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During my PhD studies at FHM, I experienced the depth and breadth of interdisciplinary knowledge from academic conferences and seminars, and received insightful guidance from professors in the department, especially from my supervisors. This ongoing journey enriched my academic perspective and deepened my understanding of meditation and Chinese education. With support from the faculty, I engaged in the Writing and Publication Programme, which enhanced my grasp of the fundamental components of publication and helped me optimize my writing framework. Additionally, I established new academic networks with fellow researchers. Furthermore, my experience as a teaching assistant also enhanced my understanding of pedagogical approaches. All these are invaluable for my future academic and professional development.

I am honored to study at FHM for my PhD. Throughout this academic year, I have received invaluable support and encouragement from my supervisor, Dr Egret Zhou. I am fortunate to have collaborated with her on the first academic monograph on Hong Kong TV Drama.  Additionally, thanks to the financial support from FHM, I could attend the 5th International Celebrity Studies Conference at the University of Amsterdam, which allowed me to connect with esteemed scholars worldwide and gain insights into their latest research findings, enriching my understanding of this research area. I also served as a tutor for the Master of Arts in Chinese Studies (Language Education). This tutoring experience provided valuable teaching experience for my future career and led to lasting friendships with students that will benefit me for a lifetime.

My PhD studies at FHM have been profoundly enriching. The seminars and workshops provided essential knowledge of theoretical frameworks and expanded my understanding of research. I also participated in international conferences, overseas exchange programs, and summer schools. These transformative experiences broadened my academic perspectives and deepened my appreciation for the complexities of educational research. Importantly, under the guidance of my supervisor, Dr Li Zhen Jennie, I have gradually developed my researcher identity through rigorous academic reading and writing. I am grateful for the support of my supervisor and the broader community at EdUHK, and I am committed to embracing future challenges as opportunities for personal and professional growth.

As a second-year PhD student, I'm immensely grateful for the unwavering support from my faculty and supervisors since the beginning. A highlight of my first year involved presenting my research at four international conferences, notably one hosted by the International Association of Applied Linguistics in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in the summer, 2024. This experience marked a pivotal milestone in my doctoral journey, enabling connections with esteemed scholars with shared research interests and learning advancing knowledge in the field of English education and AI. As an old saying goes, "To begin is always difficult, but it is the only way to achieve anything truly worthwhile" (Virginia Woolf),  I eagerly anticipate forging more remarkable memories with the ongoing support of the programme.

My PhD journey at FHM has been truly enriching, as it offers abundant opportunities to engage in academic conferences, workshops, and seminars. Having worked as a designer, coordinator, helper, and presenter in many of these events, I have expanded my academic horizons. The invaluable feedback and guidance from my supervisors, FHM scholars, and PhD peers have significantly contributed to the preparation of my PhD dissertation and the success of my publications in the field of corpus linguistics and computer-assisted language learning. While pursuing a PhD is undoubtedly challenging, my time at FHM has also been incredibly rewarding, bringing confidence to me for my future academic career.

My PhD journey at EdUHK was incredibly enriching in terms of research, learning, and teaching opportunities. I gained hands-on experience in designing and implementing psycholinguistic experiments and analyzing the resultant data. My research endeavors earned me recognition through the Postgraduate Students Publication Awards Scheme, 3MT® Competition, Writing Competition, and one-off FHM Research Support Grant. I also developed and taught IELTS and intercultural education courses and served as an academic writing advisor for MATESOL students. This progress could have been far more challenging to achieve without the funding of the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme, the constructive feedback from my supervisors, Dr Zoe Luk and Dr Daisy Zou, and the continuous support of the university’s staff, especially during those extraordinary challenges posed by the pandemic.

PhD path is a difficult journey that may be compared to a marathon rather than a sprint; hence, it is critical to be persistent and focused on your final goal. Enrolling and completing a PhD program is just the beginning and I am glad that EdUHK was the place where I made the first steps toward my aspirations to develop and share knowledge. PhD degree was one of the most difficult challenges of my life, however, it helped me become a better scholar, educator, and person. And although it might sound intimidating and difficult to enter a competitive academic environment, it encourages me and makes to "run farther, stretch out our arms faster" (credits to F. Scott Fitzgerald).

During my PhD studies at FHM, I have benefited from numerous academic conferences, lectures, and other events related to my research topic, and I have received inspirational guidance from the FHM faculty, especially from my supervisors. In addition to my research, I have also gained a deeper understanding of an academic institution through participation in LCS and RCCLLC's courses (as a teaching assistant and part-time lecturer), academic events (as a designer and student helper), publications (as a proofreader) and so on. I am grateful to FHM for training and accompanying me through this significant stage of my studies. I received constructive feedback from various linguists around the world regarding my study.

With the support from the Faculty, I joined the Georgetown University Round Table (GURT) on Languages and Linguistics for paper presentation and worked on my research proposal in March 2020. Although part of the conference was held online due to the pandemic situation, I could still meet some prominent international scholars, whose research interests are in the scope of my concentration. I also participated in the panel discussion concerning the dominance of English and its impact on multilingual learners. I received constructive feedback from various linguists around the world regarding my study.

Photo: Liubov took photo with Professor Lourdes Ortega of Georgetown University

FHM Research Support Grant offered me a valuable support to my participation in the 2nd Conference on English Language Education in the Chinese Context at Beijing Foreign Studies University and 4-week pilot study in Vietnam. Apart from building up my knowledge related to the use of technology in English Language Education, I created a new social and academic networking with other researchers in the similar area during the conference. Moreover, I believe that what I experienced and learned in the pilot study could support my examination of the conceptual framework and the research instruments for my research proposal. I have also improved my personal research skills.

Photo: Thao received the certificate from Beijing Foreign Studies University