Arts Global Languages Scholarship: an Interview with Cerys Evans

Felicia Lee

Cerys Evans is a final-year undergraduate student at the University of Melbourne, Faculty of Arts, majoring in politics and international studies. Cerys went on a semester-long exchange programme at the University of Trento, Department of Sociology, with the aid of the Arts Global Languages Scholarship.

Felicia interviewed Cerys about her experience during the trip and the scholarship application process.  

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Hi Cerys, could you first tell us a bit more about yourself?

I’m currently in the final semester of my undergraduate degree majoring in politics and international studies. I went to film school prior to university. My intention has always been to go into filmmaking, so I want to do documentary filmmaking about political issues. I’ve always been very creatively driven, and I didn’t really want to give up my interest in current affairs or global affairs.

I’m also learning Italian at the university now because I’ve always found the language very romantic and beautiful so I started Italian language in the first year of my degree. I always knew I wanted to do an exchange in Italy so I could practise the language, but I think I just found the Italian culture and language very beautiful, I guess.

The other reason why I took up Italian is that once I graduate, I am interested in creating documentaries, maybe in Italy or about Italian stories. Knowing the language would help me communicate with the people I’m interviewing.

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You went on an exchange programme to Italy. Tell us how it went!

I went to the city of Trento, which is quite a small city in Italy. It’s often referred to as the base of the Dolomites; it’s like a sleepy mountain town, sort of nestled in the north of Italy. I studied at the University of Trento, in the Department of Sociology.

Honestly, I had the best time of my life there, and I don’t think it could have been more perfect. Trento turned out to be very much a nature-based location because it was a smaller city and was surrounded by beautiful mountains. It gives a very calm and peaceful vibe there, so I really loved it.

What did I do every day? Well, I attended classes as usual and practised speaking Italian to the locals in real-life situations. It was beneficial for me because I had the classroom experience, as well as used it in everyday conversations with the locals.

Also, when I arrived, it was winter. We were near the mountains so we were able to go skiing easily, given that the mountains were so accessible. And as the weather warmed up, we went hiking up the Dolomites, which was just so beautiful. The scenery was just like what we see in the Sound of Music movie.  All in all, I really appreciated being in a quieter city compared to Milan or Rome because I could become a regular at certain coffee spots or restaurants. I think I had more opportunities to practise Italian with the locals because Trento was a less touristy area. I found myself sort of taking everything with much more ease and just being immersed in the Italian culture with my friends.

And all these were made possible because you were supported by the Arts Global Languages Scholarship, right? Could you share with us how you got to know about it, and why did you apply for it?

When I decided that I wanted to go on an exchange programme, I started to explore ways that I could financially support myself while I was over there. Then I looked on the Melbourne University website for potential scholarships, and I found that I was eligible for the Arts Global Languages Scholarship. It was a really straightforward process; I spent a couple of hours applying for it, but it wasn’t complicated at all.

Honestly, I did not expect to receive the scholarship, but I thought that I’ve got nothing to lose by applying for it. I was pleasantly surprised when I received the scholarship! In fact, I was awarded $10,000 AUD to cover the costs for the entire semester in Trento! I felt so fortunate that this scholarship helped me focus on my learning goals without having financial stress. My advice: even if you don’t think you have a chance, just go for it because you’ve got nothing to lose.

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How has this trip changed your life in general, you think?

I think this trip has brought out a side of me which I knew was in me, but it really allowed my confidence to blossom. This is because it forced me to adapt to situations outside of my comfort zone, and it has made me more confident and open to a lot of different opportunities. Meeting people there, for example, the locals or the students at the university, acquainted me with a whole genre and world of literature and music that I didn’t know before.

In terms of my language abilities, I always found listening comprehension the hardest when learning the language, and I really struggled with it. Having spent a few months there, the exchange programme provided me with the opportunity to hone my listening skills. I was pleasantly surprised that I could gradually understand and make conversation with the locals as time went by!

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I’m glad you enjoyed your overseas exchange trip and gained heaps from it, too! Thank you for speaking to us and sharing your wonderful experience!

Thank you, Felicia.