Conclusion

Basically, I can communicate in English in real life situations, such as order meals, buy souvenirs and ask for help. As people in Australian are nice and friendly, I can act appropriately when interacting with locals and interviewing foreigners. Some of foreigners may misunderstand the situation in Hong Kong, I describe some of the differences of the daily life habits / culture. I understand and appreciate the diversity of values and cultures in Australia by visiting museum, coffee shop and art gallery. However, sometimes, I do not familiarize with Australia expressions and accent.

A beautiful view of Syndey

During the tour, I improved my English listening and communication skills by making foreign friends, increased the historical and cultural knowledge by experiencing Australian cultures and customs (multiculturalism), collected more unforgettable memories and materials for writing stories and investigated their policies on education, environmental protection and city planning, compare the similarities and differences in Hong Kong. I really benefit a lot through exchanging ideas and values with Australian.

He is Alan and he is my first interviewee!!

D. Politics

I love the relaxed and quiet living environment in Newtown! There is no skyscraper to block the sky which I can see the white clouds and blue sky all the time (happy!); There is not much cars on the street which I can enjoy a cup of coffee and fresh air outside the coffee shop; there is many supermarkets and restaurants which I can enjoy a great variety of cuisines; it is very convenient to go to central city (by bus or train) which I can go shopping and visiting easily. I like the big grassland outside the Wesley College, I usually took a walk in the morning or in the evening, I love the smell of grass and soil which I cannot find in Hong Kong!

A view in Newtown

We always went to the central city by bus

We lived in Wesley College in Sydney University

It reminds me that money is not the only thing I should chase in my life, I should gain physical and psychological health which have a balanced between career, family, friends and mind.

The TV programmes fulfil the needs of different generations and ethnics group as they have wide range of TV programmes. There is freedom of speech and press in Australia as there are different broadcasting stations to provide different news to people. I visited Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). They also take calls from audience and it is free to give comments on any issues.

Some leaflets collected in Ausrtalia

Here is an evaluation form to evaluate my understanding on politics in the tour. The result is not very good and some suggestions are provided if I have a chance to have other study tours.

A evaluation from Policies 

C. Collect Unforgettable Memories and Materials for Writing

As I visited more than 20 attractions with beautiful views, such as Hunter Valley, Blue Mountains, Bondi Beach, Sydney Harbor Bridge, Daring Harbor etc, I have collected plenty of sweet memories and materials for writing. I love the extensive green grapes land in Hunter Valley which I felt the simple and peaceful life of Australian; I highly praised the giant cliffs and the foggy Three Sisters, when I traveled the cable between mountains, I just like in a heaven; I liked the colorful firework in Circular Quey and Daring harbor which is very romantic (with my dearest friends). Definitely, I gave thanks to Samuel, Connie and all my fellow classmates; I really enjoyed everyday with all of you! I wrote them down in my personal diaries (in Chinese, sorry Samuel and Connie!); all memories are unforgettable and stayed in my mind permanently.

Foggy Blue Mountain



A photo with Samuel, Josie and Aimee in Sydney Tower



                           A video which record the sound of zebra crossing

A page in my personal diary 

Now, I share some special memories to you. Some feelings are also shared.

 

I have tried many new things !

1. Being discriminated

I was discriminated by two white people when I took a bus back to Wesley College. Two white people took a photo of me with my yellow umbrella holding in my hand. They laughed loudly at my back and I felt offended because they discriminated my skin color. (yellow umbrella has a connotative meaning as yellow skin) I believed it was an exceptional case because I can feel the kindness and politeness of Australian when I encountered with them. 

2. Someone had a happy drunk in Hunter Valley

One of my friends, XXX, was drunk after drinking wines. She had a happy drunk which had an apple face. She always laughed and asked for more wine, she also asked people to take photos with her. She became a little bit crazy and argued with me. Who is she? You may find out the answer from my photos!

