SLAMs Issue 8
Who are we? SLAMs (Student Learning Advisor Mentors) help you to understand your course and get higher marks. 1
TABLE OF CONTENT 3 6 12
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Studying attitude Commercial Law Why & How? Marketing Principles
Business Computing 1 Crossword Commercial Law Tips Where does a great idea come from?
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How to develop an accounting spreadsheet using simple Excel functions and accounting knowledge
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Why don’t we get regular visitors?
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A sense of belonging RMIT Flag football club SLAMs’ advice for first year students
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Short meeting with Vu Hoang Thang Business Computing 1 When the RMIT journey comes to an end Contributers
Dear RMITers, Having spent 7 semesters in RMIT and also been a SLAMs mentor, I have come to notice a very common attitude among RMITers towards studying. Since my first days in RMIT, there has been a rumor among students that if the midterm is easy, then the final is difficult or vice versa. The thing is: how we judge the difficulty of the exam is merely a consequence of our attitude. Logically, “Failure is the mother of success”. Therefore, if a person gets a low midterm mark, he needs to study harder towards the final to improve his overall results. Honestly speaking, this is what makes the final much easier. However, if he gets a high midterm mark, there is a big chance that he will spend less efforts to study for the final. In fact, in the past, I once said “Well, I got 38/40 in the midterm, so I just need a DI in the final exam to get HD in the end”. Obviously, I spent less time to study, and just got CR for the whole course. At that moment, it became a very precious lesson for me. I also realized that if I spend enough efforts for every course, there will not be any intensively difficult course. Most courses have an appropriate amount of workload and can be handled with good management. Starting your study from the very first week is always much better than rushing when the end of the semester is approaching. The course is not difficult; just you make it difficult yourself. So, if you got high midterm marks, don’t be drunk in your success. Keep studying properly. If you do not do well in the midterm, don’t give up. Study harder and you won’t be disappointed by the result. Good luck with your study!
Duc Do Mien Trung
Studying Attitude 3
BUSINESS COMPUTING 1 CROSSWORD by Vu Hoang Thang 1 2
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Across 3. Computer network interconnects computers and networked devices within a small area (offices, houses, buildings) – Which type of network system is being referred ? 5. The common goal of Information Security is to protect confidentiality, integrity and _______ of information (CIA triangle) Down 1. When information has been incorporated into someone’s view of the world (helping answer “how” and “why” questions), what should we call it? 2. This is a formula in Excel which is used to sum the values in a range which meet criteria that you specify. 4. (Microsoft Access) What is the Field Type that we normally use when we create a Field that contain Date or Time? 6. How many Forms of e-Commerce are there?
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Commercial Law Tips Nguyen Huyen My
In the mind of many students at RMIT, commercial law seems to be one of the most difficult courses to “play” with. However, it is just the first impression you get when talking to other senior students. When you actually touch the core of this subject, it would become much more interesting. When you start approaching this subject, I have to agree that it is quite tough to understand clearly all the definitions and principles at first. However, once you become more familiar with them, you would find out the logic behind them. As a student who has just overcome this “nightmare of RMIT-ers”, I would like to suggest some tips of my own with hope to partly help you guys.
The important rule is to do everything immediat 8
1. Study immediately: It is really helpful that you read the lectur-
ers slides before coming to class, but in my opinion it is still ok if you do not. However, re-reading all the information immediately after class is definitely important to make you understand and remember the topic.
2. Solve the law cases immediately: After class every week,
you should spend time working on the law cases to become familiar with the structure of IRAC – how to solve the problem. In addition, by doing this, you could figure out your weakness in this topic to keep up with the flow of the course.
3. Ask immediately: If you have any questions or anything
unclear, feel free to ask your lecturer. Besides, you can also visit SLAMs mentors. Since they are also just students like you, they could probably sympathize with your difficulties which might be quite hard to discuss with teacher.
