Blogs

What I’ve learned studying English: Choice is a difficult matter

At the beginning of every term, students settle back in to their classes or begin new modules, but depending on your course, which university you go to and which year you’re in, you will find yourself in these modules for quite different reasons. It might be compulsory because the staff deem the content “core” and “foundational”; perhaps you chose a specialist option or an elective purely because the topic fascinates you.

I make myself a cup of tea, I clear my desk and I get comfortable in my chair.
I’m ready. It’s time. 
It’s the National Student Survey.

There’s a lot to think about when considering going to university – here are three pearls of wisdom from me about student life.

The Flatmate Factor

Casting calls, callbacks and rejections have all kept me busy over the past four months. Here I am referring not to my up-and-coming modelling career but rather to my search for accommodation in Berlin. , the most popular website for finding accommodation in Germany, served as my “agent” during this trying time. While you might not associate a flat hunt with an audition process, the enormous competition for a “WG” (flat-share) has allowed a casting culture to emerge in which Berliners can afford to play Simon Cowell in their search for a new flatmate.

The thought of studying in London can be overwhelming for some people when they first consider it and realise that they might become just one small ant among tens of thousands. It doesn’t help that Londoners are often labelled as “cold” or “unfriendly”, but don’t let the misconceptions about London and its inhabitants put you off.

Germany could be considered a paradise for students as regards tuition fees. The reason is simple: there are none.

Is it possible to predict the future? This is the story about how I chose to study medicine, and how some random occurrences changed my life.

Right before finishing high school, I had decided to apply for university but did not really know what or where to study. So I wrote down six different alternatives, numbered them one to six and threw a die to decide. The die ended up showing number two – medicine – and from there it all started.

I was born in Sofia, Bulgaria to a loving Christian family. I grew up aspiring to become a medical doctor. Unlike many of the professionals in the sector, my passion for medicine came not from the security of great career prospects but from an earnest desire to help less privileged individuals across the globe. I was determined to emigrate to a nation in sub-Saharan Africa after completing my studies, open my own practice in a rural village, and offer free health services to people in need.

Straight after I finished my psychology undergraduate degree, I knew exactly what I wanted to do: travel and work. As much as I enjoyed full-time study, I had reached what psychologists might term “saturation” and I couldn’t wait to have the independence associated with exploring the world and earning my own pay packet. Ten years on, I’m back in full-time education as a PhD student and discovering the cheapest brands of dried noodles and baked beans again. So…what happened?

The answer is…not really. In terms of academics, you really don’t have to, as almost all courses offered at universities in Hong Kong are conducted in English. The university administrations also use English to communicate with you. If you come to study in Hong Kong knowing only English, you will be just fine. Yet picking up the basics of the local language may make your life easier in Hong Kong.