大三出國、全英語課程 - 國際視野 : 淡江大學大三出國通報及學分採認系統

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2018大三出國輔導通報系統 - 留學心得報告[編輯]

語言 405810242 　葉靖彤　　留學學校：天普大學

(一)基本資料

School: Temple University Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Date: 08/07/2018-06/07/2019 Courses (first semester): Spanish I, Hip Hop music and Black culture, The Business of Leisure, Weight Training I Courses (second semester): Spanish II, Journalism and Society, Elements of Writing, Weight Training, Guitar(40字)

(二)課程學習

【照片說明：My professor Carlos trying to order a coffee from a girl in my class lol.】

To be honest it is really difficult for me to pick one out of other courses because I love every courses I took during this exchange year. Since I have huge interested in learning language, I took Spanish course. In the first semester, everybody in Spanish I have zero learning experience for this language, but I still remember in the first class, when the professor walked in, she started talking to the class in Spanish. I wish I could picture everyone’s face; WE WERE ALL CONFUSED. No one can understand what the professor was saying. My professor is a nice Colombian women, her name is Yohana Gio Berrio, then she told us that she can’t speak fluent English, after the first class dismissed, the whole class took the same elevator and we started sharing our feelings, the conclusion was: WE WERE ALL SCARED. We learned Spanish by activities and the textbook, but what makes this learning experience special is that we talked to each other a lot, practiced Spanish with different partners during every class, and of course we get to know each other very well. The whole class became a family so that every class is interesting, the atmosphere is really good, not only the relationship between professor but the strong connections between students. I made close friends from this class, and to me this is the most precious thing. What’s funny was that the whole class helped each other preparing for the oral exam, since we don’t know who our partner for exam would be, someone set a google document and let everyone upload their questions they prepared for the exam so that we can practice before the exam. To me this is the memory I would never forget, the whole class accomplished something together, we encouraged each other, we helped each other when someone was struggling answering the question, we laughed at someone’s grammar error or wrong vocabulary which make the sentence become funny and inappropriate. In the second semester, I took Spanish II with the friend I made in Spanish I, the professor was different, he’s from Cuba, his name is Carlos Gonzalez. Well, I have to say, Spanish II is really tough for me and my friend at first, because apparently almost everyone in that course have learned Spanish for years, I even feel like some of them are native speakers. And this professor, well he is special too. Because he played hard at first to scare off those students who weren’t actually well- prepared to learn something from this class. I have to admitted, he scared me too. I remember in the first class, he said this to the class: “Guys, this is not a democratic class, this is MY CLASS, MY RULES.” I feel relieved that I didn’t drop the class at that time because I learned so much from this class. The professor eventually become friends with whole class since the fourth class. And it turns out he is an interesting people with great humor, we laughed at his jokes and unbelievable stories. He made sure everyone has a chance to practice, and he made sure everyone understands the grammar. This Spanish II class rock my world. I feel relieved that my friend and I survived and passed this class. The class is over now, but the memories last forever in my heart. (569字)

(三)生活環境

【照片說明：Me sitting under the Bell Tower in a nice weather】

Me and my other two friends live off-campus, the apartment we live in is near the campus. I would say it’s the best location because it only takes 8 to 12 minutes walking to the campus, and the grocery store across the street. There are also some restaurants, movie theatre bank and a pharmacy, they are all less than 10 minutes walking distance. There are also several subway stations nearby, hop on one of the subways and it can take you to the center city. Perhaps you have heard people said that Philadelphia is a dangerous city, well, to be honest, we’ve received many alert message including armed robbery and gun shot that happened around the campus, but ever since the first day I arrived at Philadelphia, nothing dangerous happened to me. Of course, you will be scared at first, but you will get used to it. Talking about campus, Temple university has two campus in Philadelphia, one is the main campus (which basically everyone goes to), and the one in center city. All the courses I took were in the main campus. It is a beautiful campus, you can see many flags with a big white T on it, that’s the flag of Temple University. Walking around the campus, there are many food trucks, which is one of the famous food cultures in Temple University. There’s a famous building in the center of the main campus, it’s called Bell Tower, which is a bell tower that will ring every hour. Around the tower, there is the library and the lawn, this area is where students hang out between classes and enjoy the sunbath. This is also one of my favorite places to relax. The weather in Philadelphia is hot in summer, but extremely cold in winter. The wind here is really strong, especially in fall and spring. The snow is also driving me crazy sometimes even though we were all excited when the first time it snowed in Philly. Overall, Temple university is a nice and comfortable college, Philadelphia is a friendly city. I love Philadelphia!(349字)

(四)自我成長

【照片說明：Tehir and Ryan, my partners from weight training class】

I took weight training class for both semesters, in the first semester, my class was at 8 am in the morning and lasts 7 weeks. Well, I consider myself a morning person, but waking up before 8 for three days a week is tough. Not to mention the weather in the early morning is chilling, and the class is weight training, in other words, it’s the class that trains your muscles by all the exercise with weights. At first, to compare with other people in my class, I was so weak, I can easily fall while doing the back squat with light weight, but I have a good coach and a nice partner, they keep encouraging me, and I even see myself improving by doing heavier dumbbells. I know it is my responsibility to attend every class, but I still feel proud of myself that I didn’t skip any class during this half semester’s 8 a.m class. I took another weight training class in the second semester, this one is different from the one I took last semester because this one is a whole semester course, which takes almost 14 weeks. I wasn’t nervous at all at first because I think I already had enough knowledge for weight training, which an keep me hurting myself during the exercise. But I was totally shocked when I attended the first class because almost everyone in that class looks like they have years and years of weight training experience. My professor looks like Hulk, but in a good way because he’s such a humor guys and he keeps encouraging me during the whole semester. I feel like I am the weakest in the whole class, in my group, all my partners can do heavier weights than me, but I never give up trying. Special thanks to my other three partners who were there for me every time I fall or when I almost crushed. If it weren’t them, if it wasn’t the courage I have for myself, if it weren’t those inspired words from the coach, I would never made it. I still remember when I break my own record for deadlift, all my partners were happier than me, even the coach was cheering loudly. It is my honor to know these people. (384字)

(五)大三出國建議

If you are one of the students that are preparing to study abroad for your junior year, you need to remember this: “Do not choose the courses only because you can transfer the credits, choose the courses that you are interested in, the courses you can learn something from.” This year is really precious in your life, it is an opportunity for you to explore yourself, to grow, to gain responsibility. It might sound cliché right now, but you will only realize it when you’re at my place one year later. You can make this year just like any other year in your life, or you can make it different. Step out your comfort zone, make new friends will all the students from different countries, expand your horizon, there are many things waiting for you to explore, including yourself. It is your decision to make this year worth a lifetime to memorize. Stay focus in class because you might find out that you are the only one who’s using cellphone during class, learn something and make your expensive tuition worthy. It might be scary at first, but you will figure it out by yourself and your friends. Don’t be afraid to ask question, I believe people are more than happy to help you. Time really flies, when you finally get used to everything part of the new city, it will be time for you to go back home. I hop you have a wonderful journey, be brave, and safe flight. (253字)