Interview with a Russian student on the BTEC programme

EI: Mary, Hello! Please, tell us a little about yourself.

Hello. I'm from Serbia, from 8-year-old moved to Russia. Now I'm 21. I ended up with BTEC-om in 2013, and then enrolled at Les Roches Jin Jiang International Hotel Management College in Shanghai, China. At the moment I'm finishing a bachelor's degree at Kendall College, Chicago, USA. Over the past 4 years I bounced to different countries studying and passing the practice. China, Maldives, Spain and now America.

Masha with a project in marketing about Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts.

EI: You studied on the BTEC programme. Explain for our readers what BTEC is a special business course in English for pupils of 8-11 classes. Its graduates receive the British state diploma and can apply for bachelor degree of a foreign University without the preparatory Foundation program. Please tell me, how did you know about BTEC? What options have you considered and why did you chose this program?

Like many students I 9th grade started thinking where do I go and who I should be in life. I thought I was going to study to be an economist. And what would you like to prepare for this, my mom offered to change school and to go to the British College of Banking and Finance. My dream was to study abroad from childhood, and I thought that British College and BTEC will help me in this.

EI: Tell us about your experience of studying on the BTEC programme. What time were classes? Combined if you are training on the program or have passed the exams externally?

All classes are held in the morning. As I recall I was there from 9 to 12-13 to four times a week. But the College has still the evening training. The College has a contract with one of the schools in the Tagansky district. In College, I studied from 9 in the morning, and at school from 2 PM until 7-8 PM. So I am the first and the second year of College was combined with 10 and 11 class in school, and the third year after graduation. And at school, and in College we studied 4 times a week. Then there were the days when only College was, and there were days when only school. It was hard, but the important thing is to be able to organize themselves.

EI: the second course taught in English, right? How difficult was it to learn? The level of English that you got helped you in the future?

I have been learning English from the first year since I owned it well enough. During exams, students are given a test of knowledge of the English language, and you define in English or Russian group.

EI: At the end of the program you were enrolled in foreign universities? Please tell me which countries you studied?

As I said I studied in China, Spain and the USA. In the Maldives I was an Intern at one of the hotels.

EI: As the BTEC program helped you in further education?

Further training after the BTEC I have passed into English, some terms are easier for me to understand at the University.

EI: Masha, thank you very much for the interview!