Chinese Language at the Ocean University Qingdao

Sandra Andersson is a Swedish first year Mandarin student at the Ocean University of Qingdao in China and she will share her experiences with us.

What was the reason that you decided to study chinese at the Ocean University in Qingdao?
My father is doing business in China and so we moved here last year. That is also the reason why I started to study Chinese.

How and where did you inform yourself about the study possibilities?
I went to the university to get information.

For how long did you study overseas?
I already studied here for one year and I am still a student at the Ocean University.

Was there a language examination that you had to absolve at the university?
No, at the Ocean University you can decide by yourself which class you want to join. If it is too difficult or easy you have one week to change the classes.

How many classes did you have a day/a week?
Four hours, five days a week.

How and what were your first impressions about China (language, culture etc.)?
I have been to China many times before, first time when I was 12 years old. At that time I used to hate it.

Where did you live?
I live in an apartment with my parents.

How did you like the city and the country in general?
Now I love Qingdao and it’s now my second home. Most of the people are very friendly and you meet a lot of smiles everyday.

What kind of advices can you give students regarding the city, university, language, studies etc.?
To study Mandarin can be very nerve-racking but once you get out there in real life and realize that you can actually communicate with the locals it’s worth every little headache. Once you get here, try not to keep your head too much in the books, get out there and talk with the locals, cab drivers, the news paper man, the lady in the book shop etc. That is how you learn Mandarin. Depending on where you are coming from a lot of things might come as a shock out here, but it’s beautiful, it’s called cultural. You will learn a lot from the Chinese people and they will also be able to learn a lot about you and your cultural.

Before you went to China, were there any things that you would have had more information about?
No, because I have been to China many times before.

What are your future plans?
I will go on studying Chinese.

Would you go the same way again?
Definetly.

We would like to thank Sandra Andersson for her support!

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