4. Creating your own cheat sheet instead of printing the existing ones. The reason is that when you do it by yourself, you have the chance to revise all the necessary information. Furthermore, in the exam, you can easily and quickly find the required rules because it is basically your invention, so only you can understand it best.
Getting high marks in Commercial Law is not impossible if you have an appropriate plan to study. It is a process of studying, giving your effort and taking advantages of all helpful materials that are offered in RMIT. I wish you success and best of luck!
tely: Do not wait until the night before the final exam. 9
An LSU Advisor also saysStudy Immediately
Discuss with friends immediately after class and periodically throughout the course- REVIEW through speaking and debating,
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Solve the Law cases
Check the Intranet and ask your lecturers about the LSU group study sessions that help students use the most appropriate ;language and structures to succeed with the Commercial Law IRAC writing structure
Ask Immediately
it’s like when you get road directions in Vietnam, always ask more than one person the same question. Ask a SLAM, a learning Advisor, a friend, a lecturer.
Creating your own study notes
Visit the LSU Commercial Law webpage to learn all the essential vocabulary that is required for the course and expected in the tests. Visit - https://sites.google.com/a/rmit.edu.vn/learningskillsunit/home/Commercial-Law
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Marketing PrinciPLEs
Developing the appreciation and skills for learning a course by Pham Thu Trang
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About my favorite subject: During my 3 semesters at RMIT, my favourite subject out of all is Marketing Principles which I took in my 2nd semester. At first, the subject seemed awfully intimidating because of the overflowed amount of theory. However, gradually I grew an interest in the subject because of its applications in real life. It also helped a lot that the lecturer shared a lot experience in her previous job as examples during lessons so students could better understand the theory being taught.
The difficulties: As mentioned above, the subject is quite packed full with theories. Unlike math-related subjects which students can slowly remember by doing lots of exercise, Marketing Principles required reading and learning by heart at some points. There really is no other shortc ut, in my opinion, to study this subject. The format of the course consisted of one large assignment - one report and one presentation based on the previous finished report, and a final exam. The assignment was group work, so it was important to revise others’ parts and make recommendations to each other so that the overall report and presentation was well-shaped to the whole group’s opinions. Regarding the final exam, my advice is to practice answering sample essay questions and case study provided on Blackboard. This helped me polish my writing and revise/remember all the theories learnt that could be used for the multiple choice questions; therefore I didn’t have to study twice.
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High mark how-to: Practice practice practice. It sounds really old and a cliche, but it works every time. And try to figure out and really understand the core principles, creating a strong foundation to build up the knowledge for the subject. Also a bit of luck helps ^^.
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WHERE DOES A GREAT IDEA COME FROM? By Le Thi Cam Linh
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ow can you be creative when your brain doesn’t want to play? More than once have I asked myself this question as I take on the challenge of creativity and run the race of Professional Communication. What is your big idea? What makes you different? Have you got what it takes to shine out there in the masses? The list of questions goes on and on – it racks my brain through the night and feeds me with endless guilt as the deadline creeps in on me – oops, I’m not submitting it late, again!
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Prof Commers, as we always call ourselves, well understand how hard it is to come up with something creative – the most genius, genuine, and outstandingly magnificent idea that brings our grade to the HD rank and builds up confidence that says: ‘I have just invented the next iPhone, and you thought I was not creative?’ Forget what your past experience tells you, and leave aside the dreadful marks – if you ever have any. There are incredible, yet simple, ways for us to tap on our undiscovered potentials in coming up with great ideas. The list hereunder is a combination of what I have picked up from my own experience, as well as what experts in the industry often say if we had paid enough attention as we stream through Google or YouTube for Korean dramas.
