Academic V isit at Oxford : D ifferent W ay of L earning and L iving

By Li Dan | Updated: Sep 6, 2018.

On the morning of Sep. 6, Yang Runqing, a Foreign L anguage and L iterature graduate student  enrolled in 2016 , who had just returned from a n academic  visit at Oxford, was interviewed by the Graduate Association of School of Foreign Languages  and Literature, to share something  about  her half-month study and life at Oxford .

Th e exchange project during summer vacation was carried out by  Wuhan University of Science and Technology and Oxford University . After pre-registration and interview , the professional panel of judges selected 10 graduate students as a  group  to participate in this academic visit getting underway from July 22th.

Colorful and tight-scheduled was Yang ’ s impressions on this activity which includes attending lectures by famous scholars and professors at Oxford, appreciating local culture and customs and visiting some world-renowned spots in England.

Diverse academic curriculum

The main form of studying at Oxford this time is attending lectures given by influential professors in academic circle. These lectures covered how to improve your English s peeches, l istening and d ebating s kills, p ersonal s tatements’  writing and d iscussion ,  social and educational resources  allocation. Aside from these practical courses, acquiring basic knowledge about economics, environmental law, the causes and consequences of Brexit and appreciat ing some wonderful parts in  Shakespeare’s Macbeth  were also included in the half-month activity as well as the workshop learning at Wolfson College.

Yang felt that all the professors at Oxford had their own teaching style and it is easy to tell their meticulousness and seriousness from the preparations made for each lecture and the activities conducted during classes.

Unique cultural experience

Besides various kinds of academic courses, the students took part in some cultural activities  as well . For example, at one wine tasting  party ,  they picked up a little  basic knowledge and some drinking methods of red wine  and  taste d cups of  white wine and red wine from different countries . Also, all of them  visit ed  the castle of Windsor — the castle of the British Royal family  in the House of Winsor. During two free days, Yang enjoyed  the  sceneries of  Palace of Westminster, Big Ben, the Thames, the London Eye, the Tower Bridge, British Museum and some world-famous  streets ,  experienced all kinds of transportation in Britain as well as the sudden strong wind and cold rain. At the summer ball, the students from this visit, together with their classmates, played the traditional English games, tried local food and learned the traditional English country dance, full of joy and excitement.

Thoughts on the project

Yang said she was greatly enlightened and made new friends through cooperative learning during this precious 15 days. Every bit of the memory at Oxford and the unique English culture really enriched her life and broadened her horizon.