Case Study
Case Study: Joshua Hillis , Amman, Jordan – 2018-2019
I had studied Arabic as an extracurricular course, during my undergraduate degree at Oxford University. These weekly classes had given me a good grounding in Arabic grammar but I knew my spoken Arabic needed some work. The support of The John Speak Trust enabled me to devote three months to improving my Arabic, through an…
Read MoreCase Study – Molly Jeffs, Paris 2018-2019
As part of my BA in French and Linguistics at Queen Mary University I was required to complete at least 6 months at a French speaking university; and for me there was only one option, Paris. The university of the Sorbonne represented French culture to me, and to get the chance to study here was…
Read MoreCase Study: Megan Gouw – Japan, 2018-19
Following my undergraduate degree in Japanese at the University of Edinburgh, I was lucky enough to secure the support of the John Speak Trust in continuing my language studies at a language school in Tokyo for three quarters of a year as the next step towards pursing my long-time dream of studying animation in Japan.…
Read MoreCase Study: Jonathan Saad – Germany 2018-2019
As part of my Engineering course in the UK, I have had the chance to study in Germany for a year. I was keen to do this, as studying abroad would give me the chance to experience Germany’s renowned automotive industry and would give me a great insight into how engineering is viewed outside of the…
Read MoreCase Study: Hallie Swanson, India – 2018
Supported by the John Speak Trust, I spent two months this summer in Lucknow, India, studying Persian. Although the Persian language today is associated with the modern state of Iran, for many centuries it acted as a lingua franca, uniting networks of trade, literary culture and administration all across Asia. India was no exception: not…
Read MoreCase Study: Jacob Lloyd, Germany – 2018
As part of my International Business with German course at Sheffield Hallam University, I have the opportunity to live in Germany for 18 months: 6 months studying and 12 months on a work placement. I received support from the John Speak Trust in the first 6 months during my study semester at the Friedrich-Schiller University,…
Read MoreCase Study: Megan Robertson – China, 2018
After graduating with an undergraduate degree in Chinese from the University of Edinburgh in July, I was lucky enough to be accepted onto a Chinese taught Master’s programme in Public Policy at Tsinghua University commencing this September. With the support of the John Speak Trust, I was able to come to Beijing early and take part…
Read MoreCase Study: Selina Short – France 2018
This summer I did a 2 month translation internship at the fashion broadcaster Paris Modes Tv. It had always been a dream of mine to move to Paris so as soon as I saw the Paris Modes internship advert I knew that I wanted to spend my summer working in Paris. After going through the…
Read MoreAlexander Johnstone: Case Study – Beijing, China 2017-18
As part of my undergraduate degree in Chinese Studies, I set off to Beijing in August 2017 to spend a year living and learning in China’s capital, enrolled in an exchange programme at Peking University. This year has been a vital stage in the journey of my language learning and has offered me so many…
Read MoreHolly Henry: Case Study – Mexico 2017
During the first semester of my year abroad, I spent 5 months studying at UNAM in Mexico City. Looking back, I see in as both a turbulent but very exciting time. I experienced almost the worst weather the world could throw at me: hurricanes, tropical storms and earthquakes, along with a few stormy moments…
Read MoreCase Study: Anam Rahman, China – 2017
During my second year of university I wrote a paper on the Chinese economy. It was here where the magnitude of the inevitable global macroeconomic shifts, finally sunk in. Within the next 10 years China will be the biggest economy in the world. By 2050 its GDP per capita will be twice the size of…
Read MoreCase study: Mercedes Jaskolka, St Petersburg, Russia – 2017
I was full of nerves when I landed in St Petersburg. I thought I’d feel somewhat comfortable in a new environment, having had spent 5 months living in Paris. But nothing could prepare me for the culture shock that came with living and breathing Russia’s culture capital for 5 whole months. The first month I…
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