Learning Environment at ISD
2023-02-13Spotlight: ISD Korean Courses
2023-02-27
We spoke with a member of our Class of 2023, Alina who was chosen to share with us her story and educational journey at ISD. Let’s get started!
ISD2023届毕业生Alina同学将向大家分享她的成长故事和在ISD学习的心得体会，让我们开始吧！
I have had the pleasure of attending International School of Dongguan for the past eight academic years, during which I have been inspired and have had the opportunity to pursue success through my dreams. The school motto Inspire, Succeed, Dream, encapsulates my experience here as a student. I’ve had a variety of interests during my time here, developing a love for music, literature, logical reasoning, and even computer science for a brief period of time. This appreciation for different subjects comes from the constant stimulation of the mind, which inspires one to think and dive into the different worlds of knowledge each subject offers. Success is the result of being inspired, the product of the work fueled through inspiration. Lastly, dreams are possible once one has successfully achieved something through the power of inspiration.
我在ISD就读的8年时间里感觉非常开心。启发、成就、梦想，这三个词是我们学校的校训，它们也概括了我在ISD的学习历程。我在这里学习的过程中培养了广泛的爱好，对音乐、文学、逻辑推理产生浓厚兴趣，有一段时间还对计算机科学十分着迷。我想，这种对不同学科的热爱来源于学习过程中对思维持续性的启发，激发我去思考并潜心探索各学科的知识世界。成功是源于启发的结果，一旦一个人通过灵感的力量取得了一些成就，梦想就成为可能。
My Journey at ISD 我在ISD的成长之路
My journey with music resumed after I was admitted in the fall of 2015. Prior to that, I had to take a four-year break from my musical studies while I was a student at another institution. Upon admission, I was able to rediscover my love for music. I should note that music was not the first class which had my interest. I could not read staff notation back then—the lines, dots, circles, and symbols meant nothing more to me than squiggles on a page—and being bottom of the class was most definitely not a pleasant feeling. However, the teacher then was very encouraging and kind. For the first time, I was not shamed or punished for not knowing. Had it not been the case, I would never have decided to learn more about music in my spare time and discover this old friend which I had involuntarily deserted years prior. While my fifth-grade years didn’t teach me much about reading staff notation—I had only really mastered reading it in the latter half of sixth grade—it ignited my willingness to pursue this art form.
在入读ISD之前，我就读于另外一所学校，不得已中断了音乐学习长达四年。2015年秋季入读ISD，重新开启了我的音乐之旅。入学后，我重新发现了我对音乐的热爱。我应该指出，音乐不是我唯一感兴趣的课程。那时候我还看不懂五线谱，线、点、圆和音符对我来说不过是一页纸上的符号。对此一窍不通的感觉是一种糟糕的感受。然而，老师总是亲切地鼓励我。这是我第一次没有因为“不懂”而感到难为情或者受到惩罚。正因如此，我决定在课余时间勤加学习，重新拥抱音乐这个多年疏于联系的老朋友。虽然我在五年级的时候没有学习到很多关于读谱的知识，我在六年级下学期才真正掌握读谱的方法，但这段时光点燃了我深入探索音乐艺术的热情。
In my early middle-school years, I had the great pleasure of working with perhaps one of the most inspiring music teachers I’ve met. Even when I could not read music properly, I was allowed to join Concert Band and play. I clearly remember that I had to step in for the tuba part, playing it on cello, with only one week left until the final concert. It was definitely not the best solution, but the band director had complemented me at the end of the concert. I had also picked up the flute under her guidance, and with her help, I was given a solo segment during one of the concerts.
