Dai Wenqi is currently pursuing her PhD in Applied Linguistics at the School of Languages, Literacies and Translation at the Universiti Sains Malaysia ('Science University of Malaysia'). She is now in the second year of her PhD career. She has worked as a Chinese language teacher in Africa for five years. Her research interests are intercultural communication and teaching Chinese as a foreign language.

PhD Abroad: How to Navigate Intercultural Interactions 

Are you studying for a PhD abroad? Are you worried about integrating meaningfully into your PhD life in a different country? In this article, Dai Wenqi explores how to socialise and adapt to a new culture during your PhD abroad, providing advice from her lived experiences to help you enjoy your doctoral life to the fullest. This includes respecting and engaging with the culture of your host country, learning the language (but forgo the pressure of perfect fluency), and leaning into your unique personal charm.

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Effective Spoken Communication in Academia

Spoken communication is a critical skill in academia, requiring clarity, engagement, and adaptability to effectively share research or teach complex concepts. Whether you’re presenting research or explaining scientific principles to students, these tips can help you communicate with confidence and impact.

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Six Ways To Prepare For Your Upcoming PhD

Dr Chris Thompson offers six ways to prepare for a PhD. Alongside finding rest, students should reach out to current PhD students or experienced academics to absorb their wisdom, research their new surroundings, and connect with future colleagues to create a network before starting.

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