English has always been the subject I wanted to excel in, and I aspired to pursue an English major as early as my school days. When I enrolled in BAEAL, I thought it would just be a traditional English studies degree. After four fruitful years as a BAEAL student, I feel greatly thankful for the academic rigour of the Department of English and Communication and the various resources it gave me. What distinguishes BAEAL from other English programmes is its practical orientation, which prepared me to use English skilfully in various professional contexts. I did not realise that my language studies at BAEAL would be transformed by technology in ways that would make me a tech-savvy communicator. I was equipped with skills that are increasingly vital to this tech-driven world, such as language processing using specialised computational software.

Beyond studies, scholarship opportunities offered by the Department are valuable not just financially but also for cross-sector networking. Through my exchange semester at the University of Maryland, I learned to be more open to various cultures and more mature in facing challenges.

Confident and prepared, I’m now embarking on the journey I’ve envisioned.

My decision to pursue a degree in BA (Hons) in English and Applied Linguistics was based on a general interest in language study when I was applying to university. Now, upon graduation, I realise that four years at PolyU ENGL have offered tremendous assistance for my personal development and transformed my broad interest into a genuine love of and passion for applied linguistics, which I now know is where I want to build my future. Some of the best moments for me happened in the classroom. Through lectures, seminars, group discussions and interactive projects, we learned to approach problems critically, collaborate effectively, and better understand the world through the lenses of language and communication. This programme provided us with a strong foundation in both theory and practice. I will never forget the support from instructors and professors, which went beyond the classroom. The faculty members are amazingly supportive in academic advising and research supervision. Something else that I truly appreciate is the many opportunities offered here, including internship positions, student assistant jobs, undergraduate conferences and exchange opportunities. These experiences have been the most memorable moments that have shaped my academic life.