During my time in Sydney, I am taking business-focused classes at CEA CAPA. These classes are providing me with an international business perspective that will definitely aid me in the business world and communicating with people from different backgrounds and cultures. Taking four rigorous courses, these classes emphasize international marketing in sports and general marketing, as well as international organizational behavior and economics. With these classes, I am able to complete my Marketing major as well as a certificate in International Business for my degree.
While taking these courses, I have found that to be successful it is important to be communicative and participate during class to remain engaged since it can be a little more difficult with 3.5 hour classes. It is also important to be diligent in your work as there are few assignments, so the projects and assessments are worth more and require more attention. Additionally, I have found that time management is one of the most valuable skills to have or obtain during this semester, as one can get caught up in travel and having too much fun where you can forget about school duties. For me, I’ve found it best not to leave any work for the weekend and do my best to finish it during the week so that I can enjoy my weekend without the stress of incomplete assignments.
Beginning my third week of classes here in Sydney, I’ve noticed a more laid back and generous attitude within my classes. It is evident that the teachers work hard to create a rigorous yet stress-free environment where the students still learn and engage with the coursework without having the immense pressure we often experience in college in the U.S.. The classes are way smaller than I am used to, with my biggest class being around 8 people. This creates a more unique and personalized learning experience which is more enjoyable because it allows us to work closer together with the professor and peers. Through this classroom style, it also gives me the opportunity to meet my other classmates and create stronger bonds by working on class assignments and projects together. Overall, I am having a great time adapting to the Sydney learning environment where I get to put my capabilities to use and learn new cross-cultural skills that I can use in my future career and internship experiences.