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1. Motion creates Emotion If you have a deadline this weekend, you’d better play around a while before that date with a big red mark on your calendar. Hit the bar, go to the movie, travel somewhere, or just sit on the street with some bia hoi or tra chanh, and let yourself drift along with the flow. Ideas don’t come with you sitting inside 24/7 and staring at the blank page on your laptop. Go out, explore, and observe people. The feelings you get just by enjoying the atmosphere really helps you chill and drives away the stresses. Negative emotion terribly makes you stick to the conventional ways of doing things and choose the safe way instead. Unfortunately, what comes as safe does not always come off as creative. You need to have fun before you grind those assignments. Get your heart engine start moving, find inspiration, and the rest will take its course.
2. Everything is a Remix Have you ever watched the guy Kirby Ferguson who made the four-part series ‘Everything is a Remix’? Yes, people steal ideas, but copying is just only a part of it. Truth is, a lot of things have already been done before and what you thought of just now is probably not that new like you think it is. However, different ideas in different context call for customization and transformation in order to really work. Go on Google, Tumblr, Pinterest, or surf the most popular websites for creatives like Cannes Lion, Campaign Asia, or AdWeek and PR Newswire. In other words, do the hard work of researching. There is a lot of cool stuff around which you can borrow, and more importantly, curtail it for the purpose of your assignment. The first step in the process is always to have as many ideas as you can, leave it there and put the judgment aside for awhile. Only then can you start developing them, choose the best ones, and rant about your marvelous idea as you nail the 2500-word essay.
3. Be crazy, be realistic. Such is the paradox I am making that you might be probably questioning, ‘Does this even make any sense?’ Rest assured, you are still on the right track. There is a saying that many writers live by, ‘Write drunk, edit sober’. It surely gives you a lot more room to
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experiment without suffering from unwanted insecurity which restrains you from raising a new idea or even giving it a shot. Shoot whatever you have, armed or unarmed. You will miss a lot, and come up with lots of crappy ideas before you can sit down, calm yourself, and think deeply to really see what works, what doesn’t, and what can be improved. The two processes seem to require different mentality, so give yourself some time in between and stop thinking about it. Even when you think you’re not thinking, your subconscious mind is diligently doing its work of processing and consolidating data. Then suddenly out of nowhere, the moment comes with a big and merry ‘Eureka!’ – The light bulb just pops up, and now your problem is solved. Once this happens, you’d better get down to Earth and make your idea: applicable to the campaign, friendly with the consumers, and a practical approach.
Is it hard work, tiring, sweat and tears? Yes, it is, but you will never deny that Professional Communication is one of the most fun major you can take. Take on these approaches, or find new ones that suits your style, and your achievement will give you more joy than you can ever imagine. Be creative!
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How to develop an
accounting spreadshee Excel functions Ac and basic
by Dang Vu Ha
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ccounting software is readily available in the market, but finding one that is both inexpensive and simple to use can be a real challenge. While at the moment you may not feel the need to keep track of your personal income, expenses or cash balances, you should start developing that habit soon. When that day comes, an automated accounting system will be of great help. As a Business (Accountancy) graduate who has worked as both an accountant and an auditor, I feel that it is my responsibility to share with you how to build your own accounting tool with knowledge from only two basic courses at RMIT, specifically Business Computing and Accounting in Organizations and Society.
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eet ccounting knowledge using simple
A. What you will need: • • •
Accounting knowledge: Transactions (Dual Effect), the Balance Sheet and the Income Statement; Microsoft Excel knowledge: addition (+), subtraction (–) and SUMIF; The toughest to obtain: a functioning computer with Microsoft Excel installed.
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B. Procedure
Before you start recording your own transactions, test your formulas with some examples from accounting exercises. In the example, I used transactions from the Basile Consulting business. Keep in mind two things: • Though not compulsory, tables without descriptions become more difficult to manage when there is more data. • The amounts in “Change in Account” are usually the same as in “Change in Element”, but that’s not always the case. Typical examples include contra accounts such as Drawings and Accumulated Depreciation. Pay attention to them.
