Studying (1) Six weeks, it has been a solid six weeks since I took my last exam “Synoptic assessment” in AAT level 3, not a day less, not a day more. At last, I have got my result in the middle of the night – 93%. I wouldn’t ask for more although it is my lowest score in my six exams in level 3. It covers all the knowledge that we have learnt in previous four units plus a new unit plus the spreadsheet using. All of these wouldn't make me so nervous if it didn’t involve the writing in this exam. As a non-English speaker, it was a new challenge for me. As a new mother who had a baby just before the last two months of the term, it was a nightmare. Looking back, I wouldn't believe how I have managed it and even got a “Distinction” overall. I still remember the bright sunshine, exhaustive feeling and incredible relief clearly in that afternoon of six weeks go after I walked out the exam room. I was quite calm because I knew that I had done my best and it was all over after a year’s hard work.

Is it easier to learn English if you live in the UK? Can you improve your English without any effort in no time if you are living in the UK as a second language learner? Well, I’m going to tell you my experience. I was studying English full time last year for four months in the UK. I have to admit it was a great improvement for my English in any way. First of all, you are being taught accurate English every day, any mistake of your English will be corrected by your teachers. Secondly, you can take your time to talk to your teachers and mates at school as they all understand it’s your second language. Last but not least, you have got the atmosphere of learning English to achieve your targets like get the certificate or pass the exam. I have been living in the UK with my British husband nearly three months this year without going to school. I do always self-study English at home, but my English seems staying at the same level. Native speakers always speak in their own way without looking after you when you are talking with them. You get lost frequently when everyone speaks fast and random. People don’t even talk much to someone who is not interesting not to mention to a foreign English learner, what they want is a quick chat and laugh but not practicing English with you. I know it is not a pleasant thing to listen to an English learner to speak or repeat what you’ve said. For this reason, I hardly manage to talk to many people in depth apart from saying “Hello." :( Moreover, you are always being lazy to learn anything when you’re self-studying, aren’t you? Especially when you can’t see any improvement in a short time, what you get is frustrating. In a nutshell, going to language school for learning English is much more efficient than self-studying.

Love & Life 1, I could have born the loneliness if I didn’t meet you. 2, How is possible to be friends if you have truly loved someone? You will still want to have him when you see him. 3, I thought you would like me if I could make you laugh, but I lost to someone who let you cry. 4, Some people are bound to amaze you for a while but cannot warm your life up. 5, Language can be powerless when you are expressing your love but it can be so sharp when you are hurting someone. 6, I saw a girl who was holding a box when I was waiting for the bus. I thought she should have resigned her job. As expected, she was telling to someone on the phone that she had left her company and was going home few days later. Such is city, many people come while countless people leave. She didn’t seem sad at all. I thought she must have been longing to leave this city which was the same as concrete forest. Wish her all the best.

Life in the UK I was studying full time English in the UK for four months last year after having worked for few years in China. Everything amazed me at that time as it is so different from China. I was extremely happy and exploring the new world in front of me every day: the sky is so blue, the medieval houses are so marvelous and the food is so weird. As a student, study is the only that you need to do and nothing else to worry about. I think only someone who has worked for a certain time then go back to school can understand what I felt. After that, I went back to China to get marry with my husband and get the resident visa of the UK. Until now I have been living in the UK over two months and not found a job yet. The novelty of the UK soon wore off and I began to worry about my future life here. It was quite easy for me to find a job when I was in a big city in China. The experience I have is working in electronic manufacturing industry as a purchaser. However, my English is far from perfect and this town I live doesn’t seem to have any manufacturing companies. Nevertheless, I got to keep trying.