Sarah Marechal, 2013-14 at National University of Singapore

I reached Singapore last January for a four-month exchange programme and actually stayed there for nine very enriching months! Many thanks to both King’s and NUS for offering me this great experience!

Travelling abroad is a chance and so is studying! I think that going on a university exchange genuinely empowered me to explore different ways of learning and develop new interests. I was really lucky to meet people willing to tell me more about what they have achieved, their culture, their lives and about their passions.

Just when starting university, there are a lot of new opportunities to which you will be exposed. If I can think of two pieces of advice they would be the following. Firstly, make sure that you take what you want out of that new experience and be curious! I personally enjoyed myself as much in a classroom Continue reading “Sarah Marechal, 2013-14 at National University of Singapore”

Kaitlyn Mak, 2012-13 at University of Melbourne

Accommodation

There are generally three types of accommodations in Melbourne: residential colleges, private halls and housings, all have their advantages and are popular among the students.

Residential colleges

Residential colleges are part of/run by University of Melbourne and consist of 11 different halls; all vary in size and location, most of which located in an arc around the cricket oval at the northern edge of the campus, known as College Crescent. They are pretty much in the campus and generally are only 5-15 minutes of walking distance from classes depending on where your class takes place. The furthest college, Whitney College, is also only 15 minutes walking distance from Parkville campus.

Residential Colleges are the only type of accommodation in Melbourne that offers meal plan (catered). They offer three meals per day, with take-away lunch available if you are busy during lunchtime. Continue reading “Kaitlyn Mak, 2012-13 at University of Melbourne”

Abi Yates, 2013-14 at University of Melbourne

Top Ten Things

1) Food: As a bit of a food fanatic, I loved trying out all the different cafes and restaurants Melbourne had to offer and I was not disappointed! Some of my favourite places include: Toast, Errol Street, which does an amazing brunch and gave me a free cupcake on my birthday, Little Richards, next to RMIT village, where you can find great food at great prices with great staff, and Dumplings where $15 will get you all you can eat! The best meal to have in Melbourne is their speciality: the Parma. Breaded chicken topped with ham, tomato sauce and cheese, this dish is a must-have. I would recommend a visit to the Albion Hotel at Melbourne Docks, which offers different parma recipes so you can try a classic or mix it up with something a little different.

2) Festivals: The music scene in Australia is very underrated – not only does the country have its own talented musicians gigging around, including Chet Faker, Vance Joy and Flume, but there is also a long selection of festivals for all music tastes which have the reputation to pull major global artists. I attended: Continue reading “Abi Yates, 2013-14 at University of Melbourne”

Anishaa Aubeeluck, 2014-2015, Porta Westfalica, North Rheine-Westphalia, Germany

What do you study at King’s?

German BA

Where did you teach as an ELA?

Porta Westfalica, North Rheine-Westphalia

Why did you choose the ELA Scheme?

For me personally, the decision to study abroad or teach English as an English Language Assistant was not difficult at all; I wanted a refreshing break from studying. After two years of study at King’s, and knowing that I would have to come back for fourth year, the decision was pretty easy! I also wanted to gain some valuable work experience for the future. I was swayed by the fact that the ELA is basically a paid work placement, working minimal hours a week (I worked 12); which meant that I would have a lot of time to travel. This sounds strange, but I was not very confident in front of large groups before my year abroad, and I wanted to also challenge myself to see if I could develop self-confidence. I have never wanted to be a teacher, (even though I am asked that question A LOT!) but why not do something that gives you an experience that you wouldn’t normally be able to do?

Continue reading “Anishaa Aubeeluck, 2014-2015, Porta Westfalica, North Rheine-Westphalia, Germany”

Danielle Moore, 2015-2016 in Oviedo, Spain

What do you study at King’s? 

Hispanic Studies with English BA

Why did you choose the ELA scheme?

– I jumped at the opportunity to be able to be able to spend a year gaining international work experience at the same time as honing my Spanish speaking skills. Whilst I’m sure I would have also loved spending my days socialising in a university setting and expanding my academic knowledge, I liked the idea of developing my language skills in a professional environment as well as finding out what it’s like to be a teacher.

Continue reading “Danielle Moore, 2015-2016 in Oviedo, Spain”