Rachel (Hoi Ki) Chui - Hong Kong, 3 January, 2024
I arrived in Australia in Year 10 to study at Ipswich Girls Grammar school. My parents wanted me to go to a school overseas and get a good education as well as experience living in another country. Australia was on the top of the list, so that’s where I went. It was a huge difference and a bit daunting coming from the big hustle and bustle of Hong Kong to the small town of Ipswich. As I started school, I got more and more friends, and it became easier. I made many Hong Kong friends at the start as I felt a sense of belonging with them and they understood what I was going through which meant a lot. After a while I met more Australian friends who were very supportive and welcoming. It was great to learn more from the locals and their culture which helped me settle into the Australian way of life.
Coming to QUT
Once I graduated from high school I did a lot of research regarding what university to go to and what was best for me. QUT caught my interest as it has a good combination of practical and theoretical studies. Studying education is all about getting practical experience and doing placements, so QUT was a great choice for me. I’ve wanted to become a teacher for very long and what sparked my interest was a movie I watched - Freedom Writers - about a class that had very naughty kids and who scared away their teacher. When they finally got a new teacher, that person had a big influence on the kids and changed the way they behave. I felt it was very inspiring and motivated me to pursue the teaching profession. Our kids are the future and it’s amazing to be a part of shaping their start in life and giving them a good foundation.
Highlights at university
The placements I have done has been the best experience as I get to practice what I learn in a real-world setting. The tutorials at QUT have been very engaging as we learn how to teach the kids, sing songs which has really prepared me for my future role as a teacher in early childhood.
One of my first placements was at a childcare centre with 3–4-year-olds. It was great to see how kids think and learn so differently and it was fun to use many ways to teach the same thing.
The second placement was with even younger kids from 0–2-year-olds. It was very hard to know if they understood me, so I had to use fun activities such as touch, sensory and taste to make them interact and help them learn.
Going on placements allows me to get hands on experience and meet with professionals who are experienced in working with children. It was evident to me before going on placements that all children learn in different ways, however when preparing for my lesson plans and teaching children, I realised how distinct one child can be from another. I have learnt to think very creatively, and I usually develop at least five different lessons for one topic.
Every centre has different aims and goals for how kids learn and how you should help them. It was fun to have to create a lesson plan and being the teacher, it really taught me a lot about how kids behave and learn and how I can use this to help my teaching.
Next year I’m doing a month-long placement in another kindergarten which I’m so looking forward to. I’m excited to share my learning experiences with the children and collaborate with the staff to acquire further skills on how to create a positive learning environment for children.
Studying at QUT
My favourite unit is maths and science. In maths I learn how to teach kids maths and doing problem solving. I love that science challenges your thinking, and I get to explore a lot of fun things such as cooking, it’s very hands on. For example, we had to shake cream until it turns to butter, and we used the butter we made to make pancakes. This was an exciting learning experience of how molecules and chemical reactions work. It also helps us to learn how to teach children in a fun and easy way. It is challenging for us teachers to make the children sit still and listen, so I need to think from children’s point of view what activities would engage them to learn. I really like that the lecturers have lots of experience in the education field, at least over 10-15yrs in childcare settings, so they can provide you with hints and tips about children. We also have guest speakers from various Education settings to talk about, for example, childcare centre, child safety, and nutrition specialist, which broadens my knowledge.
As I’m studying to become a teacher, the type of assignments I get the most are about lesson planning. It can be either group projects or individuals ones. I really enjoy doing these assignments especially since it prepares me for the resources that I might use in the future, which could include making animation or puppets.
When doing my assignments, I’ve used Studiosity, which is a QUT support writing tool that will check your grammar, spelling, and layout. It provides you with feedback so I can update it and hand in an even better version. This is a very good tool and has been very useful for me.
QUT campus life
I spend most of my time in E block, the Education Precinct. I love the atmosphere; it's a great place to study and hang out with friends for group discussion. The shuttle bus is also very convenient, and you can travel between the Kelvin Grove and Gardens Point campus really easy for free.
I’ve joined many QUT societies and clubs such as the Asian pop society club and the Hong Kong club. When starting at university I tried to engage in many activities such as festivals and other events to get to know different cultures and meet new people from other countries.
I’m quite a shy person, so doing a course in Education which involved lots of discussions in class made it easy to make new friends. My classes are quite small, only 20 people in each class, which makes it easier to connect. I have also met friends through social clubs and events which has been a great way to both have fun and interact sharing a similar interest.
Living in Brisbane
I love the city, especially the weather as it's not as hot and humid as in Hong Kong. People are so friendly, welcoming and always happy to have a chat and help you.
I enjoy the Eat Street markets where you can try food from all over the world. I also love visiting museums and exploring different exhibits. West End is another favourite place where I like to walk around and see all the nice mural artworks. Another passion of mine is taking photos and there are many great opportunities in Brisbane. I enjoy going to the cafes and alley ways in Fortitude Valley and sometimes I go with friends for a day trip to Montville, Ipswich and Samford village. These places are a great escape from the city life and hanging out with your friends. The longer I’ve been in Brisbane the more wonderful it gets, and I enjoy both the city and the surroundings.
During my stay in Australia, I also got a chance to explore other states and cities like Canberra and Melbourne. Sometimes we get to meet new friends along the way, Australians and people from all around the world, we get to share our experiences and head on to new adventures.
My advice to future students
When moving overseas you have to step out of your comfort zone, and it is then you learn and grow. From personal experience, it’s so important to interact with the culture you are moving to and be open to learning about other cultures you meet on the way such as other international students. If you only mingle with people from your home country, you won’t learn and get the full experience. Australians are very nice and friendly so don’t be afraid to ask them anything, they are happy to help you. I would suggest you get your new friends together and explore Brisbane, there are so many things to see and do in your new ‘home away from home’.
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