Figure. 1
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Use two columns to the right of the table (K and L) to check whether the Accounting Equation is satisfied (right side of Figure 1). To do this, simply list out the five accounting elements in one column (A, L, OE, I and E), and use SUMIF to add up all changes to each element in the other. To allow for additional data entry and avoid problems with relative and absolute referencing, I recommend entering D:D and E:E for the ranges instead of D2:D27 or E2:E27.
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The extended Accounting Equation is A = L + OE + (I – E). When rearranged, it becomes A – L – OE – I + E = 0. As such, you should set up a cell which reflects the left side. If the returned value is not 0, something must be wrong.
Open a new sheet and enter the names of all accounts. To save time and avoid duplications, simply copy column B of the original table to the new sheet and select Data/Data Tool/ Remove Duplicates (Figure 2). Rearrange them in the order you would like them to appear in the statements.
Use SUMIF to calculate the balance of each account. The ranges this time should be B:B and C:C in the original table, as it is the accounts we are dealing with now, not elements (Figure 3). Add Sub-Total and Total lines (e.g. Total Income, Profits, Total Current Assets, Total Assets‌) and use simple addition and subtraction formulas to calculate their values (Figure 4).
Figure.2
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Figure.3
Figure.4
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Add an extra line “Add: Profits” between “Capital” and “Drawings”. Have its value be equal to the “Profits” from the Income Statement (Figure 5). At this point, the Balance Sheet should be balanced. Otherwise, something must have gone wrong. In that case, you should detect the error and fix it.
Finally, decorate the reports however you like (Figure 6). Congratulations, you have finished designing your (probably) first accounting program!
Figure.5
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The system described above is a really simple example of how Microsoft Excel can assist us in accounting. You might be surprised at what Excel has to offer once you learn more functions and tools or take more advanced accounting courses.
If you are interested in discovering that potential, or would like to have a more complex system to manage your accounts, contact me at s3324261@rmit.edu.vn or via the LSU. Best of luck and have loads of fun with your spreadsheet.
Figure.6
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At the moment I saw Flag Football Club’s booth at RMIT Club day a year ago, I knew that one day this club will be my second family. When Flag Football Club was founded 2 years ago, there were only 5 members. Now we have more than 40 active members and this number is still growing. I was the third generation of the club and even when I was new to this sport, I thought it was pretty easy and safe to play. Flag Football is known as a version of American Football, so they are quite basic rules. However, instead of tackling players to the ground, we try to stop the opponents by ripping off his or her flag, which is the reason why we also have female members. With an easy game-play, I quickly adopted it as a hobby and little by little, I fell in love with the sport as well as the club. In Flag Football club, members treat each other like close friends and families. We not only share our interest in this sport, but also help each other in studying or giving advice about life. We sometimes organized BBQ parties or team building trips, and a special one was the Vung Tau trip held the previous semester. We had a good time, enjoyed every moment and hoped that it would last forever, at least in our memory. Now on every Monday, I have much less stress because I joined the club. Imagine that on Sunday evening, you tell yourself that you cannot wait until tomorrow, it is weird
A sense of Belongin RMI 26
right? Joining this club was the best decision ever. FFC members also help each other lose fat by monitoring everyone’s training time. By doing this, we get closer and be more efficient in training. Losing fat is no longer my reason for joining this club. I still achieved it, but in a much more fun way than I expected. As a human resource manager of Flag Football Club in RMIT University, my job is to connect members with the club, keep them motivated, help the club plan recruiting strategy and contribute in some small events. By doing these works, I have gained more experience and a deeper understanding about my course. In short, Flag Football club provides me a good chance to apply what I learn in
“Not only a place to train yourself, but also where your heart belongs to.” real life. I hope I will contribute more to my club in order to make it stronger. It has always been a bless for me to join Flag Football Club as well as getting along with my members, in order words, my second family. Note from the LSU – Universities are in agreement that students forming and/or contributing in communities; online, face to face, mentor, coaching, and universality committees and clubs is the most important element in a student’s first year experience. – Students’ helping students’ drives success.
