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Student talk - Auckland
New Zealand College of Chinese Medicine is committed to providing a professional training programme for students to prepare themselves for a career in holistic heath-care. Some of them share a little of their journey so far.
Seungmin Kim
I will graduate at the end of 2007, and next year I will work together with my husband in his clinic. I have really enjoyed my studies at NZCCM and look forward to beginning my career as a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner. TCM can treat a lot of conditions such as skin problems, women’s problems, weight loss, high blood pressure, plus beauty therapy. During my clinical practice, I have had great results treating these.
Juleen Tjauw
In my 3 years of studying at NZCCM I have made many new friends and have learned so much. After I graduate at the end of this year (2007), I want to specialize in gynecology. Learning to be a TCM practitioner is a great accomplishment and it can be a great foundation for your future. In the clinic I have successfully treated Pain Syndromes, Gynecological conditions, skin problems, tiredness and arthritis.
Mark Codyre
At the end of this year (2007), I will graduate from NZCCM with a diploma of acupuncture. At the beginning of next year, I will become a member of a professional Acupuncture organization and an ACC Registered Acupuncturist, and open my own clinic specializing in Pain. This will range from sports injuries to ACC work-related conditions. I have also found Acupuncture very effective for treating other pain syndromes like headaches, P.M.S, Dysmenorrhea, lumbago, arthritis and other non-specific pain. I have found Acupuncture to be quite non-invasive, and there are many different tools to treat many issues.
Yaping (Lucy) Meng
Student talk - Christchurch
How would you describe your experience of studying at the Christchurch NZCCM?
Studying at NZCCM has given me an absolute sense of surety in direction as a positive career choice. It is a privilege and joy to learn about a medicine / philosophy which is natural and powerful to effect change and health in patients’ lives and excites me everyday to be going there. (Phillippa 2006 intake)
Perhaps having studied elsewhere, it is good for me to be able to make a personal comparison in colleges. My experience at your college is that it is a far better atmosphere to study in, the student-teacher relationship is more personable and helpful and the students are more approachable esp. the senior students - our own class is especially close and i am humbled by my easy acceptance by the others. They have fitted me in as if i had started with them. (Warren yr 3 student)
It has been a very fulfilling first year, with great classmates and teachers. It's small enough to give everyone who studies there personal attention and support. (Angela 2007 intake)
What do you enjoy the most about the Christchurch NZCCM?
The best things I enjoy about the college are my fellow students ( from all years ) and the tutors, as we have great clinical discussions about our day to day learning and anything else which we feel is relevant to it and our personal growth while studying – fantastic support generally. (Phillippa 2006 intake)
I really enjoy the spirit of teaching at the ChCH college - rather than it being run like a business and us being just a number filling up seats. Everyone is given the same priority and attention from 1st-4th year and the college's greatest resource - the tutors should be thanked for that. (Warren yr 3 student)
There is a fascinating range of subjects, and I liked the flexibility of being able to defer the herbs course in particular to a later date. This made it more manageable for me because like many other people I am juggling a busy home life with study. The staff understand this and encourage students to establish their own priorities for study, within the confines of course requirements and exams. The staff are what makes the college what it is - they all have something unique to offer and are very generous in sharing their knowledge and wisdom. Students at higher levels are also generous with their support and in offering helpful suggestions. (Angela 2007 intake)
What would be your ‘Top Tip’ for prospective students of NZCCM?
Have personal treatments in the student clinic as you learn from your own experience and will help your energy levels as a preventative medicine – heal yourself first to be a practitioner. If you have any doubts along the way about your abilities to study and get through the work – trust yourself then have a treatment. In your first year get together with classmates and have study groups! (Phillippa 2006 intake)
Be prepared to do a lot of self study to let your knowledge bud over the 4yrs at the college - because in the long term you'll only get out of it what you put into it. (Warren yr 3 student)
When the time is right for you to come here, you will know. Come in with your eyes open, your ears open, your mind open and your heart open and you will leave as a very fulfilled person who will be ready to embark on a lifetime of practicing and learning more about Chinese medicine. If you haven't yet experienced acupuncture for yourself, now is the time to give it a try with several different practitioners because it will inform your own choices as a practitioner. (Angela 2007 intake)
Interview with Leon Jiang 2004 Student :
How did you come to study at the NZCCM?
In 2002 my wife, daughter and I moved to New Zealand. After arriving I visited the language school and worked in a rest-home to practise my English language skills. Through my brother who is an acupuncturist I heard of the College, and in preparation to study acupuncture I passed my IELTS exam. After being interviewed by Cameron Tukapua (then the director of the College) I started studying in February 2004.
What did you like the most about studying at NZCCM?
This community is more like a big family. Generally because we are family we are looking after each other even though sometimes we have the debate and disagree with each other.
What was the most challenging part of your studies?
At the beginning of my studies I had problems to follow the lectures because I still struggled with the English language. Especially challenging was the Anatomy-course with all those long words, which are difficult to spell and pronounce.
How would you describe your experience of the cultural differences?
In New Zealand the life is more casual, like clothing – especially shoes – and it is possible to have fun and make jokes, even during the lectures. In Asian culture everything is more formal and lectures are very serious. Also the motivation is different: Here people study out of interest, and they want to enjoy the studying experience. Once they lose interest, the give up easily In China, it is about prosperity, success and earning a good social status and respect.
