Leaders and International Students of SIS hold Online Discussion on Winter Solstice

             Due to the global pandemic, nearly 40 international students of the School of International Studies (SIS), including the Chinese Language Students of Belt and Road Scholarship Program and international students of undergraduate and graduate degree-granting programs of Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU), were unable to return to school in 2020. Having overcome all kinds of obstacles, SIS adopted online specialized courses, Chinese tutoring and cultural exchanges for international students. These practices not only effectively guaranteed international students’ learning progress, but also showed the care from SIS for them across the world.

           On the noon of December 21st, 2020, leaders and teacher representatives of SIS held online discussion with international students and extended Winter Solstice greetings to them. It was attended by 37 international students and seven SIS teachers, including Huang Aicheng, Deputy Party Secretary of SIS; Ye Weiyin, International Student Counselor; Li Zhuo, the manager of Chinese Language Program for international students; Liu Yang, International Student Affairs Assistant; Xie Yuying, Director of International Student Association (ISA); and Cao Jingke and Zhang Zitong, Vice Directors of ISA. Although the discussion was held online, the teachers and students enjoyed a pleasant atmosphere, in which they sent greetings to each other like old long-parted friends. Students enthusiastically shared their recent learning experiences with other attendees. Teachers expressed their care for international students, responded to students’ concerns and placed high expectations for their study.

           During the discussion, Ye Myo Tun, a Burmese junior student from Department of Korean, Yongki Adhi Nugroho, an Indonesian sophomore from Department of Spanish, and Dang Thi Phuong Uyen, a Vietnamese fresh student from Department of Arabic, successively shared their feelings and difficulties when taking online courses. In response to students’ failure to return to China which might hinder their attendance in major-related internship and band-4 and band-8 test for the major, teachers indicated that they would pay close attention and give rapid feedback about the test notice for them. In terms of internship, SIS would design special programs on the basis of major characteristics and individual development demands for international students so as to help them complete the internship.

           The 2020 representatives of Chinese Language Students of Belt and Road Scholarship Program, including Vuong Gia Han and Tran Thi Quynh Anh from Vietnam, Celine Novenna and Richard Tan from Indonesia, and Changxoypheth Daomany from Laos, shared their experiences in Chinese learning and cultural exchanges this semester. All students thanked SYSU for providing them with valuable opportunities to learn Chinese. Not only did conscientious teachers of SIS offer informative online Chinese courses, but also SIS thoughtfully assigned postgraduates and Chinese tutors to assist international students’ Chinese learning, which solved their problems in study. What’s more, ISA of SIS held online icebreaker games and “Chinese Cultural Month” activity. Through these colorful events, students had a deeper understanding of the beauty of Chinese culture and made more international friends. In spite of the limitations of the online courses, students said that they would work harder to improve their Chinese proficiency. They sincerely hoped that the pandemic would be controlled ASAP, and that they could return to SYSU soon to study together.

             Facing students’ feedback and questions, teachers in the discussion gave detailed responses. Ye Weiyin said that SIS attached high importance to international students’ study and lives. As the pandemic got worse in the world, SIS hoped that students could take strict protection measures and keep healthy. Li Zhuo indicated that though online study brought some disadvantages, he hoped that Chinese Language Students would make full use of their time to improve their Chinese and pass the HSK as early as possible so that they could continue to pursue their dreams in SYSU. In the end, Deputy Secretary Huang Aicheng concluded that in 2020 international students stayed around the world, but the leaders and teachers of SIS cared and missed them very much. Taking courses online was a new challenge for students. SIS hoped that all students could take positive attitude to challenges, improve their Chinese proficiency and learn professional knowledge with passion. Through cultural activities held by SIS, they could learn more about and love Chinese culture. If they met any difficulties, they could proactively communicate with teachers and classmates of SIS and they should also keep taking self-protection measures.