The challenge of academic writing for Chinese students within ...

During my time at school, the days that I spent singing in the choruses (in my primary, junior
as well as high school) were probably the happiest. I also did well in the subject of English
and had very much enjoyed it, sometimes even more than any other subjects. My parents
were very proud of me. Even though they did not have any knowledge of English to help me, I
still did well in it. They trusted me in my progress and often sent me to weekend English
schools where I had speaking sessions, often with native speakers from English-speaking
countries. I enjoyed those days very much and did not see them as any extra academic
pressure.
I started to learn English in Year 4 (Grade 4) of my primary school, when I was ten years
old. I did not find it very easy to learn English at the beginning because its phonology is very
different from that of Chinese, but my strong interest kept me motivated and did help me
overcome some of the difficulties.
I can‘t really remember when it was that I started to consider studying abroad, but I always
regarded it as one of my dreams. I was inspired by the story of Isaac Newton, and as a child,
I did dream of going to Cambridge University some day, where Newton had studied and
worked.
I came to study in the UK in 2007 when an exchange opportunity between Sun Yat-sen
University and Liverpool Hope was made available to me. Now I have been studying in
Liverpool Hope for two years. I do miss my parents and all of my friends in China from time
to time, but I often remind myself that wherever I am, I have to work hard, be good and not
let them down.
My course of study is BA Business and English Language. It is a very interesting combination
of two different subjects. I chose it because of requirements from Sun Yat-sen University over
my exchange programme.
I have been enjoying my study very much, and I have especially enjoyed the time that I have
been in the Hope Park Voices Choir. Music is an important part of my life wherever I am and
in whatever language. To me it‘s a language that communicates feelings more than any
verbal language does.
Language and culture are the most challenging issues that I have to tackle while I‘m studying
as an international student. They are more challenging to me than the differences between
learning in China and learning in the UK. To deal with these challenges, I have participated
in all aspects of social life both in the university and in the city. I have also received great
help from the University‘s support for international students, including the Writing Centre
and career supports.
I intend to study a postgraduate course in Cardiff University after finishing my degree, but I
can‘t really imagine in detail where I would be and what I would be doing in five years.
I would like to give a score of 7.5 out of 10 for the experience of my study in Liverpool Hope.
I‘d also like to share the following story. In my high school, we used to study and mingle with
students from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. They were mostly of Uyghur or
Kazakhstani ethnicities. We had very happy memories knowing each other‘s cultures and
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