Studying Chinese in China
July 16, 2008 | Filed under Asian-ness, Uni/Work
I spent awhile today giving a short speech about the benefits of undertaking a six week language exchange program in China to a group of a hundred or so overeager teenagers. Funny thing is, I was in that exact same position just two years ago, and if I had my way, I would have been sitting in their seat, getting excited about the prospect of studying overseas again.
Over the Australian summer of 2005/2006, and the summer of 2006/2007, I spent the equivalent of three months studying Mandarin Chinese at the Shanghai International Studies University, taught by local Chinese teachers. My Chinese ability improved immensely during this time, and I would suggest that it was these three months, rather than the years of Chinese study in a classroom on an Australian university campus, that resulted in the high comfort level I feel with the language.
Beyond simply becoming more fluent in the language, was the added benefit of experiencing Chinese culture firsthand. Of being able to wake up, walk out onto the street, and converse in Chinese with the lady who sold phone cards outside the university gates, or the women who ran the 5RMB dumpling soup store, or the men who ran the 3RMB lamb souvlaki roll cart. It was this day-to-day usage of Chinese, with Chinese people, in China, that was most valuable.
Those three months were the best months of my life. I made lifelong friends, I got in touch with my heritage, and I fell in love with a country that I had no prior understanding of. It’s an experience that I would encourage everyone to take up. You needn’t be a student at my university, nor do you necessarily need to be a tertiary student, or even an Australian citizen. You don’t even need any prior education in the language. All you need is the passion to experience a new culture and lifestyle. Applications close soon, so get in quick!
Below, the closing parts of my speech today:
The program isn’t all about spending time in the classroom. That’s the primary reason, and it’s important to dedicate enough time to completing your assignments, to learning your characters, to studying for your exams, but it’s equally as important to experience Chinese culture firsthand. You can always sit in a classroom learning your characters here in Australia, but you can’t have authentic Chinese dumplings at a small market stall every day. Go on the trips that the program organises – to Suzhou, to the acrobatics night, to wherever. Go out with friends to the local nightspots – and don’t worry if you don’t know anyone else now, because I can guarantee you that you will make friends on this trip.
So, to end up, let me just reiterate that this program isn’t just about learning your characters and locking yourself in your room to study. It’s about taking the chances that you don’t have here in the classrooms on an Australian campus. It’s about exploring the most cosmopolitan city in China, about experimenting with Chinese cuisine, about experiencing the vibrant nightlife, about communicating with people on the street, about learning about China, the Chinese people, and the Chinese way of life. More importantly, it’s about exploring the city and finding that perfect little dumpling shop down a dingy alleyway near Huaihai Lu, because chances are, that little dumpling shop won’t be there the next time you return to China. It’s a changing society, and this program is your chance to take a front row seat and witness the evolution of the future world power.
10 Responses to Studying Chinese in China
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I think that’s why I refrained from going overseas to study physics. Although Newton was English, I always thought it would be more appropriate and worthwhile if I was studying French in Paris or Renaissance Art in Florence, rather than Physics in England. These programs sound so awesome! I really hope I get to go, but then I tend to be worried about my studies too much, which might ruin my time in a foreign country, haha. Great advice though!
marilyn on July 16, 2008 #
I have a strange craving for dumplings now…
The program sounds fantastic. Not sure if I would enjoy being thrown in a country where I was only partially or non-fluent in the native language, but you’re very persuasive.
Lil on July 16, 2008 #
I choked on my Tim Tam when I read that first sentence! A hundred? I freeze at a classroom size presentation.
And now I’m incredibly envious of your presentation skillz, speech, language abilities and because you’ve already convinced me that I want to learn a new language!
Alexandra on July 16, 2008 #
I was actually contemplating going to China for a year to teach English, back in 2006. I think the thought of standing in front of a bunch of university students every day put me off. Also, a second-language English speaker teaching the language? Kind of weird concept.
China is one of the most important countries in the world, so I’d like to go there someday, for something other than a holiday. That course sounds interesting. :)
Mari on July 16, 2008 #
I definitely think such a program would be wonderful, and I would be very interested. However, I don’t know if I’ll have the time to take up such a program…
Do you think it’s your exposure to the Chinese culture and just being in China that helped improve your Chinese dramatically, or was it just the classes? I’m going to take Chinese in college, but I’m definitely going to visit China for a summer (perhaps taking some internship there). I was wondering if you think that method would be somewhat equal in terms of learning Chinese to taking Chinese classes in China, or would I still be lacking many useful experiences?
Reply: I think just the very fact of being in China helps to improve your Chinese. You don’t have the option to reverting to English to communicate (as you can studying in a classroom in America), so by virtue of the fact that you’re forced to immediately communicate using the vocabulary you use, you naturally absorb the material better and learn how to use it in a day-to-day situation.
It certainly does help to have some formal training while in China, to back up what you learn on the streets, but your internship sounds like fun too.
Yingna on July 17, 2008 #
This program sounds really interesting. And I do agree that in order to learn more about a language and the culture that the language stems from, you need to visit the country of origin itself to get the first hand experience.
I’d probably go to China just to visit around and see all the people during a holiday, but that course sounds very good.
Merinn on July 17, 2008 #
I would love to learn Chinese because my great grandfather was Chinese but died so young that my grandfather understood Mandarin but he didn’t get to practice it enough so he wasn’t able to speak it and teach it to his kids. But every time I think of taking it here, I feel discouraged cuz the Chinese population where I live isn’t that big. However, IF I could go to China and learn it there, I’d do that in a heartbeat!
Felisa on July 17, 2008 #
Oh yeah, there is nothing better than being able to immerse yourself in a language. I went to a French school for three years, took French classes afterwards, and still didn’t feel fluent until after I spent 3 months living in a Quebecois community. It’s wonderful really, because not only do you get the language, you get the culture and the slang, and it’s all just really a big package deal!
Aisling on July 17, 2008 #
Ah, okay, thanks for the response!
Also, I have another question I hope you could please answer: with your level of Chinese after staying and learning in China, are you comfortable with interacting with a cab driver or such if you get lost? In other words, do you think you could “blend in” with the Chinese people, or do you still stand out? I’ve heard that people who don’t live in China for a while or those who grew up in other places can always be seen as non-natives. For example, the last time I went back to China, when we were shopping, a store owner questioned my mother about whether she actually lived in the area or not (my mother grew up in China).
Reply: I’ve never had any trouble interacting with taxi drivers and just people on the street – even my first time there alone when I’d only had one year’s of education in the language! I think people are friendlier than a lot of people think – if they see that you’re making an effort to communicate, they will take the time to sort out what it is you’re asking for. :) I’ll never be mistaken as a local (my manner and style of dress sets me apart from your ‘average’ Chinese, not to mention I retain a certain Australian accent to my Chinese), but I think that I can definitely still blend in – I’m still considered Chinese by all those I encounter in China, but simply one who doesn’t live there!
Yingna on July 19, 2008 #
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