RCs Create an Environment Conducive to Language Learning

RCs Create an Environment
Conducive to Language Learning

Text & Photo：UM Reporters Momo Meng & Sue Xiao

Inhabited by students and staff from around the world, every residential college is like a United Nations. Thanks to the multilingual and multicultural environment, students have many opportunities to practice speaking foreign languages. The colleges also organise a variety of activities on a regular basis, in an attempt to create an environment conducive to language learning.

English Table—English Learning and More

Shiu Pong College holds an English Table every week, where students can improve their English through games or discussing interesting topics with English-speaking staff in a relaxed atmosphere. Shiu Pong College Master Prof Kenneth Leung believes the English Table not only helps students improve their English, but also helps them become efficient learners and good communicators. The weekly event has been constantly enriched to retain and increase the students’ interest. ‘Apart from current events and topic-specific discussions, we now also share some short videos that we think will be of interest to our students, so they can express their views and discuss with their fellow students and staff.’

Damon Xu, a second-year student from the Department of Finance and Business Economics, Faculty of Business Administration, couldn’t even say a complete sentence in English when he attended the English Table for the first time, but now he is like a completely new person. ‘Not only has my English improved quickly, but my overall academic performance has improved as well,’ he says. ‘Also, organising the event helped me develop event organisation skills and boosted my self-confidence, which is an added bonus.’

 

 

住於此 學於此 書院創造環境學外語

文、圖：校園記者孟玲羽、肖舒苑

書院的學生和導師來自世界各地，生活在裡面就像小小的聯合國一樣，也正因為這樣，學生在日常生活中有了學習英語、葡語等不同語種的機會。書院還通過舉辦不同類型的活動，打造語言學習環境，提升學生的外語水平。

 

英語桌不只是學英語

紹邦書院每週都會舉辦英語桌活動，以遊戲及討論的形式，讓同學們在輕鬆愉快的環境下跟母語為英語的導師對話，從而提高英語水平。紹邦書院院長梁偉賢教授表示：「英語桌的意義遠不止提高學生的英語水平，書院更希望同學們通過這個活動成為一個高效率的學習者和有能力的交流者。」梁教授補充，為了提高同學的學習興趣，活動舉辦兩年來不斷加入新元素，「除了新聞時事以及一些專題討論外，我們也會分享一些有意義、具話題性的短片，進而就內容展開熱烈討論，在提升英語能力之餘，亦希望學生在個人發展上有所得著。」

金融及商業經濟學系二年級的許嘉輝最初參加英語桌時連一句完整英文句子都說不出，事隔兩年的他已經脫胎換骨，「除英語水平進步很快外，也間接提高了學習成績。另外我還負責組織這活動的工作，提升了組織能力和自信。」

 

文章來源/source:

Eng: http://e-myum.co.umac.mo/umreporter_apr2016/?lang=en

Chi: http://e-myum.co.umac.mo/umreporter_apr2016/