国人感到很好奇，而且尤其是对跨种族情侣。在网络上，这个是个很火讨论的话题。 不过，一段时间后，你习惯人们的盯着。

    On a different evening, I went with my Korean friend to a Korean bar. The whole time we were wondering why we were getting more stares than usual, and then we realised it was Chinese Valentine’s Day and people probably thought we were on a date! It seems many people in China not only are curious about foreigners, but especially interracial couples. On the Chinese internet, this is a hot topic. After a while, however, you do get used to all the people staring at you.

    七夕节日在韩国酒吧
    Celebrating Chinese Valentine’s Day at a Korean bar

    跟几个语言学院和硕士课程的朋友们，我们一起成立了一个跑步组。我们每个周二周四的晚上在江湾体育场见面。这个跑组就是友好的而不是竞争的。有好多不同国籍的成员，再加来自我的硕士的中国同学在逐渐增加! 我估计，当语言课程结束时，我只会在硕士学习，几乎整个跑组都会中国人的！

    With a few language school friends and a few friends from my masters degree, I have set up a running club that meets at Jiangwan Stadium on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Its a very friendly and not at all competitive. There is a mixture of nationalities, and the amount of Chinese classmates from my masters is growing! I expect when the language school finishes and I am only studying for my masters, almost all of the participants will be Chinese!

     

    我们跑步组在江湾体育场的门口
    Our running group at the gate of Jiangwan statdium

    周一周五我都去邯郸南校区的游泳池。是个真正50米游泳池。虽然是户外的，我们在上海，所以空气和池水都非常热。在中国人们都以救生员的责任为非常重要。在欧洲的50米游泳池你一般会看到一两个救生员，在中国总是有六到八个救生员！那个平均就是一个游泳者一个救生员！一开始我觉得这有点过头了，不过我然后发觉这些救生员本身并不看起来像常常游泳的人，所以可能是合适的。在一条泳道平常只有一个人, 不过我进去游泳道一条游泳道有时候会忙起来。不管我旁边的游泳道是不是空的，有些人还是选择在我的游泳道运动，甚至我在换泳道时也跟着我。。。。。。一些这个小区的人对外国人好奇得那样做。

    On Mondays and Fridays I go to Handan Southern Campus swimming pool. It is a proper 50m swimming pool. Although it is outside, we are in Shanghai, so the air and water are really warm. People in China take their lifeguarding responsibilities very seriously, whereas in Europe you might expect to see two lifeguards for a 50m pool, here in China there are between 6 and 8 lifeguards at all times! That is 1 lifeguard per 1 swimming on average. At the beginning I thought it was quite over the top, but then I realised the lifeguards themselves don’t really look like they swim very often, so perhaps it is necessary. Usually, there is about 1 person per swimming lane, although when I enter the pool it seems that one lane becomes very busy as even when lanes besides mine are empty, some people will still choose to swim in my lane follow me when I change names… that is how fascinated with foreigners some people in this neighbourhood are.

    邯郸南校区50公尺的游泳池
    Handan southern campus’s 50m swimming pool

    总体上说，这个月过得不错。我对下个月的月报很兴奋，那个时候我会给你分享我对金融硕士的第一些个印象。在那之前，我还有很多行至工作要做。祝你这个月过得顺利！

    All in all, it has been a good month. I am excited for next month’s report, when I will tell you about my first impressions of my Finance Masters. Until then, I have a lot of admin to do regarding residency. Have a great month!

  • John Daniel: 我在上海还没到一个月！I haven’t been in Shanghai even a month! July 2024

    上海外滩的景色 The view from Shanghai Bund

    我在上海还没到半个月，不过这段时期的经历又丰富又复杂。

    中国认可工党的成功吗？China approving of the labour party’s success?
    (I am joking, its a hero’s memorial I just happened to visit on the day the UK elected Starmer)

    今天我在上课的时候接受了个电话。因为我以前错过了几次他们给我的电话，当时终于地注意到他们在给我打着电话，所以我马上接起了电话。是警察！ 幸亏，他们只要肯定是否我有没有在派出所填好境外人员住宿登记表。这篇登记表的目的在于保障所有住在上海的外国人都在一个名单。要是不好的事儿发生，政府可以容易地跟他们交流。 此外，这篇也是得到居留证的要求之一。

