{"id":11024,"date":"2024-03-21T12:52:11","date_gmt":"2024-03-21T04:52:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.iftm.edu.mo\/NewsPortal\/?p=11024"},"modified":"2024-03-21T12:53:13","modified_gmt":"2024-03-21T04:53:13","slug":"language-literature-and-learning-meet-iftm-lecturer-ashley-kuong","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.utm.edu.mo\/NewsPortal\/language-literature-and-learning-meet-iftm-lecturer-ashley-kuong\/","title":{"rendered":"Language, literature, and learning: meet IFTM Lecturer Ashley Kuong<\/strong>"},"content":{"rendered":"\u4e2d\u6587\u6458\u8981 \/ Summary in Chinese<\/span>\n\n\n\n
Via a wealth of academic and professional experience, IFTM Lecturer Ms. Ashley Kuong tries to add a personal element to her English-language classes, boosting her students\u2019 confidence and promoting cross-cultural understanding<\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

IFTM Lecturer Ms. Ashley Kuong Ka Man joined the Institute at the start of the current academic year, adding her academic achievement and professional experience to the strength of the teaching staff. She includes a personal approach in her English teaching at IFTM, with the aim of enriching the Institute\u2019s educational landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIFTM has always struck me as professional and international, with a pioneering vision for valuing sustainability,\u201d she says. Ms. Kuong commends the undergraduates at the Institute for their proactive approach to learning, noting that some often stay after class to ask questions or even reach out during holiday breaks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ms. Kuong graduated top of her year at Macao Polytechnic Institute (MPI) \u2013 now the Macao Polytechnic University \u2013 with a bachelor\u2019s degree in Chinese-English Translation and Interpretation, and laid the foundation for her current endeavours. While an undergraduate, she spent a year on exchange, studying English at Peking University in Beijing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her thirst for knowledge then took her to the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom, where she pursued a master\u2019s degree in English Literature, focusing on psychoanalysis and literature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before joining IFTM as a lecturer, Ms. Kuong gained teaching experience at secondary school-level and at another higher education institution in Macao. All these steps gave her insight on how to deal with learners from a variety of backgrounds: from younger students tackling English as a foreign language to mid-career professionals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ms. Kuong\u2019s insights beyond the academic realm include being a Macao-wide English speech contest champion and an actress in English-language dramas, adding unique dynamism to her teaching methods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cStudents may not really have to be \u2018on stage\u2019 per se<\/em>, but speaking a foreign language in front of others can sound equally intimidating,\u201d Ms. Kuong points out. \u201cThis inspired me to design a classroom that is supportive and aids in confidence-building, with a focus on fostering student self-confidence in speaking English.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ms. Kuong\u2019s approach includes incorporating speaking activities in class with the aim of \u201cbuilding students\u2019 courage to speak English in front of others and thereby strengthening their self-esteem.\u201d She explains: \u201cBeing equipped with training in English-language theatre, I can reinforce the English language\u2019s linguistic components in the classroom, including pronunciation, intonation, and oral fluency.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She emphasises that \u201cmaking mistakes is a necessary part of learning\u201d: there is no need for students to be ashamed of that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to her teaching career, Ms. Kuong has served as a civil servant, translator, and trilingual simultaneous interpreter at high-profile events in Macao and Beijing. Her expertise extends to translation, proofreading, editorial work, academic publishing, and digital marketing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She explains her wealth of experience has furthered her understanding of cultural differences. Ms. Kuong says her classes aim to develop students\u2019 cross-cultural awareness and sensitivity, which are \u201cvaluable traits\u201d for those aspiring to be tourism and hospitality professionals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Literature as a gateway<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an era where traditional reading habits might be waning, Ms. Kuong advocates the important role played by literature in personal intellectual development. She herself transformed from reading little to being an avid reader.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor the first 20 years of my life, I had little appreciation for the beauty of words. I found reading to be tedious, and I would much prefer to watch a film than immerse myself in a book,\u201d she admits. \u201cBut after a year of study at Peking University everything changed. It would not be exaggerating to describe the environment there as \u2018book-immersive\u2019,\u201d she says, recalling that the culture of reading extended throughout the entire campus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI was exposed to a wide range of literary genres in both Chinese and English, and the professors\u2019 insightful analysis and skilful instruction sparked my admiration for the grace of words. Furthermore, the classes were often filled with in-depth study and discussion of the texts, and we had chances to attend talks on a variety of topics.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After returning to Macao, Ms. Kuong continued to nurture her interest in literature, including via a course on literary translation as part of her studies at MPI. \u201cI learned to apply translation techniques to capture a particular author\u2019s style and voice while preserving the source text\u2019s intended impact,\u201d she says. \u201cI developed a strong enthusiasm for reading literature as a result, which inspired me to pursue a master\u2019s degree in the field.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ms. Kuong points out that reading offers people \u201cuniversal\u201d yet at the same time \u201cunique\u201d experiences: \u201cexperiences that are absent when we aimlessly scroll through our phones\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She adds: \u201cLiterature opens a door to encountering entirely different worlds \u2013 worlds that we might not otherwise have the opportunity to visit in reality, worlds that may starkly contrast with our own.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, reading also can foster empathy, understanding, and a broader perspective \u2013 qualities Ms. Kuong deems crucial in today\u2019s society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A book she recommends to students is Kurt Vonnegut\u2019s \u2018Slaughterhouse-Five\u2019. As a young adult, this sci-fi novel sparked her imagination, with its unconventional narrative patterns and exploration of themes including war and trauma. \u201cIt profoundly changed my perspective on life and transformed my understanding of existence,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For students at IFTM aspiring to pursue an academic career akin to hers, Ms. Kuong offers timeless advice. She encourages them to make the most of their college life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drawing from her own experience as a student, she says: \u201cI am grateful that I stepped out of my comfort zone and embarked on a college journey filled with English-language competitions, drama performances, study tours, and exchange visits\u2026 I am thankful for the abundant opportunities that I enjoyed in my college life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSuch life-changing extracurricular experiences, which extend beyond the boundary of a classroom, undoubtedly have a positive impact on one\u2019s future endeavours,\u201d Ms. Kuong notes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cStudying is an essential part of academic life, but it is not, and should not be, the only thing. In the end, it is crucial to make sure that college life is enriching and that every minute is treasured, in addition to managing academic responsibilities and trying our best in all subjects.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Editor: IFTM Public Relations Team<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Via a wealth of academic and professional experience, IFTM Lecturer Ms. Ashley Kuong tries to add a personal element to her English-language classes, boosting her students\u2019 confidence and promoting cross-cultural […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":11026,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[136,62],"tags":[2903,2905,2073,2904,2701,1293,2902,400,2727],"class_list":["post-11024","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-main_headline","category-utm-life","tag-ashley-kuong","tag-english-teaching","tag-iftm","tag-kuong-ka-man","tag-language","tag-learning","tag-literature","tag-macao","tag-macao-institute-for-tourism-studies"],"views":1526,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.utm.edu.mo\/NewsPortal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11024","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.utm.edu.mo\/NewsPortal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.utm.edu.mo\/NewsPortal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.utm.edu.mo\/NewsPortal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.utm.edu.mo\/NewsPortal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11024"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.utm.edu.mo\/NewsPortal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11024\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11031,"href":"https:\/\/www.utm.edu.mo\/NewsPortal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11024\/revisions\/11031"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.utm.edu.mo\/NewsPortal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11026"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.utm.edu.mo\/NewsPortal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11024"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.utm.edu.mo\/NewsPortal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11024"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.utm.edu.mo\/NewsPortal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11024"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}