Eurocampus Experience Part 2: Folakemi Blessing Awoyo

Thinking Back About the Eurocampus: Good and Not so Good Memories

I would like to start by thanking Tallinn University and Anglia Ruskin University for giving me the privilege to take part in the Eurocampus 2015 programme for one semester. Having successfully completed the programme and received a diploma certificate in Intercultural Communication, it would be unfair not to point out some good and not so good memories I had during the programme. The fact that I had to do thirteen courses to pass ten in one semester during the programme left me with one positive memory I am likely not to forget in a hurry, it made me remember those days as an undergraduate in Nigeria. My Eurocampus experience was unique because my week was always busy with studies and assignments. It wasn’t a period of fun or holiday. I remember how I had to wake up very early in the morning to catch the bus so I would get to class on time. After each course we got home assignments. This intensive but interesting experience for one semester was challenging but it really helped to build my mental capability. I also found hanging out with the lecturers alongside some Eurocampus students to be fun and interesting as we got to chat, laugh, know more about each other, and mostly learn one or two words from each other languages. For example, I learnt “míng tiān jiàn” meaning see you tomorrow in Chinese, "waar ben je?" means where are you in Dutch and the words "Io ho freddo" means I am cold in Italian language. Another good thing I will remember was how some of our lecturers made us watch videos and films in class in relation to what we were being taught.  We had to work in groups with different students during the programme- that was crazy and fun. Sometimes we argued, brainstormed, put our cultural and academic experiences from our home universities and countries into practice and used them when writing the assignments. I learnt a lot from my group members, it was amazing and interesting to know that what might be unacceptable in my country or home university is acceptable in their country and university. Another thing I really enjoyed were the extramural English classes organized by the language school in Anglia Ruskin University for the Eurocampus students. It was quite helpful and I benefited a lot from the classes as it improved my English language skills. I must say that the university environment and staff were quite friendly, they gave us a homey feeling and involved us in most of the university’s social and academic activities. Not that good memory was the fact that the university did not provide hostel accommodation for us. Links where we could find private accommodation were sent to us, but even with this it was difficult for us to get a place to stay when we first arrived in Cambridge. Plus private accommodation was expensive, and if one manages to find one, one has to be quick in order to secure the place by  paying security bills, otherwise the owners will give it out. This experience was quite stressful in the first few weeks and month of our arrival. I know if it were to be my home university (Tallinn University), this would,'t have been the case.

Most Influential Courses

All the courses thought during the programme were carefully selected in a way that each course had its own positive influence on me, and contributed to my knowledge of intercultural communication. But I will like to point out two courses that had a greater influence on me. The first one was the course taught by Stephen Wolting from the Poznan University titled Grief and Mourning in Literary Texts. It influenced me by changing my thinking and it helped me to realise that the dead should be respected just like the living. I found the course interesting also as it was actually my first time of hearing about a course that deals with death, mourning and ritual rites in different countries. Now I know how burial rites and mourning of the dead are performed in different countries and across cultures, including mine. Also the course Crossing Boundaries: Modes of Communication taught by Jan ten Thije was another course I found influential. It was challenging as I and other students had to play a game using our mother tongue. We also had a debate about the use of ELF (English as a lingual franca) and LARA (mother tongue alongside English language). It was fun and interesting as one can feel foolish at some point when one doesn’t know the right word or sentence to say in another's mother tongue or understand quite well what the other person is saying. The course made me realise how important it is to use our mother tongue alongside English, as the preference to use only English is one way our native languages extinct. The course also reawakened the desire in me to communicate in my mother tongue and also to learn other languages.

Recommendation

I feel that the content of the Eurocampus is in accordance with the requirements of the labor market. The labor market actually needs competent intercultural communication personnel in every sector. It is a well-known fact that employers are looking for graduates who are hardworking, enterprising, resourceful and adaptable and who with their degree possess a range of skills which can be used in a wide variety of settings as well as in their career. This is what the Eurocampus programme covers. The courses exposed us communication problems and situations we are likely to encounter in our everyday life as individuals and also in organizations. Apart from this, the programme also dealt with intercultural marketing, politeness, the legal aspect of communication which deals with cultural diversity and human rights. What/ who else should the labor market ask/look at for, if not a Eurocampus graduate. It is also very important to mention that the courses taught during the Eurocampus programme are well connected to the selective module in Intercultural Communication in our home university.

Recommendations for the Eurocampus 2016

I recommend Intercultural Communication MA students to participate in the 2016 programme that is held in Tallinn University. It is a great study opportunity to any student, they have the opportunity to be lectured by great and experienced  professionals in the field of communication/intercultural communication. The benefits they get as a result of participating in the programme are enriching. They won’t return to their home university the same, it is certain that they learn a lot and challenge their existing beliefs, meet and make new friends and get to know more about other cultures. For 2016 I recommend a practical approach during the lectures. Films, movies and relevant videos on YouTube, alongside with practical field work should be included to the teaching methods.  Taking the students out on educational/tourist trips around Estonia won’t be a bad idea also. Stepping out from our comfort zone can be difficult as a student but it helps to make our academic experience unique. Tallinn is a beautiful city to live in and also to study.  People in Estonia are lovely and Tallinn University as the host has all it takes to make your participation memorable, especially with the presence of Prof. Anastassia Zabrodskaja, the head of Communication Management programme and also the coordinator of the 2016 Eurocampus programme at Tallinn University. Text by Folakemi Blessing Awoyo.  

Read more about the Communication Management programme and admission requirements from our webpage.

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