Henning testimonial

Name 姓名

Henning Funke

Nationality 國籍

Germany 德國

Current Program 就讀科系

Graduate Institute of European Studies 歐洲研究所

Words from student-English 學生學習感想-英文

After 12 years of school in Germany and three years of apprenticeship, I ended up studying in Taiwan. I got in touch with Taiwan for the first time in 2013, my German secondary school and the German department of Wenzao have set up an exchange program, and I was a lucky one who got the chance to come over. And although I had my doubts when I left the airport, I fell in love with Taiwan pretty soon: the friendly people, great food, good weather, and the country’s beauty. All those great memories helped me decide to move over to Taiwan for my study program. In late August 2018, I entered Taiwan for the 6th time to begin my bachelor’s degree in international affairs. However, being enrolled in a Taiwanese university gave me new viewpoints on Taiwan. It was challenging to stay motivated in the first semester because of the cultural shocks I experienced for the first time. Although all my courses are taught in English, the language has been a barrier between international students and the locals. Furthermore, it took time to develop relations with them as local students are much shyer on average. And instead of student parties, I had to face physical education in my first two years. So, I used the first semester to learn to understand, respect, and deal with the Taiwanese culture on campus. After finding my place in this environment, I saw the advantages and fun of being a student in Taiwan. The Department of International Affairs enables studying at a high level in an international environment. The program covers the fields of international politics, international economy, and international cultural studies. It provides a variety of courses in each field, which makes it easy to meet personnel interests. In contrast to the very theoretical-based approaches in Germany, Taiwanese courses focus more on the practical usage of theories. Professors shape lectures and discussions lively and encourage students to think out of the box. All professors from the department have an international background, are open-minded, and give their best so that every student stays on track. Around 250 students from more than 40 countries are enrolled in the bachelor’s program – in this way, I can also learn a lot from different people and cultures and improve my soft skills. The department also provides a sympathetic ear, supports me in my private matters, and does a lot to pave the way for my graduation. It helps me to connect all my interests and build them into a career. Studying in Taiwan was definitely the right choice, and I feel really comfortable here.