How To Write A Year Abroad

Transcription

1 YEAR ABROAD PORTFOLIO SOME GENERAL OBJECTIVES To maximize linguistic skills through self reflective learning To develop independence as a language learner To improve and expand upon linguistic performance in formal and informal situations To heighten awareness of the host culture and cultural difference To develop independence as a person To develop techniques to learn more effectively To be better equipped to explain your experiences, and your skills BEFORE YOU LEAVE What do you want to get out of your year abroad? Why does your degree programme include the year abroad? What do you want to achieve during your year abroad? What are you going to do and why? Where have you chosen to go and why? What are your language skills at the moment? Which skills do you most want to develop? How will you maximise opportunities for learning? National and cultural identity Name for characteristics you associate with your nationality. Which trait or characteristic of your national culture do you value most? What food do you think you will miss most abroad? Which parts of your national culture will you miss most while abroad? Which aspects of your national character will people of the host country be most suspicious of in you? Which characteristics of the host country s people do you think you will most appreciate? Living abroad How will I meet people? How will I begin to talk to people? What will be my first impression of the people? How will people react to me as a foreigner? How will I spend my time? How will I deal with practical matters? Will there be any issues of health and safety? What will working abroad be like? What will studying abroad be like? Where will I live?

2 LEARNING JOURNAL ENTRY 1 (1 WEEK AFTER ARRIVAL) [MODEL FOR THE VERY FIRST ENTRY ONLY] Society and culture 1. Look back at the pre-year abroad section. Which of the questions you asked can be answered already? 2. How does your first week compare to your expectations? 3. What has been the high point of your first week? 4. What was the low point? 5. Choose 2 or 3 aspects from the list below and answer these questions on them: LIFESTYE POLITICS PEOPLE STUDENT LIFE HUMOUR FOOD NIGHTLIFE EVENTS ARTS & SCIENCE BUREAUCRACY Topic a) Topic b) Topic c) Language Reading: what have you read this week? Writing: what writing have you done this week? Listening: what have you listened to this week? Speaking: what conversations have you had this week? Vocabulary and new expressions (list here): Using the target language

3 Think of all the contexts in the last week in which you have used the target language. Now answer the following questions: What vocabulary and expressions do you need in the target language? (write the equivalent in English) Where can you pick up new language? Who can you ask? Who will correct you all help you? In which situations are you more relaxed using the target language? In which situations are you more stressed using the target language? Experiences Write about an incident where you were pleased with your linguistic competence and/or cultural awareness. Write about an incident where a lack of linguistic competence and/or cultural awareness caused you difficulty. Goals What gaps are there in your language competence? What do you need to find out about society and culture?

4 ENTRY 2 (MODEL FOR SUBSEQUENT ENTRIES) Achievements Which of your goals did you make progress with this week? Society and culture 1. Choose 2 or 3 aspects from the list below and answer these questions on them: IF LIFESTYE POLITICS PEOPLE STUDENT LIFE HUMOUR FOOD NIGHTLIFE EVENTS ARTS & SCIENCE BUREAUCRACY Topic a) Topic b) Topic c) Language Reading: what have you read this week? Writing: what writing have you done this week? Listening: what have you listened to this week? Speaking: what conversations have you had this week? Vocabulary and new expressions (list here): Using the target language Think of all the contexts in the last week in which you have used the target language. Now answer the following questions: What vocabulary and expressions do you need in the target language? (write the equivalent in English) Where can you pick up new language? Who can you ask? Who will correct you all help you? In which situations are you more relaxed using the target language? In which situations are you more stressed using the target language?

5 Experiences Write about an incident where you were pleased with your linguistic competence and/or cultural awareness. Write about an incident where a lack of linguistic competence and/or cultural awareness caused you difficulty. Goals What gaps are there in your language competence? What do you need to find out about society and culture?