ABOUT 400 students who will further their studies in the UK this autumn attended a large-scale information day to better equip themselves for the challenges ahead.
Held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre recently, the ''Pre-Departure Orientation for United Kingdom-bound Students'' was co-organised by Hang Seng Bank Limited and the British Council.
The orientation featured three seminars and some group discussions.
The first talk was on ''Life and Studies in the UK'', presented by Ms Diana Driscoll of the Education Counselling Service, British Council, and Ms To Ching-yee, Senior Student Counsellor, Education Advisory Service, Hang Seng Bank Limited.
Ms To cited researchers such as Gullahorn and Gullahorn in her description of the four stages of cultural adjustment experienced by foreign students: honeymoon stage, hostility stage, humour stage and at-home stage.
''For a smooth transition from the hostility stage to the at-home stage, one needs to have good language ability and an open mind,'' she said.
Ms Driscoll illustrated the social life of Britain with examples drawn from housing, medical care, transportation, religion and law.
