Neo Wanting
INSTEP Participant 2011
National Chiao Tung University, Taiwan |
My time in Taiwan was simply enjoyable. I learnt a lot about Taiwan's history during our trips to cultural places, like the Hakka HuKou Street (in Hsinchu) and Anping castle (in Tainan). The rich linguistic history even inspired me to do my final year project on Taiwan. There were lots of fun times at the university where I participated in numerous events organized for International students like myself. One of the highlights was the university's grand anniversary celebration where famous Taiwanese celebrities were invited to the concert. Overall, I gained more than I expected - memories, friendship and memorable experiences. |
Yeo Yu Ting
INSTEP Participant 2011
City University of Hong Kong |
Leaving Singapore with an open yet uncertain heart for the unknown, I found myself in Hong Kong. A paradise famed for eating, shopping and hiking, there was never a minute of boredom. My greatest takeaway in this not-so-distant land was neither their delicacies nor shops. It was my friendships that I forged with both locals and international friends that marked my experience. I shared engaging, unique and passionate debates with friends from various nationalities including locals over topics such as intercultural differences and linguistic policies. Words alone can only paint 0.5% of an adventure across a semester of learnings and fun. Here is a picture to make-up for another 0.5%. As for the remaining 99%, go ahead and unravel for yourself with INSTEP! |
Tang Kit Ling Jerine
INSTEP Participant 2010
University of Stuttgart, Germany |
The culture and language barriers were initially unnerving. I didn’t speak a word of German before my exchange, but picking up a new language in its native country was surprisingly not that difficult! School culture was definitely different. For one, stressed-out students were hard to come by. Classes ranged from formal lectures, to cosy play-reading sessions in members’ houses. The straight-talking culture also made debates not only exciting to watch, but partake in, where professors and students butt heads frequently. I’d encourage anyone with doubts about exchange to go ahead with it…when else will you get such a legitimate excuse to travel and have fun while learning? |
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Hemma Balakrishnan
INSTEP Participant 2010
Huron University College, Canada
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Going on exchange is a lot like going on an adventure. It was not just the change in climate, I had to adapt to a rather new teaching style as well. Classes in Huron were really small in size and very intense. I remember sitting in my class on culture, values and human rights and witnessing never ending fierce and fiery debates. I also had the opportunity to travel to the French speaking parts of Canada, Quebec, Ottawa and Montreal. These Francophone areas are probably every linguist’s dream as you get to witness first-hand the language conflict present in this area. Apart from that, these parts of Canada had some of the most rich history and beautiful architecture that can be found in North America. Experiences such as visiting the clubs on St Patrick’s day, watching a gay and lesbian rights protest are all part of an all rounded life education. Being on exchange was no doubt an eye opening experience!
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Samantha Soon Sze Min
GIP Participant 2010
Tsinghua University
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My attachment to the Human Resources department at Raffles Beijing Hotel required me to interact with people of different backgrounds and this helped improve my Chinese communication skills and my ability to manage people. It was a challenge getting used to the fast paced Putonghua and local terms used by my colleagues as there were workers from different parts of China and different classes working in the Hotel. However, as a Linguistics student, I saw this as an opportunity to observe and be exposed to a variety of linguistic differences.
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Ang Si Min
INSTEP Participant 2010
The University of Manchester
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University students in Manchester are quite politically active. I witnessed a clash between two groups of students, one supporting Israel, another pro-Palestinian over a talk at the Students Union by an Israeli diplomat. In the end, the diplomat was forced to cancel her talk. Clearly students who are politically aware can cause an effect if they were sufficiently brave and determined. Classes there are also a whole other kettle of fish. Students are expected to do a great deal of independent reading and learning, and assessments feel like a mere formality. I have had my worldview expanded dramatically when I attended debates run by the university’s Debate Society. For instance, they debated about whether recreational drugs should be made legal, and this is a non-debatable issue in Singapore. I thought they were crazy at first, but the more I listen and learn, I grow more aware of matters I previously thought were nonissues.
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Velda Khoo Yuan Ling
GIP Participant 2011
University of Washington, Seattle
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I did not expect to come back with so much from just an exchange - but six months in another country was a mind-blowing experience, and I am so glad I made the decision to go. Attending university in the United States was a whole new ballgame, and I learned so much from the professors and my fellow classmates. Being away from home and being by yourself forces you to be independent, and Seattle made it so much easier by being the most amazing city to live in and explore. Exchange opened up the world for me, and I would strongly encourage everyone, especially LMS undergraduates, to make full use of these opportunities the school offers!
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