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Short meeting with
VU HOANG
THANG
Business Computing 1 By Bao Long
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u Hoang Thang is a SLAMs mentor for Business Computing 1 since Semester 2, 2013 in RMIT Vietnam, Hanoi Campus. He got a HD for this subject when he took it in the first semester in 2013. He is known as a very friendly SLAMs mentor, and a simple but responsible man. Long: Hi Thang. I’m Long and I used to be your mentee. Do you remember me? Thang: Yes, of course. How was your final mark? Was it good? Long: Yes, I got a DI. Thank you so much for helping me! Thang: You are welcome! I am really happy that you got a very good mark.
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Long: Well, yeah, before I met you, I thought that I could fail this subject. Thank you so much! Could you tell us whether you like working for SLAMs and how you can become a mentor for Business Computing 1? Thang: Well, I really want to be a SLAMs mentor because I feel very proud and honoured being one. You know, when I studied in the library (I’m talking about my first semester), I always saw some students with a big red sign “SLAMs for… ” on their tables. When I asked my friends, who were also first semester students, they told me that “they are all very excellent students who got HD’s and they are helping new students like us”. I admired them so much. And then I thought “Can I be a SLAMs mentor?” Many people laughed at me. They always said something like “Being in SLAMs is so 29
difficult, do you really think that you will get a very high, perhaps, the highest mark among many students?” and “You are just a new student, a first semester man. Do you really think that people will trust you?” Actually, I felt a little bit upset at that moment. I studied this subject very hard not just because of the HD mark but I have always been very interested in doing things with computers since I was a child. Then, when I got an HD mark, I received the announcement about SLAMs application via email and I registered. What happened next is that I got an official email from SLAMs which said “Congratulations!” I was extremely surprised that I was chosen when a lot of my friends, who were excellent students, were not successful in applying.
Long: During your SLAMs activities, what did you feel about your mentees in general? Thang: During my SLAM work, I saw that most mentees in general are very hardworking. They don’t just want to get a Pass mark (PA), but a DI or HD. However, I noticed that some students just came when the exam was near. You know, it is very difficult for me, for example, to explain briefly knowledge which, in theory, has to be studied in… maybe 3 weeks. In addition, sometimes it is very hard to help students understand the problem. I mean, when students give us questions, we always try to give them many suggestions that lead them to the solution, not the direct answer because they will forget them quickly.
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Long: What is your advice to Business Computing 1 students? Thang: This subject is not really as easy as many students think. It is not like playing online games or using Facebook. This subject is quite difficult, and if you do not practice carefully, believe me, taking the test will become a disaster for you. Long: Thank you very much for this interview! Before we finish, is there anything you want to say? Thang: Yes. If you feel that you face difficulties with your study, you should not be afraid. Come to SLAMs and SLAMs will help you. Although we are not professors, we can explain knowledge from a student’s perspective and it might be good for you, I think. And for those who want to be a SLAMs mentor, you should be confident in yourself. You always have a chance to be one. You see, I became a mentor just after finishing the first semester in RMIT. Thank you!
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SLAMs’ advice for first year students
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Nguyen Huu Trung - Prices & Markets If you believe you are good: • Never look down on others. In RMIT there are plenty of other amazing good students in terms of not only academic but also participating in activities. • Never underestimate any class or course. Things begin easily but get ridiculously hard in the end, especially final exams. • Make full use of all resources (LSU, Library, Career Centre, etc.) and you will see how different the studying in RMIT is. • Join clubs. RMIT is a like a house to all students If you believe you are not so good: • Don’t be afraid. LSU staff and many student team work experiences will surely improve your skills a lot. People in RMIT are very nice and willing to help. Maybe you can find an easier way to deal with studying as well. • Join clubs and activities. You will see many role model students who can balance between studying and activities. • Be proactive in learning. I saw many students who made a huge leap in their studying just by keeping asking questions and practising what you have been introduced to. RMIT courses are not easy, but not impossibly difficult.
