英国论坛
现年26岁的尼日利亚学生Akanimo Odon，从威尔士大学环境恢复专业硕士毕业后，现就读于兰开斯特大学，攻读博士学位。在此，Akanimo给我们讲述了他在英国的留学生活，Akanimo被英国文化委员会授予2006年度留学生奖。
在来英国前，情形会是什么样，我并没有十足把握。我以为从尼日利亚来到英国后，会很费劲才能安定下来，然而实际情况并非如此。我觉得这里欢迎自己，我想英国人并不以出处论英雄，这真是太好了。
到英国后我立刻感到的最大不同之处之一，是这里没有了家乡的拥挤喧嚷。
在英国，整个基础设施都很到位，整洁有序，学生们只要专心于学业就行。如果需要帮助，该向谁去询问，一切都一清二楚，而且总有人乐意告诉你该怎么做。每件事都组织的很好，能适时得到这样的帮助真的很不错！
这里的教学方法也完全不同。我学理科，除了学习纯理论知识的课程，我还希望能把学到的东西在实践中加以应用。当第一次意识到自己必须适应实验室里的工作，操纵从没见过的机器的时候，的确让人感到畏惧。但是，很快就适应了一切，可真不错！在这样的环境中学习，确实能帮助你将所学的各种理论知识形象化。这种实践经验，以后不论是再做研究或是找工作，对我都大有帮助。
在英国，我发现的另一个主要不同，是这里的学习经历使我在学习上更加独立。在国内时，我总是依靠老师，我去上课然后接受老师给的笔记。但是在英国，我们更多地开展讨论，更多地进行独立阅读，并且由我自己来做笔记。
这种学习方式有助于进行独立学习，如果打算日后做深入的研究工作，这是必备的能力。
我觉得英国大学会提供学生所需的所有指导，但是最后，学生有很大的自由空间，在所学领域进行自主探究。
我个人以为在英国留学的另一大好处是我的前途更加有保证。在尼日利亚，学校和工业界之间是脱节的，但是在这里，学生在学习期间可以得到公司的资助。一旦毕业就能到一份工作，了解这一点可以增加自信，并绝对能让我更加专心于学业。
在兰开斯特，各种各样的机会会向你敞开，真是很棒。尽管我是学理科的，我仍然能上创意写作课，并在一家养老院做护理员，还参加了各种社团，还踢足球打网球。
学习、工作、写作、参加各种俱乐部和社团活动、进行体育运动…… 我只想一天有更多的小时，好让我再挤出时间做更多的事。
International Student of the Year award winner
Akanimo Odon, winner of the International Student of the Year Award, talks about his time in the UK as a postgraduate student
Following his graduation with a Masters in Environmental Rehabilitation from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, 26-year-old Nigerian student Akanimo Odon is now studying for his PhD at Lancaster University. Here, Akan gives us his personal view of life as an international student in the UK:
"Before I came to study in the UK I wasn't a hundred per cent sure what to expect. I thought there was a chance that I'd struggle to settle down after arriving from Nigeria, but that just hasn't been the case. I've been made to feel so welcome and I think it's great that people in the UK are respected for who they are, rather than where they're from.
One of the big differences I noticed straight away was that there's much less hustle and bustle here than at home.
In the UK the whole infrastructure is in place - everything is orderly - and it allows you to concentrate on your studies. If you need help with anything, it's always clear who you need to speak to and there's always someone willing to point you in the right direction. Everything's well organised and it's great to have that support in place.
There's definitely a difference in the way that subjects are taught too. I'm studying a science, but instead of my course being purely theoretical, I'm expected to put everything I learn into practice. It can be quite daunting when you first realise that you're going to have to get used to working in laboratories and operating machinery that you've never even seen before, but it's amazing how quickly you get used to it all. Learning in an environment like this does help you to visualize the various theories you're studying, and the fact that I've now got all this practical experience will definitely help me when I come to do further research or get a job.
The other main difference I've found while studying in the UK is that I'm much more independent here. At home I would depend on my teachers to come to a lecture and provide all of the notes, but here there's much more discussion, much more reading on my own, and I am making all my own course notes.
Learning like this helps you get to grips with independent study - something you need to be able to cope with if you are going to do further research.
I think universities in the UK give you all the guidance you need, but at the end of the day, you have much more freedom to explore your subject for yourself.
From my point of view, the other main benefit to studying in the UK is that I think my future is much more secure. In Nigeria, there's a gap between the universities and industry but here, a company can sponsor you while you're studying. To know that once you graduate you should be able to get a job boosts your confidence and it definitely helped me to focus on my studies.
It's amazing how many different opportunities are open to me here in Lancaster. Even though I'm a scientist I've still been able to take a creative writing course, work as a carer in a residential home, join societies, set up an international service through my church and play football and tennis.
Studying, working, writing, clubs, societies, sports… I just wish there were a few extra hours in the day so that I could squeeze in even more!"