Josie and I drink wines happily

3. Australian men are nice

When I was in Bondi Beach, those fathers taught their children to surf or played sand with them. They are so nice that I wanted to marry an Australian!! Hahahah…

Australian men are so nice!

Here is an evaluation form to evaluate my effectiveness on collecting memories and materials in the tour. The result is good and some suggestions are provided if I have a chance to have other study tours.

A evalution from Collect Unforgettable Memories and Materials for Writing

B. Experience Australian History and Culture

The best way to understand a place and the locals is to interact with the historical buildings, museums and the locals. Regarding the tour, I visited Australian Museum, Queen Victoria Building, China Town, Art Gallery and coffee shops where I can comprehend more Australian history and culture. It is no doubt that those silent pictures, artifacts, specimen, tools, architectural style, local products…actually telling me a marvelous story of Australia and a relaxed livelihood of Australian. 

A photo with a koala in Australian museum

Queen Victoria Building

I love visiting museum as it is a treasury for me to understand the origin and thought of the locals by reading words and examining collection. I especially paid more attention to read a painful history of indigenous Australian. When I admired their simple and happy life with pure thoughts, suddenly I was deeply grieved as there was a massacre to indigenous people by English!



A description of indigenous history



I discovered that greed for money, desire to natural resources and addiction to power can totally destroy people’s mind. I realized that ‘developed’ invaders increased their worth by robbing and exploiting ‘undeveloped’ countries. I hope I can give contributions on promoting love and care, so a fair world exists which everyone live happily. It is not only a dream and I believe it become true one day with our effort!!!

Australia has a similar history and background as Hong Kong. They have been colonies under English and the places are combined with foreign immigrants and locals. Luckily, both Australia and Hong Kong are multicultural city which harmonious environment is created with the support of different ethnic groups. Although discrimination is still existed, people basically have a stable living.

I love visiting Australian Museum!

I visited the Queen Victoria Building (QVB) twice. I appreciated the magnificent decoration which is a beautiful dome shaped building with colorful glass windows and two clocks. (Australia is a place full of arts!) However, I felt a little bit angry as it is an evidence of English invasion. The English even bulit their power by creating the Royal Clock. The clock activates on the hour and displays six scenes of English royalty. (display English history in Australia every hour? so ironic!) Although there is the Great Australian Clock showing the Australian history by 33 scenes, it only served as a contrast. I felt so frustrated that QVB is located in a busy street in Sydney…

The beautiful creatures in Queen Victoria Building

I encounted an EXCITING thing when I took a walk in Circular Quey. I saw indigenous people playing didgeridoo and Wooden Boomerang and even dancing!!! I took a picture with them and enjoyed the music. From the music and dance, I felt their passion and energetic power! I appreciated their effort to preserve their own culture by promoting to other people. In fact, Australian government keeps many historical buildings by changing their usage, organizes a place to gather different ethnic groups, such as China Town, little Italy in Norton Street, little India in Harris Park. It also promotes different cultures by organizing activities (there was an Australian Arts Festival on 6th Jan). The government really treasures the cultural diversity and their citizens. At that moment, I had strong mind that Hong Kong government should preserve their historical buildings, skills and tools as they are good representation of our unique Hong Kong personalities and values!



I encounted may cultural things!



I spent THREE hours having a coffee and a cake in a coffee shop with Josie (near Manly Ocean World). I also ate pancakes and hamburgers (The Rocks). I really enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere and beautiful view (clean street with shops) to chat and read books. I watched two Arts Gallery (near Bondi Beach and Manly Ocean World) to appreciate paintings and sculptures with styles. I tried different white and red wine in Hunter Valley, I liked to smell red wine but drink white wine! (Strange? Right?) Australian love drinking coffee in a shop as they think it is time for them to relax and gather with friends. I also tried to have a drink in a bar (court down!), Australian teenagers love to have a drink as it is time to social and make friends, I become one of them!!

