Dear passengers, welcome aboard! This train is bound for the University of Macau, a place where you will meet new friends, learn new knowledge, and have new experiences that exceed your expectations. To help you make the most of your journey, we have compiled a list of seven must-do things for newcomers. Ready to explore? Buckle up and read on.

Take Advantage of the All-English Environment

An all-English environment is one of the distinguishing features of UM. To help students adapt to this new environment, the English Language Centre (ELC) offers English language courses at different levels, one-to-one classes in spoken English and writing, and annual English summer camps that provide an immersive environment to help students practice English.

James Hong, a second-year student in the Department of Psychology, attended the English summer camp and it made him realise the importance of self-directed learning. ‘The camp helped us review grammar and learn new vocabulary. I also learned how to effectively express my thoughts and how to get along with other students and my roommates,’ he says. The ELC is not alone in helping students adapt to an all-English learning environment; the residential colleges also organize courses in English, writing, and drama on a regular basis to integrate English learning in students’ daily life.

Attend Lectures by Masters

Lettice Zhang, a fourth-year student in the Faculty of Education, comes from a city in the Greater Bay Area. Of all the lectures and workshops she has attended over the past four years, a lecture by the renowned educator Prof Zhong Binglin that took place two years ago left a particularly deep impression on her. During the question and answer session, she asked Prof Zhong: ‘What is it that we need the most for successful primary school education?’ To which Prof Zhong replied: ‘A well-balanced development and the incorporation of more inspirational elements.’ Prof Zhong believes that is the way to help children discover their interests and find the direction they wish to pursue. ‘His words have echoed in my head ever since that day,’ says Zhang.

UM often invites academic leaders and well-known individuals to give lectures. In the last academic year, Zhang attended lectures by Prof Kai-Fu Lee, a world-renowned expert in artificial intelligence, and Prof Wang Anyi, a well-known writer and a recipient of an honorary doctorate from UM. However, she has gained much more from these lectures than mere intellectual stimulation; she has also collected more than 50 smart points, which qualified her for a grant of 10,000 patacas when she applied for an exchange programme in Canada.

Try to Get into the Honours College

If you want to take your learning experience at UM up a notch, you should try to enter the Honours College (HC). Ceci Chio, a third-year student in the International Integrated Resort Management programme, was admitted directly into the HC because of the Golden Lotus Scholarship for freshmen she received. What she loves the most about the HC is that it helps improve her leadership, teamwork and communication skills. ‘Each year, the HC organises a talent show, and everyone in the class is responsible for a different aspect of the event,’ she says. ‘The difference in our culturalbackgrounds requires us to work closely with one another and make thorough preparation beforehand. ’

The HC also offers various leadership training courses and the opportunity to study in exchange programmes at top universities overseas. Academically excellent freshmen are admitted directly, while other students with outstanding performance can also apply. The application period is from March to June every year.

Join Student Organisations to Discover Your Potential

Okay, enough talk about studies. No college life is complete without extracurricular activities. Cheryl Cheang, a second-year student in the Faculty of Education, clearly lives by this principle. As soon as she entered UM, she joined the House Association and the cheerleading team of her residential college. Later, she joined the Members Affairs Department of the Students’ Union, which is mainly responsible for liaising with commercial outlets on campus on behalf of the students. Cheang is now the president of the RC House Association. She is grateful for the people she met in the House Association and the new experiences that helped her grow. ‘Had I not joined the House Association, I wouldn’t be the person I am today,’ she says. ‘Joining these orgaisations gave me a lot of opportunities to discover my potential and acquire useful skills, such as event planning skills and time management skills. It has also helped me become a more responsible person. ’

Participate in an Exchange Programme

Ah, the tantalising topic of travel! If you love travel and has a GPA of 2.0 or higher, you shouldn’t miss the opportunity to go on an exchange programme, as it offers you a unique travel experience that allows you to not only visit an exciting new place, but to also make new friends, learn a new language, and experience authentic local culture. Liu Dian, a fourth-year student in the Department of English, studied at both Boston University and Southern Illinois University in the United States. During her time there, she found that American students were very active in class and usually competed to answer the teacher’s questions. ‘I found it impressive, and now I do the same at UM,’ she says. When she studied at Boston University, she lived by the Charles River, which faces the main campus of Harvard University. The vibrant academic ambience motivated her to constantly improve herself.

UM students can choose to participate in exchange programmes at more than 150 institutions of higher learning around the world. First-year students can apply for an exchange programme in the second semester of the first year of study (in February). Consult your faculty, Global Affairs Office, or the Student Affairs Office for details.

Avail Yourself of the Resources in the Library

UM’s library is the largest in Macao. Apart from boasting the largest collection of print books in Macao, the library also has an antiquarian books section, a section devoted to books on Macao-related topics, a 3D printer, and abundant electronic resources such as e-databases, e-papers, and e-journals. There are also group discussion rooms and individual study rooms to cater to different learning needs. Valerie Wong, a fourth-year student in the Department of Chinese Language and Literature, was keenly aware of the benefits of a well-stocked library when working on her thesis. ‘My thesis was a study of Macao culture. There is an entire section in the library devoted to books about Macao, which greatly facilitated my thesis-writing. Now that I think about it, I spent almost all my non-sleeping, non-eating time in the library,’ she says.

Exercise to Stay Fit and Healthy

Whether you are a bookworm or the life and soul of the party, you need a healthy body to sustain you through the busy schedule of your college life. As Leong Ka Wai, a fourth-year student in the Department of Communication, will tell you, exercising has not only enriched her life, but also gives her more energy to face the challenges in her study and daily life. Leong is a member of the UM Dragon Boat Team. In June, she and her teammates won the university standard dragon category of an international dragon boat competition held in Macao, and Leong also received the Best Drummer Award. She also loves dancing and going to the gym. She joined the cheerleading team of Choi Kai Yau College in her first year, and later became the captain of the team.

It wouldn’t be an overstatement to say that UM is a paradise for sports lovers. The university has an outdoor athletic field, tennis courts, basketball courts, an archery range, and a four-storey Sports Complex that houses a swimming pool, rock climbing walls, a gym room, a dance room, a badminton court, and table tennis rooms. With so many sports facilities within walking distance of your RC, what excuse do you have for not building those enviable six pack abs?

Okay, we’ve come to the end of the promised list of seven must-do things at UM. And you, dear passengers, have come to the destination of this train. Please take your belongings, excitement, and passion with you, and leave your trepidation behind. We wish you a pleasant journey at UM, and we look forward to hearing your version of must-do things for a memorable college life.

Source: My UM ISSUE 90