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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2022大三出國輔導通報系統 - 留學心得報告[編輯]

政經 409820098 　林思棠　　留學學校：華沙大學(波蘭)

(一)基本資料

In this rare opportunity, I chose Poland as my exchange country and majored in International Relations at the University of Warsaw from September 2022 to July 2023 (winter and summer semesters). I was classified as an 'Erasmus program student', so most of the courses I took were under this program but related to Political Science. (53字)

(二)課程學習

【照片說明：Use drawing skill to stimulate my thought.】

In the first semester, I had the chance to enroll in a CREATIVE THINKING WORKSHOP, a non-academic seminar course taught by Professor Agnieszka Rothert. This course was a breath of fresh air, as it was unlike most lecture courses that rely heavily on standard teaching methodologies. Instead, this class was based on communication, interaction, and imagination. Coming from the Taiwanese education system, which is known for its conservative and standardized approach to studying, I found myself struggling to adapt to this new style of learning. However, with Professor Rothert's guidance, I was able to gain valuable insights, solutions, and perspectives on different situational scenarios. Through this class, I was also able to engage with people from other countries, which gave me a chance to receive different mindsets and broaden my horizons. Apart from the class discussions and group activities, I was particularly inspired by our professor's use of different, unconventional methods to help us think creatively. These methods included drawing, which was a useful way to process my thoughts and express myself. There were times when I found it difficult to describe my feelings and thoughts, or even remember things. However, with the help of drawing, I was able to give myself more time to think and stimulate my brain. Our professor also used drawing as a tool to help us visualize our life goals. We were guided to create a life tree, which showed the roots of our personality, background, and beliefs, and the branches that developed into the things we wanted to become, including our lifestyle, career, and mindset. This exercise may have seemed simple, but the outcome impressed me a lot. It was the first time I had a chance to see my life thoroughly and reflect on my original intention! Thanks to the knowledge I gained from Professor Agnieszka Rothert, I am now not only more creative and open-minded in processing my thoughts but also in expressing and examining myself well. This course expanded my knowledge outside my field of study, reminding me that in childhood, we often learn through games and communication with our parents and siblings, which can inspire us quickly and effectively. Unfortunately, such teaching programs are rare and not mainstream in Taiwan. Nonetheless, I am grateful for the opportunity to have taken this course, which has helped me become a more well-rounded individual.(391字)

(三)生活環境

【照片說明：The view on our way to school.】

The University of Warsaw is located in a great area, surrounded by the old town and one of the most amazing streets, Nowy Swait, also known as the street of cuisine. Therefore, we never feel bored after class, which creates a good study-life balance. In order to experience more, I decided to rent a flat in the city center on Nowogrodzka street. It's a convenient area for daily life functions, and within ten minutes of walking, we can get to the metro center, supermarket, and university. In this six-person shared flat, I had the chance to make friends with people from other countries. We spent some quality time together and got to know each other's cultures well. Although there are mixed feelings about Polish food, I still recommend visitors to give it a try since it has a unique taste. Besides Polish food, it's also easy to find exotic cuisine along the streets. For example, we've tried authentic Georgian and African food, which is hard to find in Taiwan. I would say that the weather is the only thing I can't stand in Poland. The winter season is freezing, snowing, and only has four hours of daylight a day (it lasts for approximately five months). However, this is also the first time I saw snow and had the chance to play with it with my friends. It's worth mentioning that Warsaw has a whole different vibe between winter and spring, which took me a while to get used to this city again! In my humble opinion, I think Warsaw city center shares the same conveniences as Taipei. It's easy to go shopping, and there are tons of convenient stores around the corners. If we need something specific, we can also find it online.(293字)

(四)自我成長

【照片說明：Using translate to communicate with an old lady we met in a little town.】

Undoubtedly, there are a few cultural shocks between Taiwan and Poland. The first thing that comes to mind is that the government has set a rule for drivers to give way to pedestrians first. This means that cars will always stop when people need to cross the street (in the crosswalk, and some streets don't have traffic lights), which is safe for both drivers and pedestrians, and thus accidents seldom happen! The other thing that shocked me a lot is the advent of self-checkout and card payments in most of the markets here, which is not so popular in Taiwan. Speaking of restaurants, it's normal to pay after the meal and there's no time limit. That gives us more time and a relaxed vibe to enjoy each dish! Language might be the only difficulty I faced this year, since most of the elders don't speak English. I found it hard to communicate with them. That being said, with the help of translating machines, there is no gap between us. "Live in your life" is something I would like to share with my family and friends. Living in Poland has made me realize that people here enjoy their lives rather than working all the time. They tend to have personal time in a work-life balance environment. However, as I have observed in Taiwan, people immerse themselves in work and forget to live in every moment, which, in the long run, would be exhausting. (This is my personal idea and does not represent or generalize all the people mentioned above.)(258字)

(五)大三出國建議

I would say that Poland is definitely an underestimated country. Most students wouldn't consider coming here as an exchange student. With that being said, I recommend people study here for some key reasons: good public security, fewer Asians than other countries (a great chance to practice English), stable and cheap prices, and one of the cleanest countries in Europe, to name a few. If you get the chance to explore this city, first you need to have an open mind to make friends with people from other countries and embrace yourself with different cultures, opinions, and thoughts. It is equally important to know thoroughly about our country because you will be the representative of Taiwan, and undoubtedly, people usually know less about our culture and history. Secondly, compare your own country with the one you are staying or visiting. This is a method I learned from my professor, which gives you a way to think about the differences between two countries and learn from them. Then, question yourself how to approach this and how to improve this in your own country, which I found quite useful for students majoring in political science and, of course, others. With this method, I also spotted some things I used to take for granted in Taiwan and now I am thankful for. Last but not least, considering Poland is a cheap country (compared to other European countries) and also located in Central Europe, make yourself travel more, explore more, and try more. This is a rare experience to live in a city with a whole different vibe from Taiwan. For me, I found myself growing a little bit more every day.(277字)

(六)其他

An exchange year wouldn't be complete without traveling and exploring another country. Since we met a friend from Israel in the first semester, we decided to reunite again and visit this amazing country. As the origin of the three most leading religions, this country is full of culture and history. During our short stay, we visited Jaffa old town, the Dead Sea, and Jerusalem. The beauty of the landscapes and buildings is indescribable. During our vacation, it was Soldier Memorial Day, which was a unique experience for me. Seeing all the people gather and mourn for all the soldiers and the dead in the wars showed me how tight and united a group of people can be. Thanks to this trip, I know more about Israel, Judaism, and all the culture. It was then I realized that "Traveling brings far greater benefits than mere book learning."(146字)

補充照片

【照片說明：Visited West wall in the holy city, Jerusalem 】

【照片說明：Making traditional food in Chinese New Year for our friends to know this culture more!】

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資料更新時間：01月06日 04:54

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