2016-07-12 08:55:32
Meet Roy! He's learning calligraphy at Omeida Chinese Academy.
Why did you decide to study abroad with Omeida Chinese Academy?
Roy: I first encountered Omedia Chinese Academy when I was already staying in Yangshuo at a local Taiji school. I had heard about Omeida before but never visited there until they challenged us to a game of volleyball. The beat us but none the less a firm friendship was established.
The following winter vacation, thinking about the need to work on my Chinese, I booked a series of Saturday morning classes at the school. I did this again the following summer and found that not only did I really enjoy the language learning, the teachers were also very good. It wasn't until the winter vacation of 2013 though that I made the decision to focus my time on learning Mandarin and I didn't return to the Taiji school that summer but took an 8 week course at Omedia. I repeated this in the winter vacation of 2014 and really started to feel that it might actually be possible for me to one day have a conversation in Chinese.
What made this experience unique and special?
Roy: The thing that makes studying at Omedia special is the camaraderie and friendship that you meet there. The teachers are very attentive and supportive so you really feel like one of the family. I personally think that the owner, Mr. Odar, has done a really good job in fostering a happy immersive environment for students to participate in. There is always the sound of laughter and good humour around the school and I always miss it when I am not there.
When you spend so much time in a room with a teacher it is inevitable that you are going to form some kind of a relationship with them. However at Omedia I feel I have made real friends who I am still in contact with. In fact, we communicate regularly and we help each other with all sorts of language and cultural issues (English and Chinese). Every time I return there I feel welcomed and quickly slip back into being part of that big ever growing family of friends.
There's all kinds of fun learning going on at Omeida Chinese Academy!
What did Omeida Chinese Academy do for you and what did you need to do on your own?
Roy: I first tried learning Chinese on my own knowing that I would be living here for a while. I used various online podcasts to try and get some basics down and it helped a little. Once I had moved to China and was working here I then found a local teacher to help me. However, learning just once or twice a week doesn't really push you on the fast. You can also find that while your teaching might be a nice person with good intentions, their skill as a teacher is a little lacking. Often the local teachers are just people with a little teaching experience who are trying to make some extra money. There is a sense that they feel they can teach it because they speak it.
What I found at Omedia was an entirely different experience. Professional teachers, with lots of experience and great language skills. They are able to respond to your own personal needs as a learner and focus language lessons around your personal learning style. This, coupled with the immersive nature of intensive study really is a different way of learning.
I still do the lessons with my local teacher, at this point in time I have an undergraduate student teaching me, but the difference in quality and experience is really clear. When I am at Omeida I learn as much about teaching from the teachers as I do Chinese. When I am with my local teacher I have to teach them to teach as well since they really don't know how to teach in a western style.
The Omeida Chinese Academy students on a biking adventure!
Do you feel you got a chance to see the city from a local's perspective?
Roy: Living for extended periods in one city you really get to see another side of life. You become immersed in the local culture, its not like visiting somewhere as a tourist. I have been going to Yangshuo for many years but actually the stays at Omedia Chinese Academy have opened new doors and initiated new friendships. I have participated in cultural activities as part of local traditional festivals in ways that I wouldn't have as a tourist.
For example during the Spring Festival, the school organised a number of cultural activities including calligraphy and the making of dumplings (an important part of the festival). We also got the opportunity to go out to dinner with some local people and really get to know their life as well. The longer you stay in one place the more you notice the little things and discover those magical little places that others just pass by. I have cycled many times down to the Yulong River from the school but it was only when Mr. Odar lead a cycling trip there that I discovered all the back lanes and off road tracks. That was an amazing peek behind the scenes at real local Chinese village life.
If you want to learn Chinese, explore China, meet some great people, try new foods and enjoy the social side of life then Omeida is definitely the place for you.
I had some great teachers at Omeida who were effective, patient and humorous. Lessons often consisted of reading, writing and a lot of discussion. I believe my lessons were tailored to my learning style and speed which made my short week at Omeida very effective. Some lessons involved walking around outside with my teacher where I was able to practice saying my directions in Chinese. This became very useful in Taxi and scooter rides. We also walked to markets were I was able to practice food names and purchase different fruits.
My two language partners also helped me with pronunciation and enjoyed telling me about Chinese history and myths.
As a student who was studying at Omeida at a beginner level, a struggle was using Chinese websites to book flights. However, this was not a problem as there was always someone to help me. Overall, everyone was very helpful and supportive whether it was with homework, organising flights, adapting to China, anything.
During my ten days in Yangshuo, I conquered TV tower three times, sped in and around the county many times by bike, was challenged mentally and physically during two rock climbing sessions, sung my heart out at KTV, taught my Chinese friend some swimming techniques, enjoyed several very humorous nights in the town, and all of this was done with my new friends, both Chinese and foreign. Additionally, every morning I would open my curtains to see the beautiful peaks scattered throughout Yangshuo. I always enjoyed going to markets where I bought cheap, delicious and often interesting food and ate them while watching the local skills and talent. Adding to these great experiences, I was very happy to be surrounded by a group of like-minded people, all wanting to learn, make new friends and have a great time.
This trip was recommended to me by the International Marketing Manager, Sarah, who is also from New Zealand (go the Kiwis!) She told me that Yangshuo would be a great introduction to China and she was absolutely right. I highly recommend Omeida and Yangshuo.
I do however have one regret... That I didn't stay longer.