I tried may special food in Australia!

Here is an evaluation form to evaluate my knowledge on Australian cultures and history in the tour. The result is perfect and some suggestions are provided if I have a chance to have other study tours.

A evaluation from Experience Australia History and Cultural

A. Improve English Standard

Regarding the improvement of my English standard, it is vital to provide an environment for practicing. As I seldom speak English in daily life (only in class), I treasured this chance to practice my English and I had some preparation before I went to Australia.

Aggie and I took a picture once we arrived Sndney!

Firstly, I familiarized Australian accent and words by watching some Australia video clips and websites, such as Food Safari on Youtube and Australian English. Actually, one of our professors, Christoph speaks English with New Zealand accent, so I familiarize with Australian accent as it is very similar to New Zealand English. I have also memorized 8 Australian daily use English words for communication.

Australian English	British English
Sheila, sort	girl
bloke	guy
mutt	mixture
Aussie	Australian
this arvo	this afternoon
mate	friend
loo	toilet
barbe	barbecue

Second, I used some vocabularies, such as ‘Loo’, ‘mate’, ‘sheila’ when I was in Australia. (Practice makes perfect!) Here is a conversation when I wanted to go to the toilet in a restaurant near Wesley College.

Crystal: Excuse me, Where is the loo?

Waiter: Yes, the loo is over there. (point to the toilet)

Crystal: Alice, do you want to go to the loo?

Alice: Sure (pounce as ‘shore’.)

Crystal: Good, you are a great sort.

After having a seminar with Dr McDonald and Geoff, I have learnt more Aussie vocabularies and realized the relationship between social class and Aussie English. In my opinion, there is no right or wrong of a language as the function of a language is for communication among different purposes. However, under my observation, it is no doubt that the better the English, the more the chances in workplace. (just like Hong Kong) During the seminars, I marked down all Aussie words in my notebook which I encountered.

 

We all welcomed Groff to be our speaker!

 

I got some free newspaper and watch books in bookshop to see the local English usage. I wanted to watch Aussie TV programme in common room, but as there was a rat in the room, I am scared to watch TV in the room. The conclusion is as Sydney is an international city, standard English is mostly used in leaflets, magazine and signs. I interviewed five Australian for questionnaires, I also chatted wit them to ask their daily lives. I normally can have 10-15 minutes conversation. If there are more students in college, I can interact with them in order to practice my English. Unfortunately, I cannot speak English throughout the whole tour as sometimes we speak Cantonese. (I definitely speak English to Samuel and Connie.)

They are my Australian friends!!

I also chatted with a couple from United States when I was in Circular Quey waiting for the firework, I share with them the situation in Hong Kong as they has a misunderstanding that Hong Kong is just like China after hand over.


Here is an evaluation form to evaluate my effectiveness on improving my English in the tour. The result is not good and some suggestions are provided if I have a chance to have other study tours.

A evaluation from Improve English Standard

Pre-departure Study Plan and Learning Aims

Knowledge without Space  Friendship without Boundaries

As a student who interested in English studies, history, culture, communication, story writing and city development, there are four main goals I would like to achieve in the Australia study tour, (A) improve my English listening and communication skills by making foreign friends, (B) increase the historical and cultural knowledge by experiencing Australian cultures and customs (multiculturalism), (C) collect more unforgettable memories and materials for writing stories and (D) investigate their policies on education, environmental protection and city planning, compare the similarities and differences in Hong Kong. I believe I can benefit a lot through exchanging ideas and values with Australian.  Below is my study plan and learning aims in this tour, I am going to evaluate the effectiveness for me to achieve them according to 13 criteria listed below. If I can achieve them successfully, I put a V in it with examples; if I fail to achieve them, I put a X with explanation and improvement.   



My Study Plan and Learning Aims

I gain more historical and cultural information of Australia from Australian Government


P.S. I hope I can achieve the aims in the tour in order to widen my horizons! :)