Kesha Tejas Dalal
Being an international student at Bournemouth University has been a genuinely life-changing and wonderful experience. Being a part of an on-campus cohort has given me a strong sense of community and support despite the hardships of moving to a new country for higher education. Through the offering of numerous resources and facilities that support both academic and personal well-being the institution has significantly contributed to the ease and comfort of this transition by offering numerous resources and facilities that support both academic and personal well-being.
Bournemouth University’s library services have significantly helped my educational career. The library serves as a centre for academic development where students can get advice on enhancing their writing, research, and analytical abilities in addition to being a place to check out books. The academic skills training courses have been beneficial, providing support for essay structure, proper citing, and critical thinking development. Students find it simpler to adjust to the academic demands of university life since library staff members are constantly kind and willing to assist.
The institution also hosts an interesting event called the Cultural Connection Quiz. This event makes connecting with students from many origins, and learning about their cultures, customs, and viewpoints possible. My perspective on the world has broadened as a result of participating in such events, and I have developed connections with people from all different nations. It is about appreciating diversity and the depth of world cultures, not just about competition.
The Community Kitchen serves students food and is one of the campus’s most impressive amenities. It may be rather difficult for international students to adjust to a new culinary culture, but having a place to find meals or even prepare and share food with others has been really beneficial. In addition to providing financial aid to students, this program fosters a friendly environment where people can socialise, eat together, and experience a home away from home.
First Semester Modules and Learning Experience
Writing Fiction, Narrating Identities, and Interactive Storytelling were the three modules I studied during my first semester. Though each of these programs had something special and worthwhile to give, my favourite was Writing Fiction. I learnt new ideas, methods, and styles in this session, which really improved my writing. I improved my storytelling skills by learning about world-building, character development, and story structure.
Learning how to write a cover letter and author bio for publishing my work was one of the most beneficial things I took away from this lesson. Knowing how to approach publishers, and present yourself properly is essential for prospective writers, and this lesson gave me useful information in this area. As a result, I felt more comfortable considering sharing my work with a wider audience.
The teaching approach was what added even more excitement to the learning process. In contrast to normal lectures, our instructors made the lessons more participatory and engaging by introducing us to resources like Padlet and writing prompts. For instance, Padlet facilitated group brainstorming and writing challenges that encouraged us to think creatively and from many angles. As an international student, these techniques were unfamiliar, yet they encouraged me to write more creatively.
The in-class activities further enhanced my learning experience. We engaged in group projects, writing assignments, and conversations rather than only listening to lectures. In addition to making learning fun, these exercises inspired us to try out various writing styles. It was a very effective method of learning and developing abilities. I genuinely valued how our instructors ensured each student was engaged and inspired to participate.
Importance of Feedback
The feedback system is one of my favourite aspects of my time at Bournemouth University. From instructors to fellow students, all the criticism I got was honest, thorough, and constructive. Since writing is a skill that is constantly changing, having other people evaluate my work has enabled me to pinpoint areas in which I need to improve. My lecturers gave me helpful advice that improved my narrative flow, sentence construction, and storytelling. Their support and thorough criticism have been crucial to my writing development.
Peer review was just as helpful. Each student in my class has a distinct writing style, and reading their pieces introduced me to various viewpoints and narrative approaches. I learned more about voice, structure, and character depth by examining their work. Furthermore, I gave my criticism to my peers by considering from the audience’s point of view, which I think benefited them as well. We developed a cooperative learning atmosphere where we enhanced our abilities and helped one another become better writers as a result of this constructive criticism exchange.
Final Thoughts
My experience at Bournemouth University has been incredible. My experience has been rewarding because of the university’s strong sense of community, creative teaching strategies, and support network. I have developed not just as a learner but also as a person and a writer. The friendly atmosphere and campus services helped to lessen the difficulties I had as a foreign student.
I’m excited to keep growing here, acquire even more knowledge in the coming semesters, and take full advantage of this fantastic opportunity. The new modules, the relationships I will make, and the stories I will write have me thrilled. I sincerely appreciate Bournemouth University for giving me the ideal setting to develop, study, and discover my creative potential.