Gao Yutong graduated from Jilin International Studies University (JISU) in 2017, majoring in English (Media Hosting), and started her overseas study in Australia in October, 2017. Now, she is pursuing a degree as a Master of Social Work (MSW) at Flinders University, Australia.

The life of studying abroad has left a deep impression on her and helped her to grow. Gao said, “One must fail without an accumulation bit by bit in the process of learning. It never makes sense by cramming. No pains, no gains”, when reflecting on the study.

Proactive Learning

Gao has adjusted to the tempo of study and life here during the half year at Flinders University. The biggest challenge for her, though, is the intense learning. “The life here is not as easy as I imagined. The knowledge that I must attain on my own outweighs that being taught in class. Self-learning occupies 80% of the time and the classroom training only makes up 20% of the overall knowledge systems. I have a tremendous amount of books and homework to finish, which are the major sources of academic stress,” Gao added.

The foreign universities attach more importance to daily performance compared to their Chinese counterparts, including attendance, group discussion, and assignments, etc. They will be recorded and filed by instructors, and eventually converted to the final results, together with the final exam portion of the grade. “I must complete all the homework, such as a 3,000-word paper every one or two weeks. I need to read through massive reference materials. I feel stressed out with the pressure,” Gao said.

Therefore, Gao advised that students tending to study abroad should be well prepared in advance. “Everyone should have a thorough understanding of their learning capabilities. Everyone should proceed in an evaluation on whether they are willing to accept the form of foreign education not. Otherwise, their overseas study is doomed to failure,” Gao cited.

Gao’s perspective is that you have to be extremely careful in the course registration. For instance, out of curiosity, she chose to take a French class, but found that the learning is getting more and more difficult as time goes by.

In addition, Gao advised that Chinese students should exercise a proactive learning style instead of a passive one. “I see that Chinese students who study abroad have a weaker awareness of proactive learning compared to their foreign peers. Chinese overseas students prefer passive learning, which maybe originated from their willingness to be instructed by their teachers at home.”

The First Part-Time Job

Gao started her first part-time job in Australia. “The concurrent post takes on an important portion of my extracurricular life. Through the part-time job, I not only earn pocket money but also make more friends while practicing spoken English. My job, which painstaking but fruitful, seems to be a complement to after-school life,” she laughed.

Gao worked in a milk-tea house owned by a local Chinese in her spare time. As a salesclerk, she worked from 10:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. with an hour for break. “It is really tiresome. Sometimes, I cannot stretch my legs after the whole workday,” Gao says as she first recognizes the hardship involved in making money.

She was also injured due to the job. “My finger was scraped by the sharp blade of the machine peeler when I was not paying enough attention. It hurts even up to now,” she remembers. “I was born in a well-off family in China. I never considered doing a part-time job, but the job in Australia has enriched my life abroad and pushed me to grow”.

The Best Memory

Gao recalls the school life in JISU as she shares, “Every chance for participation in and organization of a school activity is considerably meaningful, forming into precious memories when I recall the life at JISU. I figured out differences between Eastern and Western Education as an exchange student during my junior year, which encouraged me to constantly pursue postgraduate study in Australia.”

She said with affection, “My memory of my youth is full of the four years of study and life at JISU. I was offered many elevated opportunities to attend all kinds of campus activities. Thereby, I became more confident.”

“We have the access to diverse cultures of different countries when enjoying a large variety of platforms and opportunities created by JISU. We acquaint ourselves with different cultures from different nations in language-themed pavilions in the Global Village. We’re taught that an understanding of exotic cultures demands more attention than simply language points during the process of learning languages, so that we can study and master languages even better ,” according to Gao.

“Moreover, we are able to go global through the chances offered by JISU. We broadened our outlook and underwent cultural features across the world through such programs as Work And Travel USA (WAT) and exchanges. I consider these experience as a significant and valuable treasure,” Gao said, “and I miss the teachers and my schoolmates at JISU very much. I truly hope that my new schoolmates can cherish every day at the University and constantly improve themselves via earnestly seeking expertise alongside enriching their campus life by actively joining the JIUS-sponsored cultural events. Then they can eventually graduate without any regrets! I sincerely wish that my Alma Mater, JISU, will embrace more and more excellent students and realize the dream of a Century-Old University in the future.