Wei Shi
Please note: When Wei was studying with us, the Pathways programme was called 'Foundation Year'.
Home country: China, UOLCFY programme: Language Centre, English for Academic Purposes, Foundation Year
Wei came to New Zealand by the recommendation of her cousin who had studied here for three years. She had the opportunity to choose which university she would like to attend and decided on the University of Otago. “It was very exciting to begin studying at the University of Otago Language Centre. I had never met people from so many different countries before. I studied at the Language Centre for three months in the English for Academic Purposes course. It was an excellent preparation course for Foundation Year and I learned how to write reports and do presentations for the first time.
Foundation Year was great. I really enjoyed myself and had a lot of fun. I loved my teachers and classmates and joined almost every weekly activity – I didn't want to miss any! The Stewart Island trip was so great – tramping and kayaking in such a beautiful place!
In Foundation Year we were given a good base for what we were going on to do at university. I liked the group discussions and assignments which encouraged cooperation and were inter-cultural.,
Academic English and mathematics were particularly helpful as well. In my first year at university I realised that I had better presentation skills than some New Zealand students as we had been taught these well at Foundation Year.
When I finish my degree I will try to find a job here. I would like to be a circuit electronics designer and work in this area of marketing. I think there is a good market for this in New Zealand.”