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Nguyen Ha Phuong - Commercial Law What’s your memory of your first day at uni? It’s the start of something new, like meeting new people, Orientation and everything... I was feeling this is the place that I’m able to pursue what I want to be doing, such as the extra activities. It’ll be a promising journey for me. What’s your advice for first semester students? Well, we’ve all been there... Probably, uni is the chance for you to bring out the best in you. So, try to meet people and network as much as you can because it’d be one of the most precious connections you’re going to have later in your life.
Pham Thu Trang - Marketing Principles What’s your memory of your first day at uni? Students’ appearance here can make you feel a little intimidated at first, (not very friendly), but when you get to know them, things are different. To tell you the truth, first impression could be wrong. What’s your advice for first semester students? My advice to 1st semester student is that go out and make friends with them, with everyone, make the first move instead of sitting in your own bubble.
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Bui Lan Anh - Macroeconomics What’s your memory of your first day at uni? Friendship. RMIT has taught me about this. My first day with new friends, new teachers and in a different teaching environment was absolutely crazy and confusing. However, with the help from my friends (Ngan, Van, Giang, Sida, etc), I opened myself up and become more flexible as well as confident. What’s your advice for first semester students? Be crazy, be creative! Do whatever you want in this innovated environment ‘cause you only regret things you haven’t done. So just do it, fresh RMITers.
Ngo Le Bao Long Business Statistics What’s your memory of your first day? I came for the orientation day of my first semester and it absolutely surprised me. I noticed how active and socially acceptingwell-being RMIT students are. However, in the class, they are serious and actively contribute. I have realized that it’s RMIT, this environment has changed them in the ways that other students dream to be. What’s your advice for first semester students? Work hard. Play hard. Join clubs. Challenge yourself. And harvest success.
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When the RMIT journey comes to an end... by Ly My Nguyen
B
ack to two and half years ago, when I first entered to RMIT VN, I felt strange to the surroundings and had not thought that I would write down my memory in RMIT like I am doing now.
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Another noticeable reason that many students and I love to be his students is because Mahabub wholeheartedly loves his students. In the beginning of the semester, he asked us if all of us were the first semester student, I still remember how effortless and funny his face was, like he was going to have more responsibilities, when we all answered yes. The reason he asked us this question was clarified after that. As we were the newbie to the university environment, we undeniably might get in trouble with remembering a huge amount of new knowledge and handling with many assignments.
I can remember vividly my first lecturer in RMIT – Mahabubur Rahman from Bangladesh who taught Marketing Principle. He can be said a person that was born to be a lecturer. His lectures are more than classes that explain the theories and terminology. He did the lecture in the way that we could not only understand clearly the lesson but also engrave the knowledge in our mind. In fact, his teaching style is fast-paced and high- energy to keep us always concentrate on what he was lecturing but simultaneously ensure that we could catch up with his speed by asking us “Do you understand?� after finishing each slide.
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What he did was, in the end of each class, giving each student multiple choice and short answer exercises to review what we learnt in the day, this method was effective because we could remember the lesson intensely in a long time. Therefore, we did not have to spend abundant amount of time for the final exam revision and subsequently the students could use the time to study other courses. Actually, he did not have to spend time and efforts to prepare those exercises as self-study is the aim of university, however, he was
willing to devote his time to assist his first-semester students find it easier to start their university life. Unfortunately, the first semester that I knew him was also the last semester he stayed in Vietnam. After that, he had to transfer to Ireland to finish his Master degree and currently he is pursuing his Doctor study. When I meet the students who had opportunities to be in his class, we are all excited and appreciate that we could be his students once and together with feeling pity that he left RMIT so early‌
The familiar image of Mahabub in which he is always busy with solving the student’s questions
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Also in the first semester, I met Thanapat Kijbumrung as he was my lecturer for the Intro to Management course and also Human Resource Management. He is a strict lecturer in marking and punctuation and it might cause some students dislike him, especially the lazy and sloppy ones haha. However, his attitude towards his job and students indicates that he is a disciplined and enthusiastic staff and lecturer. Since he is detailed-oriented in evaluating assignments, students will have more motivations to complete their work perfectly. In addition, as one of his student, I believe being Thanapat’s students are brilliant choice to learn how to produce a prefessional report and build a to-do attitude in your study because he pays great effort on commenting his students’ work and encourage them to learn from their mistakes for self improvement. Additionally, I remember in the HRM class, there was a student that absented frequently, and what Thanapat had done was to talk and convince him to go to class, after that, everyone could see that student presented regularly in the class. Thanapat did a respectful action as he dedicates all his heart for the students.