    得到居留证真是个不容易做好的事儿。我在这个路上已经遭遇许多白跑一趟。不过我在慢慢适应这里官僚的重视。我还有几个要求该满足才能得到居留证，不过我大学的国际学生办公室在努力工作帮助我。

    我觉得我的中文水平在日益提高！除了跟我的同学们说中文以外，我还在认识到许多中国人。 周一晚上我跟三个中国人出去吃晚饭。我们吃饭后去了一个著名的酒吧叫Sober Company。 以前这个酒吧在亚洲最好50酒吧的排行榜上。我们在那儿继续玩儿，整个晚上都是用中文沟通 – 一共5个小时。 我们快要回家之前，我头开始痛。 我没想到我会在这样的环境还活下去！ 我以为在这样自然的环境只说中文会让我觉得有点儿尴尬，但是他们大部分听懂了我的意思，我5成左右听懂了他们的话！

    我小区的一个大楼，很酷. A cool building in my neighbourhood

    我下个月必须做的事情很多。包括我入学之前的三个课程：会计、程序设计、统计数学。我猜这下几个月会非常的忙碌。我很期待。

    I haven’t yet been in Shanghai a month, but the experience in this short time has been wonderful and complicated.

    从农村来的中国人很少有机会认识到外国人。在上海看到从国内来旅行的人请外国人拍照是很常见的. 三个孩子请我拍照。
    People from the countryside in China have few opportunities to meet foreigners. It is very common to see people from the inner country travelling in Shanghai and asking foreigners for photos. Three kids asked me for a photo.

    Today when I was in class I received a phone call. Because I had missed their calls a couple of times before, finally noticing them calling me then,  I immediately picked up. It was the police! Fortunately, they were only wanting to confirm whether or not I had filled our the foreigners accommodation registration form. This objective of this form is to ensure that all the foreigners living in Shanghai are on a list. If anything bad happens, the government can easily communicate with them. Besides, this is also one of the requirements for getting the resident card.

    Getting a resident card is not an easy thing to do. I have already been on many wild goose chases. But I am slowly getting used to the love for bureaucracy here. I still have a few requirements I need to fill before I can get my resident card, but the international student office is working hard to help me.

    I think my Chinese level is getting higher each day! Other than speaking Chinese with my classmates, I am also getting to know many Chinese people. On Monday night I went out for dinner with 3 Chinese

    这些人都是我的同学们。 因为我们都来自不同国家，我们为一个共同语言是中文！再加上我们是高级班的学生，所以我们更好只说中文吧！
    These are my classmates. Because we all come from different countries, our only common language is Chinese. Furthermore, because we are all in the top set, its better we just speak Chinese right!

    people. After eating, we went to a famous bar called  Sober Company. The bar

    我跟三个新的中国朋友。 在 Sober Company
    Me and 3 new Chinese friends. At Sober Company

    used to be on the list of Asia’s Top 50 Bars. We continued to hang out there, and the whole evening we spoke Chinese to communicate – a total of 5 hours. Just as we were about to head home, my head started hurting. I never thought I would survive in this kind of environment. I thought that in this kind of natural speaking environment, only speaking Chinese would make me feel a little awkward, but they mostly understood me and I understood about  50% of what they were saying!

    In the next month I have many things I must do. Including the 3 pre-admission courses: accounting, programming, and statistics. I guess the next few months are very busy. I am looking forward to it.

    我跟两位中国学生住在第四楼。
    一位是我硕士第二年级的
    第二位是经济硕士二年级的。
    I live on the fourth floor with two chinese students.
    One student is in the second year of my masters programme.
    The other student is in his second year of economics masters.
    我大学最著名的大楼 My University’s most famous building
    我的课都在里面进行！
    My classes are all held inside
    这两个女生是我在上海最喜欢的朋友们。 他们俩是一半中国人，一个是一半法国人，另外一个荷兰热人。他们的中文很流利！ 我们常常只说中文然后要是一个话题太复杂，用英文说明 These are two of my best friends in shanghai. They are both half Chinese, one is half french and the other is half dutch. Both of their chinese is really fluent. We often only speak chinese and if the topic is too complex then we use english to clarify.

  • Khalida Choudhury – Oman: The Interior, January 2024

    Oman: The interior

    My first few weeks in Oman have been fascinating. Language immersion brings so many more insights than visiting a country on holiday.

