A great experience and I would recommend studying abroad
Hi there! My name is Yenny, and I am a former student of an MA in audio-visual translation and literature. My experience as a Colombian student in a UK university has been wonderful. I was fortunate to study at the University of Essex. I chose this university because the translation program was in line with my professional goals and personal values.
At the University of Essex lecturers are great support, and flatmates, as well as classmates, are super friendly and very welcoming regardless of your nationality, gender, sexual orientation and colour. The lecturers promote autonomous work, which enhances students’ research skills. I valued this dynamic not only because it is new, but also because it allowed me to manage my time according to my needs. Regards my master’s, I can tell you that it was ‘hands-on’. We were learning theory but at the same time applying what we were taught in the previous lesson, which allowed me and my classmates to earn a one-year experience as translators. Most of the lectures were in English and some of them were in Spanish. It was a little bit challenging to get used to the British accent, but after a while, I got the hang of it. I also had the opportunity to learn to understand several accents from international students.
A normal day at the university can start with a Zoom call or a lecture in one of the university’s classrooms. You can find a little market in one of the university’s squares where you can have a coffee or any international dish. The University is widely diverse and allows different student groups to create and participate in several events that are not only fun but helps you to get to know different communities. So, on a regular day, you can celebrate Día de Los Muertos or celebrate Holly with the rest of the international students. Then you get to have lunch or dinner in one of the university’s restaurants and enjoy a walk next to the lake. Finally, you can go to your accommodation and call it a day.
My experience living in one of the students’ accommodations in Colchester was one of the best. My accommodation had a great kitchen, a private bathroom, a peaceful environment, friendly flatmates and easy access to public transportation. There were several buses to go to town from the university’s accommodations. On the other hand, Colchester was a great town even though shops closed early, which is very different from Colombia. You can find almost any type of shop in town and the people are quite friendly and helpful. Another difference that I found between my country to Colchester is that Pubs sell food that is good and quite cheap. In Colombia, we don’t have Pubs per se, but we do have bars that sell crisps and burgers. During my spare time, I used to go to Colchester’s park, called ‘Castle park’, which is a peaceful place to read, listen to music, sleep on the grass and have a picnic.
Finally, before coming to the UK, I wish people had warned me about the change of seasons. It was very difficult to keep up with the changes of it. Therefore, the climate app is my best friend now. Another thing I wish people would have warned me about the UK before coming was that in the UK, most of the proceedings are done online. You need to have your BRP, Passport and any documentation that can help you with online forms.
Overall, it is a great experience and I would recommend studying abroad to anyone reading this post.
- Yenny