What our students say

I became a more active, sociable and confident individual.

There were various social-cultural activities provided by the University of Adelaide, such as Australian bush dance, overnight camping trip to the famous Flinders Ranges, and visit to a wildlife park. These wonderful activities allowed me to interact with the local community and its natural environment. They were unforgettable experiences. The opportunity to interact with people of different backgrounds also developed my interpersonal skills and understanding of the Aussies’ passions and cultures.

Remark: Winky demonstrated phenomenal improvement in her intercultural competency upon return. She scored over 55 points higher in her post-programme IDI test, moving from a Denial orientation towards a Minimisation orientation within 6-week time.

My English communication skills were greatly enhanced through CALIS.

In the past, I didn't have much opportunity to communicate in English. Although we learnt a lot of grammars and built up a large vocabulary, we were unable to apply them appropriately in daily conversations. For instance, I didn't realise the importance of "thank you" and "please" until my host mum kindly reminded me. My host dad even shared with me how his mum had taught him to be polite by using these "magic words" when he was still a kid.

Another example is the use of "not often". I got to learn that it's more common to say "I don't cook at home often", instead of "I seldom cook at home" which is grammatically correct and yet less natural for conversational English. I can now speak in a foreign language more naturally, maturely and fluently through observation and daily practices in a native English-speaking environment.

Remark: Olivia achieved 0.5 points higher for her overall IELTS score upon completion of CALIS. She scored 1 and 1.5 point higher for the Reading and Writing components respectively.

My greatest life lesson is to be more conscious, less ignorant and less selfish.

In the past, I tended not to think from multiple perspectives. Through my volunteering at OzHarvest where I got to observe the many variations of people's way of living (not just school and work, but personal life), I began to realise that there are reasons for people to choose a certain lifestyle. I started to 'steer' more instead of keeping my head down and just relying on the way things work out. I come from a somewhat more collectivist society than individualistic society, so things like wealth, money and achievement used to mean more to me, and I never thought otherwise. However, here in Australia, I saw how things are different, and because of that, I started to open my 'eyes' and hence becoming less ignorant. I generally would not consider doing volunteer work unless I was requested to, or I might be able to gain a return. However, after my placement in Adelaide, I realised that I should not view or measure every aspect of my life from the angle of investment return.

The wonderful people I met was the most precious thing I gained in this 6-week.

The General English Classes, Public Speaking Workshops, Host family, Cultural Night, and so on, have offered me ample opportunities to build relationships with many people from around the world and widen my horizons. For instance, during dinner time, my host family, my flatmate (another international student) and I were used to discuss global news and living style. We were always surprised by what the others told about their countries. Foreigners are generally friendly and talkative. You would never imagine how many great topics you could discuss with them. Thank you CALIS-Plus for introducing these kind-hearted and enthusiastic people into my life.

I've found out what I used to lack – the belief of happiness.

The most unforgettable experience in New Zealand was doing volunteer work with my host father. We went to his church one evening to prepare spaghetti for the community. 

I am a firm Marxist, which means I am also an Atheist. Before I came to New Zealand, I was always confused by the westerners who believe in God. This was until my host father took me to the church. Even though I do not believe in God at all, they still welcomed me to join their prayers. Out of my expectation, the church was a place full of love. I met many people from different parts of the world in the church. They spoke other languages, had different life paths, and finally settled down in New Zealand. It was their religious belief that had brought them together. They enjoyed a happy morning, sharing their stories of the week and offering possible help to anyone who needs in the community. I soaked up this warm atmosphere. As the priest said, “In our daily life sometimes we will feel lonely, we are in some situations that we have nothing to do but wait out. We wait with fear. We wait alone. But it is God that unites us and provides us with a chance to face anything together.” Indeed, in where I am from, whatever fear comes, we have to face it alone.

There are too many differences between the Chinese and New Zealand lifestyles.  It might be hard to criticise any lifestyle or religion.  But deep inside of my heart I’ve already found what I used to lack – the belief of happiness.

Remark: Sage was subsequently selected for the joint CityU-Columbia degree, congratulations!

Living with a local family was an extraordinary and unique experience.

I lived with a pair of couple in Plympton Park, Adelaide. They were amiable and often included me in their conversations and even in family activities. They took me to their farm and shared their works with me. I was happy to have them as my host, and I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with them in various ways such as dining, shopping and chatting. Living with a local family was one of my most enjoyable experiences throughout CALIS-Pro.

CB Career Workshop was rewarding and beneficial.

CB offered us a career workshop upon our return. The teacher taught us a lot about the techniques of writing a good CV. Not only did she tell us some rules and useful methods, but she also showed us several examples to illustrate the methods. She particularly taught us how to incorporate our overseas experience in our CV. The workshop introduced many straight forward methods that can effectively improve the quality of my CV. Also, I think that CV plays a crucial role in the application for a job position and it is of great importance for me to know some CV writing tips.

Boosting my confidence in public speaking.

Teachers of our Public Speaking Classes provided us with plenty of teaching materials, including TED talks and public speaking videos. We learned stress and intonation from presenters, and also how to make use of pauses to strengthen a speech and arouse the attention of the audience. We enjoyed a lot of practice opportunities. We became more confident in making a public speech at the end of the programme.

Remark: Kayton achieved 0.5 points higher for her overall IELTS score upon completion of CALIS. She scored 1 point higher for the Speaking component.

Solo-travelling in Australia allowed me to stepped out of my comfort zone and try new stuff.

