Student Life Unplugged
Welcome to our “Student Life Unplugged” podcast, where young people from diverse backgrounds share their experiences in navigating student life across the globe. Tune in as we explore the real conversations and candid stories of students — from their academic challenges to personal triumphs and everything in between.
This podcast offers a unique platform for students to voice their thoughts on a variety of topics such as adapting to new cultures, handling academic pressures, and planning future careers. Whether it’s students in the Europe discussing the nuances of studying abroad, or cousins in South-East Asia revealing the dynamics of male students’ experiences, each episode dives deep into aspects of student life that are seldom discussed openly.
Hosted by an experienced educator who has seen both sides of the academic spectrum, our podcast provides not just stories but also guidance and insights from someone who truly understands the student journey.
Student Life Unplugged
S3 E1 BRAZIL – Leticia: Online University, Family, Food & Learning English Through Music
What do you do when what you want to learn simply isn’t available to you?
In this episode, we travel to Brazil to meet Leticia, a passionate language learner, English teacher, and online university student currently completing a BA in Administration, English, and Portuguese. Leticia brings to life a colourful portrait of Brazil, sharing stories of traditional festivals, delicious regional foods, and the warmth of growing up in a close-knit, multigenerational household where grandparents pass down secret recipes and family ties run deep.
But she also reflects on how modern life is shifting these traditions, and how growing pressure on young people to leave home earlier is reshaping family culture.
We explore what it’s like living in a small mining town where after-school life revolves around a park, a lake, and not much else—and where options for further education are limited. Despite these challenges, Leticia has charted her own path through an online university: not her first choice, but a necessary bridge to her future.
Alongside her studies, Leticia teaches English—a language she first learned by obsessively listening to music as a teenager. She also shares how Chinese novels sparked her fascination with Chinese culture and set her on a new linguistic journey.
Leticia’s unstoppable love for learning embodies everything this podcast celebrates. Her resilience, curiosity, and drive make this an episode you won’t want to miss.
Student Life Unplugged is hosted by Leong Hiew, a former University Lecturer with a passion for education. Student Life Unplugged is part of Leong's mission to promote the joy of learning among young people through his organisation 'Lifespan Education'. He is working towards building a positive world, to nurture communities of engaged learners for the sake of his own children and for young people everywhere.
For more information about Leong and his project go to https://https://lifespan.education/contact/
If you would like to take part in the podcast, go to https://lifespan.education/podcast/
This podcast is produced by Elisa Kennedy