Sharing of FGF Recipients: WONG Ching Yee
FGF Activity: Student Exchange Programme
WONG Ching Yee (English Language and Literature)
"Nothing ventured, nothing gained." I am lucky that I applied for the student exchange because it was a once in a lifetime experience. During the learning activity, I met lots of friends who come from different countries and we successfully embraced the language barrier and developed a close relationship with each other. During these four months, I kept using English to communicate with them and it definitely enhanced my English proficiency. We usually have a deep conversation with each other and make so many memories when we hangout. Hence, it develops my cultural awareness of other countries around the world. In terms of the learning at the exchange institution, it makes me reflect on my learning attitude. As I enrolled in seven courses in total, I discovered that most of the students in European countries are highly involved in the lectures and they are eager to learn and full of enthusiasm in engaging the class discussion. When it comes to the Q&A session in a student’s presentation, European students will question one another about the content they are learning in order to gain a better understanding of the course content. Compared to the learning atmosphere in Hong Kong, the teaching and learning styles in European countries can stimulate discussions and critical thinking which is effective in improving our learning efficiency.
For language skills, the learning activity enhanced my English proficiency and deepened my general awareness of English literature. As I am studying English literature at HKBU, I chose most of the courses about English literature at the exchange institution. In one of the courses, it mainly discusses the literary work of a series of black women writers. As the course instructor taught us some theory to analyze the text such as Intersectionality, it is beneficial for me to understand how black women were oppressed by society and have a better understanding of the background of the text. After I attended the lesson, I learned that Ann Petry who is an African American novelist published several novels and short stories about the racism issue because housing in New York City was segregated by race in the 19th century and black women need to face the oppression and racial prejudice among society. Hence, she wrote several novels to draw people’s attention to race and class in America.
During this learning activity, I met lots of people who were older than me and they provided lots of suggestions for my future planning. As most of them were older than me and were studying for a master's degree at the exchange institution, they highly recommended me to keep learning so as to enrich myself, for instance, to participate in certain courses to learn one foreign language to enhance my workplace competitiveness. Initially, I kept learning Spanish at HKBU through registering for the language course but I didn't plan to have further study on this language. After this activity, I may decide to keep learning Spanish and take DELE (Spanish official examination) to obtain the academic qualification of Spanish.