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Beloved members of fund team
The people that stood side by side with me from the forth to sixth semesters are the Enactus members, especially the fund team members. We joined Enactus with the thirst of assisting small business people to develop their business and raising awareness of environmental issues. However, what we get in return is exceeded what we expected.
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The mission of the fund team is to raise fund to finance the Enactus’s community projects and also clubs’ expenses. Generally, the main source of our funds is to sell food and handicrafts. We ran our own business named Diverso Corner and each member was responsible for different tasks to maintain and develop it. We created our products, marketed in and sold it in every occasion from Open Day, Club Day and Graduation Day to the Mid Autumn, Christmas day and Teacher Day. We promoted our brand and products not only in RMIT campus but also in flea markets organized by Youth House, Pull Man hotel and Cultural Labor House. I still remember the image of completely wrapping up in making products of the members, how stressful we were when thinking of the marketing strategy, how disappoint and depressed we were when the food was unmarketable and also how happy we were when we could earn profits or just break even haha.
Our beloved fund team leader: petite Thuy Anh but strong inner force ^^ Although we often call you “prissy old lady” but we love you much Thuy Anh :D
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After having worked with different personality in first three semesters, I have to admit that I was obsessed to work with female students‌ I thought it would be nightmare when I knew my team leader in Enactus was a girl. However, she changed my perception towards female leader. She is a open-minded, hard working and proactive girl. The reason I find it comfortable and love working with her is because of her straightforwardness. I also like the wholeheartedly attitude of her when she is working, it is probably difficult to find a moment that she is distract from what she is doing. I strongly believe that because of her down-to-earth, dedicated attitude and strong leadership have successfully motivated and commanded the team to contribute for the development of Enactus.
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In the last semester, I met Melvin Fernando in the Marketing Communication class. To be honest, in the beginning of the semester, I felt scared of Melvin‌. Because he looked cold and difficult of approach, however, I started changing my perception after the mock interview with him and the beautiful Career Centre Manager- Ms.Linh. After the mock interview, I had been upset and disappointed in myself for the rest of the day because I failed it. However, I knew I am really lucky to have a second chance to be interviewed by two experts with longer time of consultation ^^. Ms.Linh and Melvin had given me many valuable advices to improve my weaknesses and guided me how to handle with interview questions. And through this interview, I knew that Melvin is not what I thought about him, instead he is a thoughtful and not cold at all haha. I also appreciate that he loves his students much though how he supports us during the course and assists students in running the extracurricular activities ^^.
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Two beautiful Learning Skill Units administrator from SGS and Ha Noi: Dy and Van
During the years in RMIT, I have met many people, they might be my teammates in doing group assignments or my lecturers, they might be someone that I used to be close with but then we separated because of misunderstanding and conflict, they might be people that caused me tap into half crying half laughing situations or might be the ones that I shared the moments of joy with, they might be strangers that helped me when I was in accidents or friends that woke up with me till midnight to rush for assignments’ deadline, I could have not imagined how my university life till it has finished now and the people I met are definitely essential to make my journey complete .
