Activity 1: Interview with stakeholders — Jonathan Carson | Associate Dean, Student Experience & Enhancement
As my project is mainly about new Chinese sojourners, Chinese students are a big group in this community. Therefore, in the interview with Jonathan, we mainly talked about the adaption of Chinese students( Also for International students from other country) to the school in London universities. I asked a few question about the main obstruct of Chinese students in schools and we talked about my project and gained some feedback.
Question 1: From your perspective, what is the main obstruct for Chinese students to achieve cross-cultural adaption?
Bullet points:
We shouldn’t make the assumption about people from different country have obstructs in dealing with new environments. But some of Chinese students may have a little bit apprehension about language and a significant differences in how student educated or schooled beyond that compulsory schooling. Students need to negotiate education in a different way. Also, the relationship between teachers and students, relationship between peers are different.
Question 2: How do you think of the phenomenon where a large portion of Chinese students tend to socialize more with students from their country? What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of this in school community
Bullet points:
No tension in that students want to communicate with students from same nation. If there is anyone who have bias or judgements to students from other countries, it should not be the case. Universities is working on the process that how to make people have the acknowledge of all the students should play a role in this kind of education process. Sometimes it isn’t about the race. When it comes to the group work or communication among multi culture, amazing interaction, tension, bias and stereotypes could all exist. But these are all the process of learning which could be adapted to whole life work. It is a part of studentship.
Question 3: Chinese students tend to be ‘the silent majority’, most of them are not used to asking questions or talking about their request when they come to school at the beginning due to the cultural differences. How to encourage them to speak more or express themselves?
Bullet points:
It is like a spectrum that on the one side some of the students have a good use of the language support, but on the other side they don’t. For some people, they don’t aware of the support that college support.
Activity 2: List about all the challenges Chinese new sojourners that may encounter
Activity 3: Talk with target stakeholders from the ‘experienced’ side
I got to talked with James, who has studied Chinese for years as local in London, on Wednesday. James came to talk to us in a supermarket when he heard us speaking Chinese. He wanted to practice his Chinese by making friends with Chinese people. I thought he could be the one on the ‘experienced’ side in my project.
During the talk with him, I asked him some of my question about language learning personally, which is sometimes I felt I can not find the most accurate word to express my ideas. I was wondering whether the lacking of vocabulary is the problem related to this phenomenon. He told me that most Chinese students he reached out get this confusion, but he don’t think vocabulary is not the main problem. We should pay attention to the meaning of the words in certain circumstance.
From this experience, I found it I got a really useful advise from this guy, who can speak both Chinese and English and know what are the flaws in language learners. So I decided to ask him some question about my Project.
- Do you know someone else like you could be my stakeholders in the experienced side?
- What kind of reward you would like to have from the new comers if you join this platform?
- What kind of service of would you like to provide on this platform?
Activity 4: Oct 9th tutorial with George
- Bring expert in this project o solve the problem that I can not solve by myself on this platform.
- Start to make a sketch of the structure of this platform.
- According to the list I made, I should check if the information I had get enough.
- After I find out which information I need to get help from experts and figure out how can I get these information.
Reflection: I got the idea from George which I think could suit in any project. I should make a comprehensive list about what problems and obstruction I had or the society had at present according to the second hand research and the feedback from people who join the intervention. This is the best way for people to conduct the project without missing stuff.
Activity 5: Check the information I should put on the platform
First, I draw a draft of a mini application and demonstrate different sectors.
Practical information sector:
- Purchasing stuff : supermarket (food and fast moving consumer goods, etc.), shops and shopping malls (furnitures, clothes, decorations, makeups, bookstores, recreation etc.), restaurants, SIM card.
- Accommodation: house renting process (apartment viewing, rental discussing, lease signing, cleansing, etc.)
- Transportation: tickets or card purchasing, different transportation information.
- Currency: bank (open bank account, withdrew or deposit money, money transferring), exchange rate.
- Climate: advise for clothes preparation for each season
- Application & Platform: event information, delivery, ticket purchase platform or website
- Safety issue: emergency number, precaution, information security, etc.
- Health issue: NHS registration, physical examination, etc.
- Regulations
Language sector:
- Resources: school language support centre, online English learning platform or application, translation application, etc.
- Skills: small talk, email, local idioms, different accents, etc.
- Language practicing opportunity: link to the connection part.
Social interaction sector:
- Culture: habits, festivals
- School: educational methods, get along with teachers and peers, enrollment process, etc.
- Work place: working atmosphere, get along with co-workers, duty, welfare, etc.
- People around: small talk, networking(skills, process)
- Strangers : boundaries, safety, jokes.
Mental health sector:
- Resources: mental health helping centre in schools or community, benefit associations.
- Experiences by other sojourners
- Basic suggestion from experts
Second, I did the checklist to find out which aspect I should put more effort in.
Activity 6: Talk with stakeholders from the experienced side
Bullet points:
- They hope what they do could be rewarded financially.
- Most of them refuse to provide simple help like show people around in London. They prefer to work more valuable.
Reflection: Before I asked the stakeholders from the experienced side, I tried to not give assumptions about what they need and require from this experience. But inevitably, I still got the thought that some people may accept the skill exchange mechanism. After the talking with them, I learned that even a little bit assumption may affect the outcome of the process.
Activity 7: Tutorial on 16/10/2023
Activity 8: Research about other platform that provide similar service.
Case 1: Hello Talk
This is a language exchange platform which could help people who want to learn some language. I downloaded one and choose I can exchange teaching Chinese for learning English. Then I got some message from people who want to learn Chinese. I did not expect I could get in touch with people that easy on this platform, which means they get a lot of users. I ended up talking to someone from Manchester. He told me the reason he came here is that he want to know what his coworker is talking in his back, which is a really interesting story. Therefore, I figured out that some people have the desire to learn a new language while making friends, or even teaching others while making friends.
For the platform, it is free for just chatting by message. If you want to see your visitor or try to talk with others by video, you need to become vip.
Similar platform: Tandem, InterPals…
Case 2: 7 Cups of Tea
7 Cups of Tea is an online platform connecting individuals seeking emotional support with trained listeners and therapists. Through chats, users anonymously discuss personal challenges, ensuring privacy. For chatting with people, it is free. But if you would like to have online therapy, it will be $150 a month, which is cheaper than other therapies.
Similar platform: Be my eyes
Case 3: Cambly
Cambly is an online platform that connects English learners with native English-speaking tutors for real-time video conversations. Catering to individuals of all proficiency levels, Cambly offers flexible learning schedules and personalized lesson plans. Paid activities include private one-on-one lessons, specialized courses (such as Business English or IELTS preparation), and daily practice sessions. Tutors hail from various backgrounds, ensuring diverse learning experiences. With its interactive interface and immediate access to tutors, Cambly serves as a convenient solution for immersive English practice.
For one to one English improving classes, the price would be $10-$20, vary from different set people choose. They also get other options for people to choose.
Case 4: Airbnb Experiences
Airbnb Experiences is a feature offered by Airbnb, extending beyond its primary home-sharing model. It allows locals and experts to host unique activities, tours, or classes in their city. Guests can book these experiences to dive deeper into the local culture, learn new skills, or explore hidden gems. Offerings range from cooking classes, photography walks, and historical tours to adventure sports and nature hikes. Each experience provides a personal touch, ensuring travelers get an authentic and enriching insight into the destination. Through Airbnb Experiences, visitors can connect with communities in ways that typical tourism might not offer.
People charge according to different services. What need to mention is that I noticed that this platform only provide a view of the local people who provide service, but not the people who may have requirements.