“Dui bu qi wo de zhongwen buhao.” (Sorry, my Chinese is terrible.)

Do you also religiously use this phrase to avoid all potential conversations in Chinese? Is Chinese really so complicated to study? Should I even study Chinese? Will I be ever able to learn Chinese in my lifetime?

Chinese is one of the most challenging languages to master, and tere is a lot of anxiety out there when it comes to learning it, but is it impossible to learn?  How difficult is it for international students to learn Chinese?

As an international student myself, I have been learning the language for the past year, and one thing I can say is that it is not easy but it is exciting!

I decided to interview a few international students,  as well as an experienced Chinese teacher teaching international students in Beijing! Are you excited to see their responses? Without further ado, let’s dive straight away into the interesting responses.

I asked the same questions to everyone:  How long have you been learning Chinese and how difficult do you think is it for international students like you to learn Chinese? What are the difficult and interesting aspects of the language?

Lorenz Hoffmann, age 17, Grade 11, German School of Beijing: I began to learn Chinese two and a half years ago. And it’s a mess! Chinese is a language that is not influenced by the central European culture area. As a German, it’s a completely new system. Learning languages requires a general understanding of the style (grammar) of that language. That makes Chinese even more complicated. Not to mention the hanzi, the characters.

Sunni, age 17, Grade 12, International School of Beijing: It has been around a year and a half since I started learning Chinese. Out of all the languages I learned, I felt like learning Chinese was the hardest (but that might be because I just started learning). But the good thing about Chinese is that the grammar structure is similar to that of English. For me, I find having a conversation in Chinese the hardest because of the different tones and word patterns.

Paul, age 16, Grade 12,  German School of Beijing: I’ve been learning Chinese for a bit more than two years, since we decided to move to Beijing. When we were still in Germany, I learned online. Now I have Chinese in school. Of the languages I’ve learned so far, Chinese grammar is the easiest, while vocabulary, characters, and pronunciation are by far the most difficult. Overall, I’d say Chinese probably takes a lot of effort and is the most difficult, but it’s a lot of fun too, especially when I’m able to understand something in everyday life.

American student, age 17, International School of Beijing: I’ve been learning Mandarin Chinese for five years. As a native English speaker, I think it’s a pretty difficult language to learn, because of all of the different characters to learn. I also struggle a lot with tones, but I find that I can still communicate alright without fully using them (even if I end up sounding like a robot or a broken violin). Despite Chinese’s difficulty, I do appreciate its grammar! Compared to English, its grammar is relatively simple, and definitely a lot more consistent. This made sentences a lot easier to construct when I was a beginner, without having to worry about conjugations, cases, or articles. Then again, as I continued learning Chinese, I found that there were a lot of more subtle grammar rules that are difficult to explain in English. Some examples are the different meanings of “了,” or how Chinese has aspects, but not tense. So, overall, I would say Chinese is pretty difficult to learn, because of the characters, pronunciations, and grammar.

As an experienced Chinese teacher teaching international students, What do you think are the areas where students do well and the areas where they struggle to excel?

A Chinese teacher in an international school: My observation is that for international students living in China, it’s easier to make progress in listening and speaking than in reading and writing, mostly because they are immersed in the target language environment which enables them to better understand the context and communicate more effectively.

Any tips on how international students living in Beijing can overcome the language difficulty and learn Chinese better?

As long as they are willing, there are many opportunities to practice using the language in real life. With the use of apps such as Didi, Weixin, Meituan, Taobao, etc., students can also practice reading in authentic scenarios. Another opportunity is the road signs, shop signs, etc. Overall, the most difficult part is writing, simply because people don’t write much nowadays, and characters are more complicated to write. To improve, the most effective way is to practice. Using resources that show the stroke orders would help. Taking calligraphy lessons is also a way to appreciate and understand the characters.

Overall, the responses were great and optimistic! So, yes, there are some areas where international students generally struggle, but with the right amount of practice and interest, one can learn the language efficiently. To all those who are or who will be learning Chinese, I will say only one thing: “Jiayou 加油!” (“Come on, you can do it!”)

Images: Unsplash

A US federal judge announced yesterday that the Trump administration has revoked its policy that would prevent international students from taking online-only courses in educational institutions to stay in the United States. The move is a rare backflip for the administration which has built a reputation for draconian immigration policies.

The decision comes a week after the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency announced that students that had F-1 or M-1 visas and enrolled in schools providing online-only instruction for the Fall 2020 semester would have to leave the country, or transfer to another university that was offering in-person or hybrid (mix of online and in-person) instruction. The announcement threw many international students and their academic plans into a quandary, as they contemplated deferring their studies. Many also feared being forcibly deported from the US, due to the lack of international flights preventing them from leaving voluntarily. It also prompted a wave of lawsuits against ICE and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from the country’s leading universities and a coalition of 17 states. Universities like Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where international students make up more than 20% of the student body, were the first to file such lawsuits.

