Xiaomin Zhan moved around frequently when she was growing up with parents working in different cities. “When I was at school, I’d stay with my father in Dongguan,” she says, “and in my summer or winter break, I’d stay with my mother in Guangzhou. So sometimes I was just living between the two cities.”
Although she was used to moving around, and interested in the idea of studying abroad, Xiaomin had to reconsider when COVID-19 shut down international borders. She says, “I studied Academic English from China because I couldn’t come to Sydney. But I wanted face-to-face classes, so I studied on campus at EIC Education in Guangzhou, where they teach the UTS College curriculum.”
An inspirational teacher
During her high school years, she had struggled with English, but an inspirational teacher helped her to develop some confidence. “In my senior high school, I had to study English for the Gaokao (the national college entrance exam) and sometimes I would get low marks,” she says, “But my teacher, Jenny, she encouraged me. I could ask for help, and she gave me big support. She showed me that I could do it. When I was disappointed in myself, she always said, ‘You can do it. You just need to remember more time and more practice.’ She was a very good teacher and that’s what made me feel free to learn English.”
Now in Sydney studying Bachelor of Business at UTS, says her Academic English course prepared her well. “I think if I had not studied Academic English, it would be much more difficult. I remember for the first month in Sydney, listening to the class was hard for me. But because I learned Academic English in UTS College – like how to write a report, how to search for information on the internet – it was a help,” she says.
Xiaomin has chosen Finance as her major, with a sub-major in Marketing Research. She says, “I think it’s because my father was a businessman, but also I like finance. Even when I was a child in China I was always interested in numbers. I couldn’t remember history, but I liked the mathematics.”
Studying abroad for the first time
Of course, many challenges come with leaving your home and immersing yourself in a completely different language and culture. “I find that the UTS way of teaching is very different from China. At UTS they teach you the knowledge and ask you to make a report, like a project, as the homework,” she says. “But in China it’s very different. The teacher teaches you and you take a test, and it’s done. We learn, but we don’t always know how to use the knowledge. Also, being in Sydney is my first time living alone. I need to learn to depend on myself. I’m not good at cooking, so I’m learning from the internet.”
Some pleasant surprises
There were also many pleasant surprises. She says, “When I arrived on campus, I found out about UTS HELPS. It gives big support to the international students. I found a student who had volunteered to help international students speak English and I have improved a lot with her help. UTS also has U:PASS, a system where a senior student with a High Distinction can help you. I think one of my best experiences was meeting my U:PASS teacher. Sometimes, in a big lecture with 200 students it’s hard to ask a question but I can always ask her. We meet every Tuesday so before then I will double-check my questions and my to-do list and take it with me.”
A life outside study
Xiaomin is also finding a lot to enjoy beyond her studies. She says, “I always like badminton, but in Sydney I’ve become interested in playing tennis, so now I’m a tennis beginner. I learn from my coach every Saturday if the weather is sunny. And on campus, I love the UTS library. Sometimes when I’m finished my classes, I’ll get a coffee from the ground floor and go to the library and watch the sunset over Sydney. It’s so very beautiful.”
Having taken on the role of a student ambassador, Xiaomin is doing her part to help other international students and has some tips to share with other students from China who want to study at UTS. She says, “First, you need to be independent. You need to learn to do things for yourself. But if you have troubles, feel free to ask for help. You also need to keep yourself busy. It will help you keep a clear mind. Also, don’t be afraid to speak up. It doesn’t matter if someone disagrees with. You don’t need to care.”
A special opportunity for students from China
The China Australia Friendship Scholarship is now available. For a limited time, UTS College is offering to waive tuition fees – to the value of AUD $16,800 – for students from China who package their Academic English with a UTS College academic program (UTS Foundation Studies or a UTS College diploma). The Academic English program can be undertaken on campus in Sydney or Live Online in China, but students must accept their offer and pay by 31 December 2022.