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Big thank you for who have stayed together with me in the last 2 and half years. I realized when people start get closer, it is also the time they have to farewell but happiness lies in contentment so I appreciate that I was having cheerful moments in RMIT. I will start my new journey and I hope to meet you all someday somewhere. Wish you all the best and success
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Microeconomics Crossword Puzzle By Phan Le Thanh Truc
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Across: 2. The maximum willingness to pay for an additional unit must equal to _______that unit brings. 3. The difference between the maximum price that consumers are willing to demand a given quantity of good and the price they actually pay. 4. A good is responsive to a change in another variable. 5. Under what type of demand is that consumers pay the entire tax? 10. Marginal product of labor (MPL) cuts through average product of labor (APL) at the ________ APL. 13. What maximization rule under perfect competition should choose Q such that MR=MC. 17. What type of strategy under oligopoly that is best for a firm, no matter what strategies other firms use? 18. A good that is rivalrous and excludable. Down: 1. A good where an increase in income results in a decrease in the quantity demanded. 6. The right goods are being produced for the right people at the right price. 7. The total revenue is constant if a good has ¬¬¬¬¬________ demand. 8. The maximum price legislated by the government or a regulatory authority. 9. What type of advantage is the basis for trade? 11. Perfect competition firms are price ________. 12. This type of scale happens when a firm increases its scale of input, the long-run average cost curve decreases. 14. Marginal revenue under monopoly is _______ than price. 15. In monopolistically competitive market, what is used by firms as a tool to increase product differentiation. 16. What type of market has only one seller? Answer:
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Why don’t we
get regular visitors? by Nguyen Ha Phuong Have you ever spent an afternoon in the library for 2 hours without expecting that any mentees would come? You do your homework or stare at the screen as you wait, but nobody shows up to ask about the lectures they have difficulty understanding. 48
That is what many SLAMs mentors have experienced during the seven weeks helping students in need with their school work. As a mentor, I know that feeling of slight melancholy and a tinge of disappointment when not having visitors after weeks. This has brought a question to my mind as to how mentors and the team as a whole can attract more students to come to SLAMs hours for help. This certainly doesn’t mean that I hope more and more students have troubles with studying! It’s just that from my personal experience, I know a lot of students who have many things to ask but never bother coming to SLAMs sessions, or only show up the week before the
exam. Statistics from SLAMs working record show that in general most students come to ask in weeks 4, 5 and 10. These are weeks that usually have midterm exams, such as Macroeconomics 1 or Business Statistics 1 in Business program, and students only come for courses like these.
coming to the sessions. Even if they don’t have any SLAMs friends, they can always discuss the work with their classmates or pals that have taken the course previously. They may not want to or have never tried to because they’re not aware of the benefits the service can bring.
I had a small interview with some of my friends to find out why they never really wanted to go to the library during the mentors’ working hours, but constantly asked for their help afterwards if they have a SLAMs friend. The answer was very simple: they only want to study with their friends, and the fact that they don’t know SLAMs mentors in person kept them from
All in all, even though SLAM mentors have done a great job over the semesters, we have much more potential to reach the remaining student body. I believe that the team could think of some ways to encourage more students to come to our sessions.
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Any ideas?
contributers Writer and Editor Le Thi Cam Linh
Writer Duc Do Mien Trung
Writer Ly My Nguyen
Writer Dang Vu Ha
Writer Nguyen Ha Phuong
Writer Vu Hoang Thang
Writer Nguyen Pham Gia Khanh
Writer Nguyen Huyen My
Writer Nguyen Pham Gia Khanh
Writer Vuong Hoang Bao Long
Writer Phan Le Thanh Truc
Writer Pham Thu Trang
Co - Writers Bui Lan Anh, Nguyen Huu Trung, Ngo Le Bao Long Designers Pham Hong Nhat, Ha Thu Nhat Anh, Huynh Kim Khanh Tran, Dinh Tran Dinh Vuong
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