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]

觀光Ａ 406867019 　葉守傑　　留學學校：國際飯店管理學院(澳洲)-限觀光系

(一)基本資料

In my third year of study abroad, I have decided to apply for the International College of Hotel Management(ICHM), which is located in Adelaide, Australia. The college provided profound courses for students who desire to pursue further knowledge in the hotel industry. With many courses at hand, I've decided to elect four courses to expand my knowledge by choosing Rooms Division, Food & Beverage, Business Communication and Delivering Guest Service Practicum. These courses not only provide theoretical courses but gave us hand on experience to amply course effectivity. Each program tackles different elements and areas in the hotel industry. In the second half of the study abroad program, we are required to apply for a hotel in any area of Australia, and I chose to work as a houseperson in the Housekeeping Department at Peppers Soul in Gold Coast, Queensland. (140字)

(二)課程學習

【照片說明：Preparing for the opening of the restaurant】

While studying at ICHM, each course had their ups and downs, but there was a course that expanded my interest in the hospitality industry and that is Delivering Guest Service Practicum. The course had us working in the restaurant that is located at the campus rather than studying theories, which as a guy who does not like to sit all day was a bonus. We had to learn how a restaurant functions and how the chef and cooks cooperate with serving staffs. we had rotations in jobs each time we work in the restaurant. One may be working as a serving staff one day and the other they may be working as a bartender. At the beginning of the training, we had to learn all the process within a day or two which was stressful. Some of us didn't know what they were supposed to do, therefore it caused chaos for the kitchen and the restaurant manager, who was our professor, Richard. Thankfully, the guests were informed that all staffs were students that were undergoing a series of training at the restaurant and has gracious to us. Everyone makes mistakes and I am no different. Once the guest was talking with me while I was serving sparkling wine to their table. The disaster happened where my hand was not positioned well which causes the drinks to dropped on the guest. I was in total shock and I had to apologize to the guest. Richard, our professor saw what I did and came to rescue me. In the end, the guest was not upset and was glad that I had the right attitude and mindset toward solving the problem. (278字)

(三)生活環境

【照片說明：Street of Adelaide】

Throughout the studies at ICHM, I stayed at the housing at the campus. The housing provided us meals and housekeeping services. Life was simple to the extent that it might be boring at the campus due to the location of the college which was located in a rural area of Adelaide. To get to Adelaide Centre, we had to take 30 min ride buses to arrive there. The transportation was not excellent, if you miss it you had to wait for another 30 minutes before catching another ride. the Centre had trams and it had free ride zones where you do not need to pay for the tickets. , The campus area was extremely small, causing everyone to know each other, and held parties for every occasion. The weather in Adelaide is dry and the winter starts around June/July and ends in summer around December. After getting recruited at Peppers Soul in Gold Coast, I decided to move in with my friend to share a room. The cost of living in the Gold Coast was noticeably more expensive than Adelaide. There was no free tram zone in Gold Coast and due to us not being a student in Queensland state, we cannot apply for student transportation card, and we had to pay full price for every ride. The weather in Gold Coast is hot due to located beside beaches and in the evening the weather drops to a breezy night. It never gets too cold in winter as the weather is around 22 °C in the noon and 18 °C at night. The housing price is around 120-160 AUD sharing with someone and 250-300 AUD if you want to have personal room in Surfers Paradise. In the end, Adelaide is a good place for studying and the Gold Coast is a great place for people who want to enjoy sunshine and beaches.(308字)

(四)自我成長

【照片說明：Course Commencement Ceremony】

During my placement in Peppers Soul, I've encountered many problems and made mistakes. Some of the problems that I found is, in the Housekeeping department, we work as a team, but apparently, some colleagues do not want to cooperate, let alone conversate with you. Therefore, it makes working together much harder than it needs to be. Sometimes when I had problems with the Housekeeping manager while at work and want to consult my colleagues, some of them would just not listen and told me to not complain that much. Another thing that I had to learn while working in the hotel is time management. We had to prepare the rooms and balconies before guest checks in and sometimes in peak seasons, there are just not enough staff to cover the work and you had to have an eye for attention and manage your workflow. One major problem that I encountered was, I was blamed for something that I didn't do, but our Housekeeping manager is a bit stubborn where if you try to talk back, she would say " So you are saying that I am a lier?" This was a big problem for me. To resolve the problem, I kept the problem to myself and absorbed it. In the end, She stopped talking about what I did wrong and moved on. In the end, I found out in order to survive in the hotel industry or rather any organization, you must endure problems that you find and have a good chat with your friends to let it out. Never think too much about what you did wrong and focus on what you did exceptionally so it would not bother you too much.(282字)

(五)大三出國建議

For those who want to study hotel management and work in a hotel in Australia, I strongly suggest you apply for ICHM. There are challenges ahead of you and you need to be prepared if want to have a great study abroad year. Some Advice that I can give is, Have a decent level of English proficiency, be independent and have the ability to work under pressure. When you study at the campus, you are required to have a level of academic understanding for the hospitality industry and in work, you need to pace yourself and have the skill of time management. Another suggestion that I can give is, not only work hard and study hard but also play hard. Do not forget about recreation and leisure time. Have time for yourself to explore Australia and enjoy the different lifestyle from Taiwan. Challenge yourself to wander around the desert or the ocean. For your placement decisions, if you want to have a fast pace environment, then choose Sydney or Melbourne as they are one of the busiest cities in Australia. If you want to have a laidback lifestyle, then choose Adelaide, Gold Coast, Perth or Brisbane. If you want to challenge yourself and earn a lot of savings for your future career, go to resorts or recreational hotels like in Hamilton Island, Kangaroo Island or Tasmania. All choices are up to you to decide. Remember to work smart and make your life easier. Enjoy your life to its fullest and embrace your decisions. (253字)