According to a CNN source, the White House caved in to the strong opposition to this proposal outside the administration, and the man staff within the West Wing believed the policy to be poorly devised and implemented. The policy did not include instructions for international students if they wished to transfer to schools with in-person or hybrid instruction. China Daily reported on Harvard and MIT’s joint lawsuit, which argued that ICE and the DHS did not take into account the “reality” of the pandemic continuing. By enforcing this policy, the agencies would be putting the health and safety of students, faculty, and staff members across the country at risk.

According to the very same CNN article, the White House is now focused on having the new rule apply only to new and incoming international students, rather than those already based in the US. On this matter and any other ongoing international students’ visa policy decisions, the White House declined to comment. For now, however, the move to rescind the proposal will bring a sigh of relief to the more than 1 million international students based in the US. They will now not be forced to return to their home countries or transfer to another school, college, or university. The administration will now return to the policy that was in effect from March, which gave more flexibility by allowing international students to take online-only courses and simultaneously remain in the US.

KEEP READING: UK Surpasses US as Preferred Study Destination for Chinese Students

Images: Yushang Xu (via Unsplash)

On Monday, Jul 6, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) updated its policy regarding temporary exemptions for nonimmigrant students. As per the update, international students studying in the US holding an F-1 or M-1 nonimmigrant visa will be forced to leave the country if their school continues to conduct online courses only. Under the change, around 1.2 million students might face deportation.

Universities such as Harvard and Princeton have already announced that some students will have to take online courses due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, with Harvard stating that all their undergraduate courses – excluding the Faculty of Arts and Science, which will allow 40% of their undergrads on campus – will be online for the entire school year. In fact, 8% of all US colleges have reported that they plan on online-only courses.

This has created quite a conundrum for many students, as traveling restrictions and periodic lockdowns in their home countries leave them without a safe haven to turn to. ICE has yet to expand on what will happen to such students, should they remain stranded. Many students have already voiced their concerns on social media, stating their fears around local COVID-19 management, the economic recession it is causing, and the health issues that immunocompromised students must face. Even the fate of Chinese students with a Chinese passport remains uncertain, as China currently only permits two round trips per week with U.S. airlines. 

According to former Beijing World Youth Academy student Yvonne W who will be attending Pratt Institute in New York this Fall, the COVID-19 pandemic has already had a huge impact on student prospects. “A lot of my friends are taking a gap year or deferring due to this. Overall, it’s just making students’ lives harder.” She may be forced to return to China if her university does not offer a hybrid model, yet tickets are hard to obtain and prices are high.

With many colleges moving to a hybrid online model, lecture halls the world over will stand empty when school resumes in the Fall

However, hope still remains for international students in the US. Students that attend schools that offer a hybrid model – that is with some classes on campus and some online, will be allowed to stay in the US. It is reported that at least 23% of colleges are planning on operating under such models including Stanford, Yale, Northwestern, Georgetown, and the University of Pennsylvania, although the specifics of how the system will operate remain unknown. However, that exception does not apply to those with an F-1 visa in English language training programs or an M-1 visa studying for a vocational degree. Schools have been given 10 days to update their plans and report to the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).

International students can also seek to transfer to a school that offers a hybrid model, but under such short notice and without clear instructions as to how to do so, their future remains unclear. 

It is important to note that the new policy has not been officially published in the Federal Register. Certain universities have started to take action, including the University of Washington, which will be working with the state’s congressional delegation and key federal officials to attempt to influence the final rule.

KEEP READING: UK Surpasses US as Preferred Study Destination for Chinese Students

Credit: Patricia Beatrix Villanueva (via Unsplash), Nathan Dumlao (via Unsplash)

This year, COVID-19 has turned the world upside down, and for high school seniors, these students experienced a senior year unlike any we’ve ever seen before. But life goes on, and despite the chaos COVID-19 has caused, students at international schools all over Beijing are graduating in good spirits and high hopes for the future. Congratulations to the Class of 2020!

Meet Dayeon H. from South Korea, a recent graduate of Beijing City International School (BCIS)‘s class of 2020.

Dayeon H

I’ll be attending SAIC, School of Arts Institute of Chicago majoring in visual arts and design. It’s something I’ve wanted to do ever since I was young.

SAIC, School of Arts Institute of Chicago

One of my favorite memories from high school was Week Without Walls (WWW) in Grade 11. I am a very introverted person, and I take as long as possible to make friends that I feel comfortable around. During WWW, I thought that the friends in my grades are the ones that I genuinely feel comfortable with so I could really enjoy the trip. I also thought that everyone was having a good time since it was the last WWW for all of us. I can’t ever forget the atmosphere of Sichun last autumn.

My school has helped me shape who I am today.  I spent my entire middle and high school years at BCIS, which I believe is the most crucial character-building time in a person’s life. I think I was lucky to spend these years at an international school so I could grow up around people from different cultures, which helped me to mature into an open-minded person.

