The students of the University of Macau (UMac) are brave and open to experiment with English, said Christopher Kelen, assistant professor of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FSH).

Kelen also said that it was unfair to compare UMac students' English language standard with that of Hong Kong students, because Hong Kong was once a colony of Britain, and there were many more opportunities to use English.

Kelen was one of the organizers of the Readings and Performances by the English Department, a programme featured in the annual UMac Open Day on March 17.

During the programme, four students from FSH and FED were invited to present their short stories on stage, which were about love and sympathy.

Joan Leong, a FED student, enjoyed the stories. She believed that UMac students have the potential to be creative English writers if they are given a professional training.

Another performance was given by five second-year FSH students who performed the Second Shepherds' Play in its original language -- English from the Middle Ages. The play was about love and generosity. A group of four shepherds discovered that one of them had stolen their sheep, but they forgave him at the end. 

Demi Tong and Sarah Wu, two of the performers in the play, said that they found the lines difficult to memorize, but they chose to use the original dialect as it gave rhyme to every line in the play.

Victoria Lei, lecturer of the English Department, said that as the students rehearsed the play over and over again, they began to understand the humour in the verses. From then on, they enjoyed more in practicing the play.

UMac held its annual Open Day on March 17 and 18. Many exhibition booths were set up on campus and in the International Library displaying its five faculties and most recent achievements. 

The event also featured seminars on scholarships offered by the Macau Government, China's hi-tech development and teaching experience. Some seminars were broadcast live through the UMac webpage. 
 
 

Exhibition booths in the International Library attract visitors.