In technical classes, especially while practicing acupuncture, the other students are more ‘careful’, sometimes even tentative. Chinese people use much stronger needling techniques, Maybe this is, because growing up in our culture (or in a Chinese family) people already know about acupuncture and don’t worry about it…they are familiar with the practise of acupuncture and the strong needle sensation.
The teaching style is very different as well. In our college the students highly participate. It is very much encouraged that the students share their different views on the subjects. The relationship teacher to student is nearly equal, whereas in china the students are only supposed to listen. Mainly the teacher is expressing an opinion.
Also the teaching happens only in class without extra support from the College, so the students have to be quite independent and need to organize things like learning groups by themselves. In China the teacher not only teaches in class, but also after class, and even gives extra lectures to make sure everyone understands the subjects, especially before exams.
In China we don’t apologize directly or verbally. We would apologize silently or through another person, or even with a gift. Kiwis do it directly. So if you do something wrong, apologise just directly and don’t be ashamed.
Do you have any recommendations to share with somebody from your culture who is interested in studying acupuncture?
Be realistic. Don’t push yourself too hard. Chinese students always want to be the best, but there is a real language problem, so be relaxed. Just try to pass. You don’t need to be the best.
Work on your communication skills. Get used to communicate with the teachers.
Respect the cultural difference. It is allowed to make jokes in classes, the needle techniques is different, respect the Kiwi culture.
Learn to apologize.
Don’t regard studying as a Job – enjoy it like Kiwi people do.
You get both advantages by studying acupuncture and improving your English skills. As one of our teachers used to say: “Buy one, get one free.”
Acupuncture as its developing today it belongs to the world not only to China. With a wide range of cultures there are many different ways of seeing one thing so you may not agree with some of these ideas but it’s wise to respect and be tolerant of the differences.
We asked students at the Christchurch branch to provide feedback and comments on what they had learned or had confirmed since starting their training at NZCCM. Remember that NZCCM has changed its name from Christchurch College of Holistic Healing.
2006 student intake comments (as 1st years):
James Lee
In spite of the fact that Korea is dominated by Confucian philosophy, like many developed countries most Korean are affected by western culture and educational basis, so that we think the western medical system is much better than the oriental medical system. In fact western medicine is accurately effective to the patient.
But we sometimes ignore side or secondary effects from western medicine. That is why I started to study TCM and understand how important TCM is. The first step for learning TCM is to understand the oriental philosophies. To know what human-being is composed and how body, mind, and spirit work, these subjects inspire me and enlarge my thoughts for oriental medicine.
I am so happy every time I find and understand any theories for our body’s system and universal system, like Yin and Yang and 5 elements which are applying to us. It’s like a happy luck to pick a tiny precious stone on the universal truth road. And I am also happy to have a chance to meet excellent teachers in this college.
Reiko
As much as you study
You will see more depth of TCM
You might get frightened by the depth
You might find the things
You have been looking for
You never know until you open the door of TCM study
Phillippa
I’ve learnt and had validated the importance of nutrition for our day to day physiological functioning and cell replication. I’ve learnt how our positive or negative thoughts can influence and manifest in our tissues and cells – making either angry or happy cell synthesis hence the saying ‘issues in our tissues’. Acupuncture reaches our deepest tissues on an energetic level and can move stagnant qi (energy) to allow balance, harmony and free flow on mind, body and spirit.
Nikki
Learning about the philosophy and concepts behind acupuncture as a holistic medicine creates an understanding that life is medicine.
Your choices in life give you power to create what you want in life. The teachings that come with acupuncture are a way of life and can give you knowledge and a ‘kind of freedom’ to choose your life. It’s not only learning about how to heal others, but healing yourself
2004-2005 intake student comments:
During one of our clinical discussion classes we did an exercise on “appreciative enquiry”. We asked the students what they most valued about being part of the “college clinic culture”. Students worked in small groups initially and provided individual comments which were then gathered together to establish the common themes. Here is a summary of the group findings about what they most value about being part of the college clinic culture:
Enriching diversity of people
Awareness of interpersonal growth of self and others
Safe structures that support exploration of potential
Relaxed and supportive environment embracing difference and diversity
Enriching the collective consciousness through sharing in the pursuit of knowledge and wellbeing
Fun.
Here is what other students say about their experience of studying with us:
Dan Jakes - Year 2 Student - 2006
“I was working as a P.E. teacher and enjoyed the opportunity to influence people’s health in a positive way but eventually decided that I wanted to work with people who were more receptive. With a background in the Martial Arts and the associated Healing Arts I became increasingly interested in acupuncture. When I came across the college, I found a perfect way I could marry my passion for health, education and the Healing Arts. I believe the future of medicine lies in the integration of western medical science and Chinese medicine and other ‘alternative’ therapies. We should be using the best of both worlds as it were. I have found studying at the college an inspiring and rewarding experience so far.”
Graham Good - Year 3 Student – 2005
"I am nearly half way through my 3rd year at CCHH. Now I’m in the student clinic putting the ‘learning into practice’. I am starting to see both the power and the potential for healing with this ancient art. The clinic supervisors, colleagues, teachers and of course the ‘books’ offer great learning. Since the beginning I have found CCHH both a challenging but rewarding experience. By using the 5-element model taught at CCHH I have learnt a great deal about myself, people in general and the world we live in. This really is ‘Acupuncture for 21st century health care’. CCHH is a great place to learn, to self enquire and to experience a unique form of healing".
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