Interview with International Student

Berry EAIN is a Year 8 International Student from Myanmar. She is also the Year Level Student Leader at Doncaster Secondary College.

Why did you choose to come to Doncaster Secondary College?

I chose to attend Doncaster Secondary College due to the academic reputation of this school and the extensive extra curriculum activities that are offered at school.

After attending the school, I also realised that all our teachers really care for the students and all my classmates are very friendly too.

What have you learnt from being a College leader?

Being a college leader has given me opportunities for my personal growth and development not only academically but beyond my classroom knowledge. As a year level representative, I believe that communication skills are one of the greatest skills that I have been able to develop because I have to share my ideas with others who have different perspectives. I have also learned how to manage my time well and become more organised.

What other extra-curriculum activities are you involved in?

Currently, I am involved in the below clubs and activities:

the School Representative Council (SRC)
Student Connect team
Badminton Club
Guitar Ensemble
Vocal Ensemble
House Drama
Home Away from Home (HAH) Program

How is your learning experience at Doncaster Secondary College different to what it was in Myanmar?

At Doncaster Secondary College, we do not only learn the theories, but we also emphasise more on the application of Maths and Science. For example, we have a lot more Science experiment sessions in class and competitions for Maths.

Secondly, creative writing and critical thinking are encouraged and students are recommended to read a wide range of literature whereas, students are trained to mainly memorise text in Myanmar.

Lastly, devices such as laptops and i-pads are not yet used in Myanmar during class time. However, I believe that using these devices correctly has improved the efficiency of my learning.

Berry EAIN 8F

Chinese speaking Social Work placement student at DSC

Carries ZHANG is one of many new members of the DSC wellbeing team. As a Chinese speaking social worker placement student, her focus is mainly on supporting the International Students and Chinese speaking local students.

Tell us about your education in Australia?

I am studying Master of Social Work at the University of Melbourne. Before this, I studied social work in my undergraduate degree at Hong Kong Baptist University. During my university experience, I attended voluntary activities and social work placements which offered such a great opportunity for me to work with young people. I am currently a placement student working as part of the DSC Wellbeing Team, providing wellbeing support for our International Students and local Chinese students.

Why did you choose to come to Doncaster Secondary College?

I was born in the south of Mainland China, so I can speak Mandarin, Cantonese and English. At Doncaster Secondary College, the majority of International Students come from China. I find that I can connect more with young people when I speak their native language as they are able to express feelings without that language barrier.

What is your opinion of the International Student program (ISP) at DSC so far?

The International Student program at DSC provides strong and professional support for all International Students. The staff have a close relationship with students, caring about their academic, wellbeing, and their home life. The ISP team are efficient in communicating with students’ family, homestay, student management team and subject teachers regarding their academic progress, welfare status and anything that might raise concern I have also noticed that the team provide lots of opportunities and assistance for International Students to integrate into the College community and find a sense of belonging. I think this is very important for young people, especially when they are in a foreign country.

What is your main focus at DSC?

My main area of focus is to support students with counselling, giving advice to students about aspects of the school, such as time management, stress management and relationships guidance. I have also been working on a research project with the aim to raise the profile of the DSC Wellbeing Team and to increase the International Students' awareness of the wellbeing services on offer to them at the College.

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