    I’ve travelled to Oman before, however this is my first time in what is called the interior. There are 11 governates in Oman and I am located in Ad-dakiliyah or in English, the interior. This governate is located inland, away from the coast, and includes provinces such as Manah and Nizwa.

    The beauty of Oman lies in the skyline. The mountains can be seen in the horizon, both in Muscat – the capital, and in the interior. I began my time in Oman by visiting a former lecturer at Sultan Qaboos University who spoke to me about the culture and traditions of the country. For example I didn’t know about the different types of head dress, one for everyday wear called the kummah, and a more official head dress called the mussar.

    The teachers at the Sultan Al Qaboos Language Centre also spoke to me about the Omani economy. Oman has a budget deficit. It also has policies such as the Omanisation programme which aim to protect jobs for locals. And a historic felaj system which helps with agriculture.

    On my arrival I was keen to explore the interior right away. I set off for Birkat Al Mouz, some ruins near Nizwa which the 3,000 year old felaj system runs through.

    The attraction reminded me of Petra, but on a smaller scale. I climbed to the top of a small village of ruins. It felt calm and peaceful to be visiting the sight alone and liberating. I hope to have many more adventures like this one during my stay.

    عمان: الداخلية

    أسابيعي الأولى في عمان كانت ساحرة. تعلم اللغة العربية مفيد أكثر مقارنة بتعلمها عند زيارة البلاد للسياحة.
    سافرت إلى عمان مرتين من قبل لكن هذه أول مرة في محافظة الداخلية. يوجد ١١ محافظة في عمان وأنا في محافظة الداخلية. الداخلية في شمال البلاد لكن لا يوجد شاطئ بجانبها. يوجد ولايات في المحافظة مثل ولاية منح وولاية نزوى.

    جمال عمان في الجبل والطبيعة والسماء. أنا بدأت وقتي في عمان بالاستماع إلى محاضرة تعمل في جامعة السلطان قابوس. تعطيني المعرفة بالعادات والثقافة عن البلاد.

    تعلمت عن أنواع الملابس المختلفة في عمان، مناسبة واحد لي كل يوم (كمة), و واحد للمناسبة الرسمية (مصر).

    المعلومات في معهد السلطان قابوس يعملون عن الاقتصادية في عمان. عمان كان عندها عجر في الميزانية و عندها برنامج التعمين الذي يحفظ العامل للمواطنين. و في عمان نظام الأفلاج الذي للمزارع والاستحمام و غسيل الملابس.

    بعد أن وصلت, بدأت اكتشاف الداخلية على الفور. زرت بركة الموز, و تنوف و هي قرية صغيرة في نزوى و هناك كان فلج قديم. المكان ذكرني بالبتراء في الأردن لكنه أصغر.

    أنا أشعر دائما بالسلام و الأمان حتى عندما أكون وحدي. أتمنى مغامرات أكثر مثل هذه التي أعيشها هنا.

  • Case Study – Marianne McCready, France 2023

    Admiring the view of Lyon

    I would first and foremost like to thank the John Speak Language Trust for supporting me during my experience in France.

    Thanks to your support not only have I been able to cover living costs, but I have also been able to explore more of the country and live new cultural experiences.

    Visiting a really cool Ancient Egyptian Exhibit!
    On a day trip to some islands off the coast of Cannes

    The opportunity to study abroad has opened my eyes to lots of new experiences such as education in France, French way of life and all the rich cultural experiences France has to offer. It has also been a fairly international experience as I have made friends with French people and with people from all over the world. Furthermore, with Paris being such an international city, I have got to try lots of new cuisines and inventive food such as an 100% vegetarian restaurant where they prepared your food for you on the table! I also visited many museums such as the Louvre, l’Orangerie and the Musée D’Orsay. I also had the chance to visit a once in a lifetime display of Ancient Egyptian artefacts, most of which had never left Egypt before, and learn about the connection Rameses II and how a Frenchman used his name to crack Hieroglyphs in the 1820s.

    When I embarked upon my study abroad adventure in Paris, I had no idea what challenges it would bring. Learning how the French university system works, making some mistakes (and getting lost!) and learning how to live in a big international city such as Paris. In recent months, there has also been many strikes in the French capital and, at times things have been very chaotic, but through speaking with locals I have come to see it as a quintessential cultural experience! Given all the French history that I have learned while here I really feel that I have a deep understanding of why strikes and workers’ rights are so important to the French People.