在我上初中的时候，非常荣幸地遇到了一位可能是使我最受启迪的音乐老师。即使我当时还没有完全掌握阅读乐谱，但我也被允许加入了乐队并参与演奏。我依然清晰地记得，我当时需要接替演奏大提琴，那时候距离演出只有一周时间。对乐队来说，这绝对不是一个最佳方案，但是在音乐会结束后，乐队指挥表扬了我。在她的指导下和帮助下，我还学会了长笛，并在一场音乐会上
That concludes the earlier years. Concert Band continues to be a commitment of mine up to this day, and I am currently serving as student conductor under the guidance of our current Concert Band directors. Their generous offer of this position allows me to learn valuable leadership skills and tests my ability to analyze music and communicate ideas. I’ve also made valuable connections within the ISD community, some of whom—though they are no longer members of the community—would go on to benefit me by directing me to people who could teach me, the practical sides of music—the technique of playing and performing—as well as the theoretical. I am incredibly indebted to all these people whose path of life had briefly intersected with mine, for pointing me in the right direction, for dispelling the mist that so hazes my vision.
以上是我前期音乐学习之旅的故事。积极投身于音乐会乐队依然是我的努力方向。我目前在音乐会乐队指导老师的指导下，担任学生指挥。这个宝贵的机会让我不断学习领导技能，并检验我在理解音乐、用音乐传达思想方面的能力。除此之外，我和ISD社区成员建立起紧密的联系。虽然其中一些人已经离开了这个社群，但是他们仍然引导我去找到可以指导我的人。这让我在音乐实践、演奏和表演能力、理论知识方面获得成长，使我受益匪浅。我非常感激这些生命中与我有过交集的人，引领我朝正确的方向远航，为我驱散蒙蔽我视野的迷雾。
My Way to Get Oxford Offer 斩获梦校牛津录取
I decided to apply to Oxford because I wanted a challenge. Initially, I planned to apply to conservatoires. I was very confident in achieving that goal, and needless to say, this goal has been achieved. However, I wanted to challenge myself further by applying to the University of Oxford which has high entrance requirements, in terms of academic performance, for its applicants. Even after receiving an offer, I’m still expected to work diligently to maintain or even improve my current grades.
我决定申请牛津大学，是因为我想挑战自己。我最初的计划是申请音乐学院。我有信心自己可以实现这个目标，毫无疑问，这个目标实现了。然而，我更希望挑战自己，于是申请了牛津大学。这所大学在学术成绩方面有着非常严格的申请标准。即使已经被牛津大学录取，但我仍然需要非常努力地学习，保持并提高我目前的成绩。
It is important to note that conservatoires and universities have different curriculums, with conservatoires focusing more on the practical sides of music, and universities focusing more on the theoretical. Applying to Oxford gives me the option of studying music with a theoretical approach, as the music course there is designed around music theory, analysis and history.
音乐学院和综合大学在音乐内容教授方面的侧重点是有所不同的。音乐学院侧重音乐实践性，而综合大学侧重理论性。在牛津大学求学可以让我选择以理论性的方式学习音乐，因为那里的音乐课程是围绕音乐理论、分析和历史设计的。
The College Counselling team helped me a lot in presenting myself as a strong applicant. They gave me valuable suggestions on my application, such as my personal statement. Originally, it was incredibly pessimistic, and through the help of the Counselling team, it became one which emphasised my strengths.
在申请大学的过程中，学校的升学顾问团队帮助我更完美地呈现自己的优势方面给了我很大的帮助。例如在进行个人陈述的时候，顾问团队给予我许多宝贵的意见。我起初的个人陈述较为缺乏亮点，在顾问团队的帮助下，我的个人陈述能够突出我的优点。
The IB Diploma Programme prepared me well with skills for my interview. During the interviews, I was expected to demonstrate logical and critical thinking under pressure. This skill is similar to the skills needed to take IB exams, and taking the IB course has equipped me with the ability to construct logical and reasonable responses in such situations.
IB文凭课程培养了我参加大学入学面试所需的技能。在面试中，我需要在压力之下表现出逻辑性和批判性思维。这种技能类似参加IB考试所需的技能，学习IB课程让我具备了在压力之下进行理性思考，并作出合理阐释的能力。
Congrats on the acceptance, Alina! We’re thrilled you’re heading off on a journey that you are passionate about. Qilin Pride!
衷心祝贺Alina收获梦校录取通知书！很高兴见证你启程踏上筑梦之旅。为麒麟学子感到骄傲!
