Muditha on Studying at UniSA - Part 3

The Library at Mawson Lakes

In the first half of 2008 Muditha began the Masters of Teaching (LMTC), a two year PG Masters by coursework degree. She is planning to teach SOSE and English. See earlier posts.

Study here is different. As a class we share problems.

I soon found the lectures were very good. They were different from my experience in Sri Lanka because they are done as a presentation not in a lecture form. It’s all about sharing information, arranging discussions with groups, talking with individual students. Lecturers give handouts that are very good. I’ve really enjoyed my studies in all my courses. Even the readings are good: they back me up. My favourite course was Introduction to Australian Education by David Williams. His teaching is very interesting. Earlier I had no idea about the Australian education system. We also got help from Gretchen, a former International graduate student who comes to the lectures and helps with assignments. She is very good.

I was worried about understanding and speaking English: I thought I would not be able to understand the language here. But after coming to class I thought 'I can get it'. The lecturers always give handouts on the topics. I also find that lecturers speak slowly and clearly. Other Australians, in schools and restaurants, speak very quickly. And they speak slang which is not spoken by the lecturers. Here we get lots of encouragement to develop our English and learn local sayings so we can understand other people.

Muditha’s important tips for new students:Make lots of friends in different groups: do not limit yourself only to the people from your own country. Australian friends will help you get an understanding of Australian culture. It’s so interesting: everything is different: eating, talking, everything.

My top 3 tips for new students are:

1. don’t be anxious about asking for help



2. give priority to your studies at first. It is easy to lose that focus if you have a job.



3. be positive about everything that is happening

Muditha

Reading and Writing - Natural born friends?

Reading and writing go together naturally – or do they? Understanding the various readings set for study and then explaining those ideas in your own words is a challenge for many students.

We find that it doesn’t matter what level of study you’re doing there are always new demands.
If you’re studying in Oz for the first time or starting Uni from school, you are sure to find some things are different. Students are confronted by:

• The amount of required reading
  
• The emphasis on using academic sources
  
• Understanding the nature and purpose of some of the reading
  
• The complexity of some texts –so many new terms
  
• Keeping track of ideas – theirs and yours
  
• Critically analysing texts as well as understanding them
  
• Using sources without plagiarizing accidentally – such a big issue!

How can you build on your existing reading strategies? Check out these Learning Connection resources for great suggestions:

Notemaking from reading

Reading Log

Critical and analytical reading

Best of luck

Helen

We would like to hear from you! Now that we are in Week 1 of SP5 do you have any questions? Post a comment below.

Finding a Home Muditha's story... Part 2

In the first half of 2008 Muditha began the Masters of Teaching (LMTC), a two year PG coursework degree. She is planning to teach SOSE and English. Here are some of her early impressions of moving to and studying in Adelaide.

The main problem was finding a room. The motel was very expensive. Because we came during the Fringe Festival it was hard to find accommodation: it took one week to find us a room in a shared house.

We got addresses from the website then we had to catch the bus to go to look at places. One bus driver was very kind. We were setting out late to look at a house. He said he could drop us off nearby but there’d be no buses after 7pm and it was not a nice area. He called other drivers from his bus and confirmed there were no other busses. He arranged for another driver to collect us to drive us back to the main road. This showed us if you ask for help you meet good people. People will not try to cheat you or mislead you. We have found bus drivers here very helpful.

After a week we found a furnished house close to the campus and we share this with other students from the UK, India and China. We like sharing with different nationalities: it’s interesting. We help each other and we all speak in English. This is good for our English. The Indian guy in the house said he’d help find a job for my husband. This was good as we had to pay a deposit for our room and the rent was always high: $170 per week. The landlord wasn’t nice. But it was ok and good to be with students. To be continued...

Muditha

The wonderful world of wikis

Once you get the hang of them, wikis are great for group work and projects. They also take a bit of learning.

Here is a quick video which gives you a snapshot of the function of the wiki in plain English (produced by Common Craft). Highly recommended - especially for first year engineers!

Muditha's words of wisdom for commencing International students..Part 1

In the first half of 2008 Muditha began the Masters of Teaching (LMTC), a two year PG coursework degree. She is planning to teach SOSE and English. Here are some of her early impressions of moving to and studying in Adelaide.

Day 1
When I first arrived in Australia from Sri Lanka it was very strange, very. I was totally confused and didn’t know what to do. I arrived with my husband and we were just married. When we came into the airport after we landed it was very different: people moving about, talking in English, very busy, not smiling at all. We felt that we are strangers. Having come with him was the only relief because I could talk to him in my own language. My husband had travelled before but not me. Yet it was strange for him too.

We went to the motel that was booked for us: it was ok but although it was on the main road it was lifeless. There were not many people in the motel. We were missing the family, missing friends, everything. We felt very alone; we do not have anybody here.

We wanted to tell our parents we had arrived so we went in search of a phone box. We didn’t know about phone cards or anything. We couldn’t find a phone. A taxi driver, an Indian man, stopped and asked if we had just arrived. We said we had and were looking for a phone to call our parents. He gave us his phone and told us to phone our parents. He was very kind and helpful. He told us it was good in Australia but you have to ask for help. Ask people and they will help you. We were lucky to meet this helpful person the first day. He really encouraged us and gave us good advice. And he showed us the bus stop and told us about buying the ticket and how to come to the university. He gave us his number and said we could contact him for more help. He also said we should aim for jobs in the field we are experienced in.

It’s different here. If people go to my country, many people will talk to you. Here they won’t talk to you unless you ask them. But then they will be very helpful.

Muditha

What's Your Plan?

Congratulations to all of you who've successfully completed your exams and assignments for Study Period 2!

The next study period (i.e .SP 5) will commence on 28th July. In other words, you've another 2-3 weeks to enjoy your well-deserved break!

If you are unsure what to do during this break, here are My Top 10 Tips:

1) Clean your room/ kitchen/ toilet, or the whole house! :)

2) Go for a short-trip (or visit Recreation in Adelaide)

3) Look for part-time or casual job

4) Look for volunteer work

5) Hang out with family and friends

6) Exercise

7) Enjoy good food

8) Watch movies

9) Sleep

10) Plan and organize your enrolment/ study workload for Study Period 5.

Cheers,

Adiemus Seah

(Counsellor, Learning Connection)