Interview with YinYue. a Chinese student on the Autumn 2000 (EFL) Foundation Programme at the University of Buckingham (www.buckingham.ac.uk). She passed the programme and entered a Business Degree programme starting in January 2001.

Q. What made you choose to study at a university in the UK?

A. In China I wasn't really confident about my ability to study in England. Firstly, it was a good opportunity to speak English and learn English. Secondly, its also a good opportunity for me to be more independent.

Q What were your greatest worries before you came?

A. Firstly, with the English. When I was in China I never spoke English at home so when I came here it was a big problem. I couldn't speak English, I couldn't communicate with people. This was a big worry. Secondly, there is a different way of thinking and doing things. It really confused me.

Q. What do you feel about those problems now?

A. It is getting better, I am used to living here now that I have been here longer. I can understand the way people think and do things. I am enjoying being here, there is freedom.

Q. What do you think are the advantages of doing a Foundation programme?

A. I think this Foundation programme not only helps with academic opportunities but also helps us to understand more about Britain and British people like we do some comparing two kinds of newspapers about the theatre and this helps to understand British social life so its very helpful.

Q. What do you look forward to most about studying Business?

A. I think business is not only the concept about business. What kinds of things is business also is about how to tackle the customers. Before doing business you must understand what is the customers psychology. What can push them into buying lots of things. You need to learn the skill to develop yourself.

Q. How do you think the Foundation has prepared you for the Business degree?

A. This Foundation has been divided into three parts - SSS (Study Support Skills), EWS (English Writing Skills) and ESP (English for Specific Purposes), that is the business bit. Obviously we learn something from the Internet, we compare why BMW and Microsoft are so successful and what the reason is. We also do SWOT and those kinds of things, why businesses can fail. Also we learn a lot of basic conceptions like product delivery - really useful things. We learn about why a Japanese company is really successful in Europe, those kinds of things - really helpful.

Q. How do you think EWS and SSS have helped?

A. I think for EWS we do a lot of things. About how the essay can be structured and how to do introduction and conclusion and what are most important things you report for your essay and lots of phrases. For SSS we do grammar work which is useful but very difficult. Very useful reading skills like how to scan and how to find one specific piece of information you need.

Q. And presentation?

A. I think presentation is one of the most important skills you need in life. In this Programme I have learned a lot things, like how to organise information, structuring things properly.

Q. What would your advice be to other Chinese students considering coming to the university to study or to a university?

A. I think most students before coming here to the UK think it is more relaxed in China but it is not you do have to work hard in a lot of things but I think a lot of students used to be fed by a teacher. They are used to learning and taking notes but they have to think why something happens. I would like to suggest that before they come here they must thing that UK university is not like in China just fed by the teacher, you have to learn by yourself. You must find out what kind of information you need, you must analyse each piece of information and find out which bits you really need and do that kind of work by yourself. It shouldn't depend on the teacher or others. That's the best bit.

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