On the evening of October 20^th, graduates from three different concentrations of English Language and Literature Studies shared their experiences in terms of curriculum, experience in attending international conferences, interdisciplinary research opportunities, and how to reduce anxiety and explore their professional directions.

The first speaker was Zeekin, a graduate student at the University of Hong Kong, who shared his experience on how to adapt to the ELLS program quickly. First of all, he introduced the curriculum of TESOL, and pointed out that the proportion of courses related to academic theory will be larger than that of language skill courses. Those theory-related courses focus on language teaching methodology and classroom communication for language teachers, while the language skills courses focus on semantics and pragmatics, mainly analyzing how to apply English speaking and writing skills to other areas such as education and history. The essence of AI is also a language-based model, so English language and literature majors will not necessarily be replaced. As for scientific research experience, which is more meaningful for those who plan to study for a PhD. Freshmen and sophomores don’t need to be anxious too early about academic research, take classes seriously, and lay a good foundation for professional knowledge. In the third year, students will begin to systematically learn how to do research, from introduction to literature review to data analysis. In the fourth year, you can ask teachers about relevant research information, whether to recruit student research assistants, and try to apply for research grants from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. When it comes to internship, you can find a job as a student research assistant or as an English teaching assistant in your graduation high school. Finally, speaking of the study advice, pay attention to group projects, actively interact with professors in class, and communicate with them after classes.

The second speaker was Amber, who is studying at UCL for graduate school. She first introduced the various useful learning resources provided by UIC, such as the book club and English corner, which are very helpful for practicing oral English, as well as various database workshops held by LRC. She then talked about her participation in a project related to environmental protection organized by UNESCO and her experience of volunteering at Debate Mate. Meanwhile, she encouraged everyone to explore different fields. Finally, she thinks that UIC is a springboard to a broader stage, offering global perspectives and opportunities for interdisciplinary research.

The third speaker was Corina, who is currently studying for a doctorate in Education at the University of Hong Kong. She pointed out the main focus of the three different concentrations, TESOL focuses on English teaching, classroom practice, and educational theory, which will lay a solid foundation for students to study for postgraduate and even PhD. The EPC focuses on cross-cultural communication and media, while the LSE focuses on literary criticism and textual analysis. Most of the students who graduated from TESOL will choose to go to the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Australia, the United States or Singapore to continue their studies for a postgraduate degree in TESOL or Education, while a small number of students will choose to go to the mainland for postgraduate studies. If you are interested in studying for a PhD, in addition to the major required course knowledge, you also need to pay attention to statistics or other modeling-related knowledge at the undergraduate level.

The fourth speaker is Lorna, who has just graduated from the University of Hong Kong and is currently working as an assistant instructor at UIC. She pointed out that although the EPC concentration doesn’t have a clear professional orientation like LSE and TESOL, it also has some advantages. The EPC includes a wide range of courses in diverse areas, providing students with more opportunities to explore different fields. Therefore, EPC students will have more options when it comes to further studies. She also mentioned that the main focus at this stage is to polish our own experience, and there is no need to be overly anxious about what kind of postgraduate school we can apply to. The challenges in today’s job market are not unique to English major students but are caused by the current situation in the whole society. What we can do is to use English as a skill and develop some knowledge or other skills in other areas. For example, the experience of publishing ELLSWHERE magazines for fourth-year EPC students is a good fit for the job of an English magazine publisher.

The fifth speaker is Elena, who has just graduated from the University of Hong Kong and is currently working in Hong Kong. First of all, she believes that English major students must adjust their minds, accept ordinariness, and also discover shining points. There are no standard answers in life, and there is no right or wrong to decide to work right after graduation or further study. She also mentioned that there is no distinction between high and low industries and majors, and in addition to public schools and private schools, students from English major can also choose to work in foreign trade, translation, human resources and other areas. Finally, she also recommended some platforms for undergraduate students to improve themselves, such as teaching in Nepal and participating in reading clubs to exchange our views on literary works with others.

The last speaker was Mia, who graduated from UIC in 2016 and is now studying for a master’s degree in education at Harvard University. She emphasized that English majors are different from other majors, and that English majors unconsciously affect students’ understanding of human nature and aesthetics, which is also very important in the workplace. She also put forward two suggestions for future planning: first, the course selection, scientific research and on-campus experience at this stage should be related to the future study major and career planning as much as possible; Second, when considering the study abroad area, think about where you plan to work in the future.

Finally, Dr. Xi Xu and Dr. Alice Xiaoping Wu summarized the event. Dr. Xi Xu pointed out that students should have a long-term career plan. They can participate in clubs, internships, and scientific research to enrich experience and build social networks. Additionally, everyone has their own strengths, and the future path for English major students is very diverse.