English 
正體中文 
To welcome freshmen of the 2025 academic year, Yuan Ze University held the three-day “Challenge Your Limits: English Power Up” series from September 3 to 5. Organized by the International Language and Culture Center, the program attracted more than 1,700 enthusiastic participants.
The event combined career lectures, an all-English campus challenge, and customized learning materials, enabling students to experience the university’s international atmosphere and vibrant learning environment during their very first week on campus.
The first day featured the “Career Exploration Free-Choice Lectures,” one of the program’s highlights. The university invited ten distinguished professionals and alumni to share their career journeys. Among them were Frank Chang-Chun Feng, Assistant Manager at Sinyi Realty and alumnus of the Department of International Business; Yen-Ling Fan, HR Director at Hahow; Po-Chih Hsu, alumnus of the Department of Finance now working in accounting; and Te-Hui Wang, consultant at the Lung Chung Shang Shang Foundation, alongside consultants from the technology industry, study-abroad experts, and entrepreneurial alumni. Students selected three lectures based on their interests, gaining exposure to different perspectives and broadening their horizons while reflecting on their own future paths.
On September 4, the “English Campus Challenge” infused the university with youthful energy. Freshmen, grouped into teams, navigated various campus locations while completing English-language tasks, using AI language tools to solve challenges collaboratively. This activity not only helped students quickly familiarize themselves with the campus but also emphasized teamwork and cross-cultural communication. Through gamified experiences, participants learned English in natural, everyday contexts, making language learning both engaging and relevant to their lives.
Shin-Hung Chen, Director of the International Language and Culture Center, explained that to help students transition smoothly into university-level coursework, the center developed customized learning materials based on Yuan Ze’s campus. These materials aimed to bridge the gap between high school–level conversational English and the professional and academic English required in higher education. Integrated into both orientation courses and activities, the resources helped build students’ confidence and provided a solid foundation for their university studies. Chen expressed hope that freshmen would use this foundation to begin planning their own growth and development for the next four years.
A student surnamed Chen from the College of Management shared that the three-day program helped him overcome his initial nervousness about speaking English. By the end, he felt confident enough to speak up actively and gained valuable experiences in courage, self-confidence, and teamwork. He noted that the freedom to choose lectures mirrored the autonomy of university course selection and helped him discover new interests. The bridging materials, meanwhile, supported his shift from conversational to academic English.
Similarly, a student surnamed Lin from the Department of Information Management said he was initially anxious during the challenge, especially about making mistakes in English. However, with the encouragement of team leaders, he gradually opened up. He remarked that the challenge and the career lectures helped him experience the autonomy of university learning, while the customized materials provided practical English skills. Over the three days, he not only gained confidence but also discovered that learning could be enjoyable, motivating him to carry this enthusiasm into his future university life.
The program concluded on September 5 with a closing session held at the newly established “Dream Lab” in the College of Management. The event was live-streamed, allowing all freshmen to participate and showcase their outcomes, further enhancing the digital learning atmosphere.
