Student Voice: Taking AIU online courses at home – Wen Feng, National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan

From Taiwan, Taichung. May 2020

Dear All,

It has been a while since I came back to Taiwan. I miss my days in Akita.

This year has become different than usual. People work from home, and we study from home.

In March, all students were asked to leave campus to prevent the spread of COVID-19. It was hard for me to go because I had no time to say goodbye to all of my dear friends.                                                                                                                                                                                    I went back home, then went through a quarantine right after my arrival. Then the Spring Semester starts. Online studying life began. I did not have much time to be gloomy for too long.

Wen, just before leaving campus.

I take seven courses this semester. The way how the class is delivered is different depends on the course. For example, with intermediate Japanese, we have online assignments, personal meetings, and group meetings. In Korean class, we need to record our script, then the teacher will tell us where we can improve. Self-learning becomes the most important thing since we don’t have as many opportunities practicing as before.

AIU also provides lots of support to help us solve problems, whether technical or mental. For example, though we can’t meet face to face, the health and medical room still provides information about taking care of ourselves and what we should aware of coronavirus. Furthermore, we also get full support from academic affairs if we encounter any technical trouble such as internet connection and equipment problems. Finally, we still have FLCP (Foreign Language Conversation Partner), which is called V-FLCP now! Learning languages can’t stop. Right?

Now is a tough time for all of us, but we can go through it as long as we keep our hearts open. These days will be a memorable moment in our life.

Still, I miss my friends and the gorgeous campus. I’m looking forward to going back to Akita and AIU. AIU brought me unforgettable memories.

Farewell to friends, and going back home. To a new phase of academic life.

Wen FENG, Taiwan Normal University
Enrolled in AIU in FA 2019, WI 2019 and SP 2020