The Road to Becoming a Loving, Confident, and Passionate Leader

Chan Ho Yan Dodeca, Year 4 Student from the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Language Studies and Bachelor of Education (Honours) (English Language) in 2022/23

One of the most unforgettable learning experiences during my studies in the BA(Lang Studies) & BEd(EL) programme was immersion. I went to Toronto, Canada for a 15-week immersion from September to December 2022, which was very fortunate considering the serious COVID-19 situation. I lived in a host family with a Canadian father, a Filipino mother, their son, and a Vietnamese housemate. The differences in culture allowed me to understand how people think in a different cultural context and reflect on daily communications and differences in teaching. The exciting activities, both school-arranged and self-arranged, including a trip to Niagara Falls, horse-riding, tree-top trekking, visiting the Christmas District Market, and dining and show watching in Medieval Dinner and Tournaments showcase the fun that can be enjoyed outside of Hong Kong and, especially, without electronic devices. The Canadian culture, the exciting activities, and the knowledge acquired on the English language and culture, pragmatics, and education were all fruitful experiences that elevated my enjoyment and ability in teaching English. The knowledge I acquired throughout the immersion programme also benefitted me with better classroom teaching skills, more lesson design ideas with extraction and integration of different textbook materials, and the ability to appreciate and critique textbooks.

The BA(Lang Studies) & BEd(EL) programme has prepared me to become a confident and presentable leader in the future by integrating many presentations and group project opportunities in the course work. I have learned to be sure of myself when giving presentations and not be timid when answering questions because I have studied the topic well enough. In numerous group discussions, I learned to build upon and improve others’ ideas and be humble to listen to critiques and accept comments. I was also given the chance to act as a group leader, which came with a lot of responsibilities and pressures, especially when things did not go as planned. All these experiences have trained me to become a more resilient, passionate, and humble person, which is an asset for my future teaching career. The invaluable experiences in my BA(Lang Studies) & BEd(EL) programme study provided me with ample readiness to embrace teaching and fulfil my dream of cultivating young minds in the near future.

Outdoor Ice Skating in Nathan Philips Square in Downtown Toronto, Canada

A Fabulous and Tranquil Morning outside Spadina Museum in Midtown Toronto, Canada

A Night View in the Christmas District Market in Toronto, Canada