“China-France Cultural exchange always plays a ‘leading’ role in China’s foreign exchanges, ” said Li Shaoping, the Cultural Counselor in the Chinese Embassy to France, when he was being exclusively interviewed by China Minutes. He also said that the China-France ties were being elevated, deepened and broadened. In line of this, the College of International Education of Jilin University (JLU), opened a three-week class of Chinese language and culture for French students in the summer of 2017.
On June 30th, 2017, the team for the summer class was formed and started to work. On the evening of July 15th, all French members arrived in Changchun. On the following afternoon, the inauguration ceremony of the summer class was held as scheduled. Yue Hui, Dean of the School of International Chinese Language Education of Jilin University (JLU), and Lu Ya’nan, representative of the companion buddies, delivered their speech. Teachers from the School of International Chinese Language Education and students made brief self-introductions. After the formal but joyful ceremony, Chinese buddies enthusiastically showed the French students around the campus. One French student said: “I very much want to study in Jilin University via exchange. Its campus is large and beautiful. French universities are very small.”
The activities designed by the College of International Education for the summer class are rich and diverse. During the three week exchanges, the French students took courses of basic Chinese, such as intensive reading and oral Chinese. The way students learned in class, like attending a lecture in which the speaker explains to them one to one, made the teaching more accessible and allowed students to have a better understanding and more concrete feeling of the Chinese culture.
Besides, a special course was opened, which was Lecture on Traditional Chinese Massage. The lecture presented a new part of the Chinese language to the foreign students and brought to their attention the culture of traditional Chinese medicine, boosting cultural exchanges between China and France. The lecture was composed of three classes, offering a progressive explanation of the massage. The teacher explained and showed several ways of massaging, and guided each student to do it themselves. The lecture brought home to the students the wonder of traditional Chinese massage. One international student marveled at this experience, saying: “It is amazing. I took interest in traditional Chinese medicine a long time ago. I did not expect to learn about the massage myself in the short-term class of JLU.”
To give the French students a chance to experience the cultural charm of Changchun and its surroundings, the College of International Education also arranged activities that took them to see the natural view of Changbai Mountains and the historical relics of Harbin and enabled them to feel the difference in people and culture between different cities. Thanks to these activities, the international students, who had never come to China before, had a better understanding of China, its cultural origin and profundity.
At the end of the three-week summer class, French student Chloe emotionally said: “The summer course of Chinese language offered by Jilin University is really good. My Chinese improved a lot, I made many Chinese friends and saw very beautiful scenery in the northeast of China. The university’s arrangements were very thoughtful, and our teachers were very responsible, and the northeastern food is very delicious. If I had the chance, I would come back to study in the university again!”
Philippe, another French student, said: “I started to learn Chinese in 1994 when I was 14 and started high school. My mother wanted me to learn a new foreign language. Considering the worsening economy in Europe, she had Spanish or an Asian language in mind. I told her I wanted to learn Chinese. Now I don’t have many opportunities to practice Chinese. That is why I signed up for the summer class in Jilin University.”
Volunteers who were companions for the foreign students also said that they themselves benefited a lot from this activity. Yang Huilin, a student from the Business School of JLU, said: “This volunteering experience is really productive for me. I made many French friends, learned about the French culture and became better at communication. The French students are eager to learn, independent and friendly, and that is what I learn from them. I hope the university can host more such activities, offering opportunities for us students to hone our skills.” Lu Ya’nan, a student from the College of Foreign Languages, also said: “I am very happy to participate in this companion program. I made many friends and improved my cross-cultural communication ability. I hope there are more such opportunities to come and I will definitely seize them.” The three weeks was not easy, but the volunteers gained a lot. While dining and traveling with the French students, they learned a lot about France’s customs and the thinking of French college students nowadays. The volunteers also showed the French students the Chinese culture and the thinking of Chinese college students.
The summer class promoted exchanges, particularly cultural exchanges, between Chinese and French students, and gave the French students a new and more comprehensive understanding of China.
