LZU students attend ESL training at Monash University
During our university winter vacation, 23 students from Cuiying Honors College visited Monash University in Melbourne, Australia for intensive English language training from 20th January to 16th February 2013. Students were selected by a rigorous interview process by the college, and then pre-tested by Monash University before being placed into classes appropriate to their English level at the Monash University English Language Centre. Through the courses, their English listening, speaking, reading and writing skills were improved significantly.
While studying at the English Language Centre, students also stayed in the homes of local residents scattered throughout the Melbourne suburbs. These homestays not only gave them opportunities to practice their English, but also gave them a more in-depth cross-cultural experience and insight into Australian life.
At our request, Monash University also organized some academic visits to some well-known universities in the locality, and our students took advantage of these opportunities in their free time when they didn’t have English classes. They visited Monash University’s own, Department of Chemistry, School of Physics and Center for Electron Microscopy; and also, Swinburne University of Technology’s Centre for Atom Optics and Ultrafast Spectroscopy. Our students were extremely grateful to Professor Philip Marriott, from the Monash University Department of Chemistry, and director of the Center for Electron Microscopy Professor Joanne Etheridge, for their warm reception of our students and the time they took to share their research experiences.
This overseas study took place during the traditional Chinese spring festival, a time when students would naturally want to be with their families. To alleviate any feelings of homesickness, government leaders from the Chinese Consulate in
Victoria visited our students and staff. Ms. Guo Xiaojuan, Counsellor of the Education Department, Consul Mr. Sun Hongzhi, and Vice Consul Mr. Chi Gang also took part in spring festival activities, so that students could feel the care and warmth of the motherland far away in a foreign country.
Our college attaches great importance to training our future scientists with international vision. We emphasize cross-cultural exchange, and cultivation of students’ foreign language skills. Study abroad like this is an important part of the internationalization of our students’ training.