    While in France and with the support of the John Speak Language Trust, I was able to travel to lots of different places for the first time.

    Trying French Cuisine!
    In the beautiful village of Eze!

    I was able to visit a friend who was studying abroad in Lyon twice and she showed me round the beautiful city and let me practice my French with her Host Family which was very interesting as they spoke with a different accent to those from the Parisian region. I also visited Dijon and Versailles. At the end of my time in France I organised a trip to the south of France which was amazing! It was lovely to escape the city for a while and see where French people go on holiday. As I felt quite comfortable navigating the French rail system at this point, my friend and I travelled by train almost everywhere and took some buses in order to get to more hard-to-reach places, such as the medieval village of Èze which I absolutely loved.

    All of these experiences which have shaped me, and my knowledge of French and French culture would not have been possible if not for the John Speak Language Trust.

    France, particularly Paris, has a higher cost of living than that in the UK and with the help of the Trust I felt a weight off my shoulders which allowed me to make the absolute most of my time abroad.

  • Marianne McCready – France May 2023: Voilà!

    Sunset view of Sacre-Coeur from my kitchen window

    Voilà ! C’est mon dernier mois en France ! J’ai maintenant fini mes examens et je prends du temps pour voyager autour de la France et réfléchir sur mon temps ici ! Premièrement, c’était génial même si de temps en temps difficile d’assister à l’université française pendant ces derniers quelques mois ! Beaucoup du monde m’a dit que j’ai eu « une expérience française authentique » en surmonter toutes ces grèves, fermetures et chaos général à Paris. Mon progrès en français me fait plaisir et maintenant je connais beaucoup de vocabulaire très spécifique à propos des sujets comme des techniques filmiques, des concepts philosophales et amplement des termes très spécifiques d’analyse littéraire que je n’ai jamais rencontré avant. J’ai maintenant lu plusieurs grands œuvres de la littérature française et vu quelques des plus grands films du cinéma français, particulièrement de la Nouvelle Vague. Si vous êtes intéressés, personnellement, je vous recommanderais de regarder « Les Quatre Cents Coups » que j’ai bien aimé et il est tellement emblématique du genre. Deuxièmement, j’ai fait plusieurs relations avec des Français et j’ai appris beaucoup d’eux, à propos de la culture, la langue et l’argot française ! J’ai fait nombreuses erreurs en français quand j’ai parlé avec eux mais ils me corrigés doucement et m’ont donné des mieux façons de dire des phrases ou des questions afin de sembler plus naturelle. Finalement, j’ai aussi passé du temps en réfléchir à mon temps à Paris. J’estime que j’ai vu beaucoup que

    Gabi and I at the Arc de Triomphe

    je n’ai pas vu avant, et je connais certains quartiers assez bien et je ne consulte plus Google Maps constamment pour me déplacer ! J’ai aussi eu la chance de voyager un peu pendant que j’habite à Paris. J’ai passé ce weekend dans le beau sud de la France avec une amie et je voyage à Lyon cette semaine pour rendre visite à ma bonne amie avant que nous deux partons de la France à la fin de ce mois !

    Ta Dah! It’s my final month in France! I have now finished my exams and I am taking some time to travel around France and reflect on my time here! Firstly, it has been a great if sometimes difficult experience attending French university for the last few months! As many people have told me I have had “an authentic French experience” while coping with all of these strikes, closures and general chaos in Paris. I am pleased with my progress in French, and I now know lots of very specific vocabulary about topics like filming techniques, philosophical concepts and very specific literary analysis terms that I had never encountered before. I have now read many great works of French literature and seen some of the greatest films from French Cinema, particularly from La Nouvelle Vague. If you are interested, I personally would recommend watching “Les Quatre Cents Coups” I really liked that one and it is very much emblematic of the genre. Secondly, I have made many connections with French people, and I have learned so much from them, about French culture, language and slang! I have made many mistakes in my French when talking with them, but they do gently correct me and give me better ways to say sentences or questions in order to sound more natural. Finally, I have also been reflecting on my time in Paris. I feel that I have seen lots of parts of Paris that I had not seen before, and I know certain areas quite well and I am not constantly checking Google Maps to get around! I have also been very fortunate to travel a little while I have been living in Paris. I spent this weekend in the beautiful south of France with a friend and I am travelling to Lyon this week again to visit my good friend before we both leave France at the end of the month!