Malaysia
Do Manh Hieu
- University
- Chung Cheng University
- Major
- Music and performing arts
My full name is Do Manh Hieu, 24 years old. I come from Viet Nam which is very beautiful country. I have been Taiwan for three months. At the moment, I am studying at Chung Cheng University which is located at No.168, Min-Hsiung, Chi-Yi County. I am eager to learn languages such as English and Chinese.
1. What made you decide to study in Taiwan?
There is a variety of reasons that make me study in Taiwan. First of all, Taiwan is a beautiful country. As I know, the atmosphere is very good for my study. Secondly, I love languages, especially, English and Chinese. I would like to become an English teacher and Chinese as well. From this reason, Taiwan is the best option. The program I am studying makes me more professional in writing style and speak English fluently. Moreover, I will have the opportunity to learn Chinese when I study in Taiwan. Third, Taiwanese is very amazing. Taiwan is a great choice because when I arrived Taiwan, my phone could not connect with my buddy. However, I met Steven who helped me to contact with her and he told me how to go to my school. I might be lost without help from him. Fourth is living standards. My budget is limited so it is very hard for me to study in other countries such as America, Australia, Russia… Therefore, Taiwan might be suitable country for my financial condition. Finally and more important thing, that is my school and my major. Because that is where I live, what I study during 2 years in Taiwan. I cannot live here without loving them. Fortunately, Chung Cheng University is a beautiful and big school that is nicer than my imagine before coming here. Chung Cheng has the elegant building of different architectural styles, surrounded by tall trees, open green spaces, and winding roads flanked with flowering trees and bushes blooming in different reasons. That is a friendly environment that I want to enjoy. I really like the bridge which is located in front of my school, it looks like western style. However, some students told me that loving couple would be beak up if they went over the bridge. That was a bad story I hear. Luckily, I have not girlfriend yet so I usually go over that bridge to enjoy the beautiful view. Finally, my major is teaching English which is my favorite program. I study with my passion although I am not the best student in my class. My study will be boring without getting the target.
2. Briefly tell us about the program you are studying. What subjects are you studying? What have you enjoyed the most in your studies?
My program is teaching English as a foreign language. Before graduating, I have to finish 27 credits: 6 credits for required courses and 21 credits for elective seminars. Reading, writing, listening, speaking are the verbs that I need to practice every day. I don’t have much time to surf web or play games. Nonetheless, I find happiness in my study: listening to English songs that I can both learn and relax for one time. I go exercise every afternoon with my friend and we talk English to each other. At the end of the day, I usually write a diary to save something how the day was spent and what was done. I need to practice writing English at least 30 minutes for each day. And reading is a self-evident truth that I need to do every day in class and in library as well. The presentation and practice teaching are two things that I am really interesting. I can stand on the pulpit and show my passion in teaching. I cannot describe exactly my feeling when I am in front of the class. My feeling is happiness, confident. I think the teacher is my destination because pulpit is where I can perform my knowledge. It is happier when knowledge is the resource of human and I would be proud of doing it.
3. How is studying in Taiwan when compared to studying and being a student in your home country? (Teaching Quality、Environment、School Equipment、Laboratory or others)
Wow, it is interesting to compare the education between Taiwan and Vietnam. I cannot say which country has a better education because every country has different ways for education depended on culture, people…. However, I have to say that the school that I am studying is very big and the dormitory is very nice. The library is so big as well, I usually go to the library in the morning and I am sinking in there because there are a lot of books. For my program, there is a little bit differ from my country, there are a lot of assignments. It means self- study and self- developing are encouraged in Taiwan. With my opinion, that is an effective method for my studying because I have to be responsible for my studying. It teaches me how to make a schedule and solving the problem when I meet difficult in my study. Thus, I felt shocked in a couple new days but now I am familiar with that method. The equipment is the thing that I want to express. When I learn “live stream” that is a small part of Research method course, the Professor uses microphone and smart equipment to connect with other class and we can talk to each other during class hours. It is very convenient and I expend my eyes with a modern class that I have ever learned in my country.
4. What has been the most difficult part about applying to study in Taiwan? How did you overcome the difficulty?
I do not think it is difficult to apply for studying in Taiwan. Only one thing, however, I met difficulty in making Visa because before coming to Taiwan, there was something wrong with preparing documents so I was absent for the first lesson. I used to think that I could give up my study in Taiwan. As the result, nonetheless, I am living here and everything will be better.
5. What do you plan to do after you have finish your studies in Taiwan? Would you like to stay in Taiwan? Why?
I would like to be an English teacher in the future so the teacher is my first choice after finishing the study in Taiwan. Because it is my destination in my further career, I usually image how I am when I am in front of the pulpit. I like to be lived in the school environment so of course, the teacher is my plan after graduating in this beautiful country – Taiwan. If I have a chance, I will try to stay here. I will be worked in a new environment, new people and new challenges so why not. On the other hand, if the opportunities do not smile to me, I will come back to country-Viet Nam to apply for my dream job-teacher. That is my plan, however, I do not know what will be occurred in the future, no one can know how we are in the future.
6. How do you think studying in Taiwan can benefit you in your future career?
In my opinion, there are many benefits for my future career when I study in Taiwan. Language is the first thing I have to mention. When I arrived Kaohsiung airport, that was the time I had to speak English and then I have used English to communicate with the locals and friends. Besides, I have to speak English in my class because my program is teaching English. In addition to this, I had a chance to study Chinese – lovely language. Therefore, having languages is a plus point for my career. Knowledge is other things that I want to share. I got a lot of things from my professors, they taught me many significant knowledges. Besides, I learned how to balance my life between studying and relaxing. I did everything by myself from how to control my file, how to cook for a meal and how to take care of myself without my family. Travelling is the last thing that I think you are also interesting. Living in a new country, I cannot ignore many beautiful views. Everywhere I set my foot, I learned about the history, the original of that place and enjoy many strange foods. I know how the people are so if I would have an opportunity to work with them in the future, I would be similar to work with them. There is a variety of benefits for my future career when I study here, however, these above things are important to me.
7. What do you see as your key achievements when studying in Taiwan?
My passion for teaching English is a key to open achievement when studying in Taiwan. Because someone told me that if you were not interested in your study, you should give up. The passion will lead me to succeed and help me to handle many difficult things in my study.
8. What advice do you have for other interested overseas students who want to come to Taiwan to study?
When I study here, saw many Vietnamese students usually go and eat together and chat by their mother tongue. Thus, my advice is to make friends who are Taiwanese or Indonesian, American… They can practice other languages. It doesn’t mean that do not play with Vietnamese, why you do not set a rule “speak English” with Vietnamese. I usually set that rule with my Vietnamese students. I think that is a good way for me and my friends to practice English. Therefore, time goes quickly so do not waste the time and make it to be worth. Creative is the second advice because when you are in other country and as I know, my teacher really like creative students so why you don’t try one time to go new ways that differ from the old thing that you used to do before. You don’t know how it would be if you don’t try. Confident is the last thing that I think it’s very important. In the first period to be familiar here, I used to be shy in class, I did not give my idea when teacher gave us discussion. After then, I was familiar with this studying environment, I was more confident to show my idea and the professor gave me an applause. Therefore, don’t be shy because The professors always create convenient condition for international students. And you are a member in class so let everybody knows who you are and where you are from. With me, I am Hieu and I come from Viet Nam. And how about you?
