ɬ�﷬

My name is Ava Carere and I am grateful for the opportunity I had to participate in the Intensive Chinese Language Program. As a fourth year psychology major and East Asian Literature and Language minor at ɬ�﷬, I am especially curious about the intersection between culture, background, and psychological experience. 

My main goals for this trip were to learn everyday phrases, improve my fluency, and gain a deeper understanding of cultural differences between the East and West. One teacher described our classes as “language for living”, and accordingly, I was able to master necessities like ordering food, asking for directions, and much more. Although I still have a lot to learn, through presentations and everyday interactions, I was able to improve my conversational abilities. 

Within the classroom, one of my highlights was the cultural lessons we had on Mondays. The first Monday this class took place, we walked into the classroom to find tables with decks of cards on them. As a group of Cambio enthusiasts, the thought of playing cards during class was very appealing to us. Each of the four tables read their instructions and played their own practice round. Once the real game began, the winner of each round would move to the table to the right and the loser would move to the table to the left. When the following round began, we were no longer allowed to speak and could only use nonverbal communication. However, what we didn’t know was we each had a different set of rules. This experience helped convey the confusion and miscommunications that language barriers and cultural differences can cause, illustrating the importance of learning about different languages and cultures firsthand.

Outside of the classroom, I enjoyed sharing meals with new friends, both from ɬ�﷬ and Shantou University. It was helpful practicing our mandarin together, but it was even more interesting to hear everyone's stories and experiences. I had numerous memorable conversations that broadened my thinking to include ideas from different cultures and complex national backgrounds. 

As I’ve only just finished introductory Mandarin, there was definitely a language barrier between myself and native Mandarin speakers. At times, it was difficult to order food or converse with strangers. At first, I received help from tutors and friends. Eventually, I decided to take on these interactions without assistance. Everyone was incredibly patient and kind, and by overcoming these challenges by myself, I gained more confidence in my language competence. 

I would advise participants in such programs and language learners in general to view challenges not as obstacles, but as opportunities to improve. Upon arriving in China, my chopstick skills were not up to scratch, and I felt very embarrassed at mealtimes. Instead of letting this be a barrier to enjoying food with friends, I decided it was a perfect opportunity to improve my skills while enjoying a new cuisine. My Mandarin skills are also far from perfect, but rather than fearing interactions with strangers, I viewed the month as a rare opportunity to practice with native speakers. To get the most out of the experience, students should ask a lot of questions, try new things, and keep their minds open. It was an amazing opportunity to learn new things with a supportive community.