Pengpeng (Penny) Wang
Penny is an international graduate based in Beijing, China. Penny completed her BA at Newcastle in 2017 and currently works as an English Teacher and Head of Research & Development at ReachTop International.
About Pengpeng's career
How did you get into this job after studying Literature and History at Newcastle?
Upon completing my Literature and History degree at Newcastle, I went on to pursue postgraduate education at the University of Edinburgh, where I focused on English literature since the 1900s. After I completed my master’s degree, I went back to China and started to work as an English teacher. About two and a half years ago, I began to work in my current company. I started as a teacher and was promoted to the Head of Research & Development position when my teaching experience, proficiency in English, as well as task management skills, were deemed adequate for this role. I have been enjoying my work so far.
The teaching staff have eyes for any talent in all the students they teach. They help you develop further with sincere appreciation and timely guidance. And it is not just the academic aspect that they care about - they also care about you as a person.
Studying Literature and History at Newcastle University
How has studying Literature and History at Newcastle helped you in your career?
I graduated from Newcastle with top grades. As it is rather rare for a non-native English speaker, especially Chinese, to complete a degree in English literature in an English-speaking country, most of my interviewers were impressed by my experience. None of the companies I went to interview with ever turned me down.
My degree at Newcastle equipped me with all the necessary writing skills (if not more). It trained me to master a proper style for academic writing. I also developed a critical mind, and as a result, I can supersede most of my colleagues in this area. Often, I am the only one with the necessary knowledge and essay-writing skills to help our students prepare for AP English tests. I was able to take up teaching jobs that no others were capable of. I offered my students the right academic support to help them do well, with some of them getting 5 out of 5 marks in the end.
While studying Literature and History at Newcastle, I was offered support by the English department to co-host a series of seminars on critical theories. While doing this I gained skills in researching, gathering and arranging materials for organized discussions. These skills have been most helpful to me in my Research and Development work now.
What advice would you give to a student interested in studying Literature and History?
I’d say, go for it! Doing this program has been the most enlightening and enriching experience for me. You will be able to explore your professional interest and academic passion. You’ll always get timely support from the people you learn from and learn with.
This programme is especially useful for those who aren’t so sure exactly which path to go down before their first year. The compulsory modules give you a taste of what studying English literature or history would be like. At the same time, the optional modules offer you the flexibility to delve deeper into the more specialised areas.
As well as taking a unique approach to studying texts and historical events together, you also get access to resources and networks in both English and History. This means there are usually more opportunities open to you than to most of your peers.
What was the best thing about studying Literature and History at Newcastle?
There are actually so many good things that it is almost impossible to pick just one. If I have to, I would say it is the care and support from the teaching staff. They have eyes for any talent (or signs of talent) in all the students they teach. They help you develop with sincere appreciation and timely guidance. And it is not just the academic aspect that they care about - they also care about you as a person. I can’t even count the number of times they helped me through periods of difficulty, for which I am forever grateful, and which helped me become who I am today.