One of the strategies that I learned that will help me in college is that I found it very useful and effective to make a thorough study schedule. I found this especially helpful during the exam week. I designated a small amount of study material on each subject every day. This helped me become familiar with a complex subject without the pressure of spending a long time on it. Moreover, I could practice making an effective schedule to follow, which is a useful life skill.

I can’t name just one teacher that I like the most. All the IDEATE teachers were so supportive to me and helped me with anything and anyway they could. I really appreciate them, and they made the IDEATE program possible. I also want to mention the teachers who taught me since Grade 6. They saw me grow up as a student, an artist, and a person. They made the school feel like home to me.

If I can go back and change one thing I did in high school, I would participate in more school events, especially musical events. I love singing, but I was too timid to try out for the school musical or concert. Now that I graduated from high school, I realize that having access to those activities is the privilege of being a high-schooler, and it would’ve enriched my school life even more.

I believe everyone should find the right balance between academic success and building strong friendship that the two that fit their personality and lifestyle. Some people may enjoy going to social events and making new friends, or someone may enjoy their own private time. During high school, I spent more time focusing on academic success because I thought it was more important. Luckily, I managed to make friends who I could have a fun time with but also study together. Thus, I think it is possible to have both academic success and strong friendship if you can find friends who have similar aspirations and lifestyle with you.

My final message to my graduating class is that firstly, I genuinely appreciate everyone for being part of the beautiful memories in BCIS. I wouldn’t be able to successfully graduate high school without their help. I cannot express enough how disappointed I am for not being able to say a proper goodbye to my friends and teachers due to the pandemic, but I hope I will get a chance to see everyone again soon. I will miss everyone a lot.

KEEP READING:  “This Was Not How We Envisioned Our Senior Year Ending”

Photos: Dayeon H., www.saic.edu

Fifteen years, five countries. It’s been difficult, but I don’t often think about it, because to me it feels so natural to constantly move around. I’ve gone to international schools my entire life and the majority of my peers have had the same experiences. I don’t think twice when people tell me that they’ve just moved from somewhere halfway across the world, and then when I hear from them next, they’re living somewhere even farther away than that. This way of life feels so conventional that it never occurred to me what my life could have been like if it wasn’t this way.

It’s true that change is a good thing, and that it’s constant, but when you incessantly remind yourself of it, it limits you. I’ve always felt a sense of uncertainty no matter how settled I become in a new country. I would be leaving it soon enough anyway, and then I would have to start all over again somewhere utterly different. In particular, this mindset always prevented me from investing in the friendships that I knew I wanted to keep. I didn’t really see a point in putting effort into building these relationships when I knew they would be over soon enough. However hopeful one may be, life goes on. You move away and your best friend promises that they’ll call and text, that they’ll come to visit, and that there’s no reason for you to worry because how could they ever forget you? While this is innocent enough, and it does offer some comfort, it almost never works out like that; at least in my experience. People tend to drift apart no matter how hard they try not to.

It might sound trivial to say that it’s been hard for me to make friends, and more importantly, to keep them. Shallow teenage friendships seem like a minor concern, but more than worrying about losing out on friendships, I worry about losing out on bonds. This is something I’ve talked about with many of my friends who move around as much as I do.  We feel that we’re more familiar with loneliness compared to most other people. It takes time to build strong relationships, and that, unfortunately, is exactly what we lack.  When you have to repeatedly start afresh every few years, it does become quite lonely. You have to be the best version of yourself almost all the time in order to fit in wherever you are because first impressions matter the most.

Most people tell me how lucky I am, how much they wish they could experience living in different countries at such a young age. Whenever I mention how hard it is and how much I wish I could stay in one place for once, they always tell me that I’ll be grateful when I’m older. I’m sure I will, and there are things constantly moving teaches you that nothing else does. But sometimes, just sometimes, I let myself think about what it would have been like if I’d lived in one city all my childhood. Maybe I’d have had lifelong friends that would have known me better than anyone else. But then again, maybe not.

The truth is, you never really know what could have happened if things were different. You can keep wishing, and at times, keep hating the way things are now, but life doesn’t work that way. Situations don’t change, people do. And while that is cliché, I admit, I often find that the most clichéd statements turn out to be the most useful. I may not have a place I can confidently call home, and I may not have the kind of friendships I wish I did. But along the way, I have built some everlasting memories, enjoyed some unforgettable moments, and if everything I’ve been to has led to where I am today, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Sharanya Trivedi is a year 10 student. Originally from India, she has lived in several countries across the world and has been in Beijing since 2017. An avid reader and debater, she is a devoted fan of the k-pop band BTS.

KEEP READING:  Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: Body Image and the Modern Teenager

Photo: Sharanya Trivedi, unsplash

This article appeared in the beijingkids 2020 June issue