After completing My Winter School course, I made short trips to Melbourne and Tasmania. They were my first time to travel alone overseas, and also my best experience. Melbourne has a vigorous tourist industry, travelling within the city is easy. On the contrary, Tasmania is a less developed island state. It requires much longer travelling time to travel between the tourist attractions that are also located far away from each other in general. In order to experience the most with a limited budget, I chose to live in youth hostels where I met friends from different countries. We exchanged ideas and stories during nighttime. I did not expect that I would discuss Hong Kong’s current situation with foreigners. I successfully stepped out my comfort zone and became more open-minded to things around me.

My volunteering at Elizabeth Knox Home & Hospital was extremely amazing because of what I have done for the residents there and also what I have received from them.

Not only did I accompany them and listen to their stories, but I also organised some activities such as playing card games, making jewelry and baking for them. I even made a special birthday gift to cheer up a lovely old lady who had been upset due to the absence of her children on her birthday day. In the meantime, their appreciation for my company had given me a great sense of satisfaction. What's more, I could feel the kindness and warm heart of everyone there. These touched me the most and convinced me of the great virtues of human beings.

Homestay must be one of my fondest memories in life.

I lived with two elderly host parents, Sandra and Warrick. They were over 70 and their children were residing overseas. The couples were very kind to me. I felt comfortable to talk and live with them. Sandra prepared meals for me almost every day. I felt very satisfied not only because they were delicious but also she enabled me to understand the local food culture. My host parents enjoyed watching TV after dinner, especially rugby games. I could felt their enthusiasm for this most popular sport in New Zealand. Warrick often discussed with me over various topics, from TV programmes to politics. What he shared was quite inspiriting and had impressed me a lot. My English speaking and listening skills showed improvement as well. My homestay family must be one of the best, and I was so thankful to have the chance to live with them.

The IELTS preparation class gave me chances to make international friends and experience different cultures.

It was an optional course where we practise listening, reading, writing, and speaking in class. It enhanced our IELTS test skills and fully prepared us for the test. Also, our teacher replenished us with useful vocabularies and phrases every day. Students were encouraged to communicate with each other and with the teacher. I found this experience valuable, and the reasons were as follows: Firstly, my English level and familiarity with the IELTS test improved quickly because of the pertinent practice; Secondly, I became more confident in daily communication after practising with my classmates; Lastly, this course gave me a chance to make friends with students from different countries and to experience different cultures.

Remark: Sophia achieved 0.5 points higher for her overall IELTS score upon completion of CALIS. She scored 1 point higher for both Listening and Writing components. 

I enjoyed immersing in a local community and understanding people’s perspectives through my observation.

There are many differences in the way of living between Chineses and New Zealanders, ranging from sleeping patterns, shopping habits, to how parents educate their children. My host parents started teaching their kids to be independent when they were very young. My youngest host sister was 7-year old, but she could do almost all the housework. Chinese parents might however consider it’s too early for a child at this age to help because they are likely to break dishes or set the kitchen on fire. Also, my host parents respected their children’s ideas and would listen to their voices. When playing, for example, kids were not asked to stop or not to make a mess. Instead, they were encouraged to clean and tidy their rooms after playing. On the contrary, Chinese parents nowadays are increasingly spoiling their children. They prefer to have their kids’ energy spent on studies for a better future career. In my opinion, respecting your child means appreciating their value affirmations, so that they can moderately insist on their thoughts, desires and needs, forming healthy self-esteem and learning to be responsible for their actions. It is wise to start educating children on how to behave and be independent when they are young. This trip to New Zealand has brought me new visions and ideas which have enabled me to understand our cultural differences in a more profound sense.

Remark: Ella demonstrated good improvement in her intercultural competency upon return. She scored over 15 points higher in her post-programme IDI test, moving from a Minimisation orientation towards an Acceptance orientation within 6-week time.

Volunteering here was an exceptional experience because it allowed me to see how a charity for the poor operates.

The Mustard Street Church, where I volunteered, is an essential organisation in the local community. It gives out food and clothes to the poor and street people. Every week, I helped sort the clothes donated by the public and set up t?he food bank. Aside from this, I also helped with a dinner shift for homeless people. I got the chance to communicate with some street people who had allowed me to understand them more. It lifted my original discrimination against homeless people, making me treat them fairly and nicely.

The 2-day Career Readiness Workshop imposed a huge impact on my future career path.

I considered this workshop arranged by the University of Adelaide the most rewarding. I got to know more about what an assessment center is like, and have a chance to experience the most popular job interview activities, including individual interview, group discussion and both individual & group presentations. Besides, visiting the office of Deloitte was also extremely enriching. I learned about its daily operation and work culture. It also made me think of the possibility of pursuing a future career here.

Remark: Frank was subsequently selected for the joint CityU-Columbia degree, congratulations!

Cultural divergences between Canadians and Hongkongers surprises me most.

I made a friend in class who is from Quebec. Quebec is located on the east shore of Canada, where French is the month tongue of residents. She was sponsored by her local government to go on this programme as a means to promote English learning. We have a lot of in-depth conversations throughout the 6 weeks. I found out that although we have different cultures and languages, we have similar thoughts on life, career, and relationships. There could be many reasons resulting in such variance, ranging from differences in government policies, study orientations, social opinion, to weather, geographical sizes and ideologies, etc. Even if we have different cultures, we should respect each other. The most vital is that we can be friends from different cultures and environments.