Some may classify Chinese as an incomprehensible language with a written language that makes no sense, spoken pronunciations that only the Chinese people can make, or a language of extreme obscurity and difficulty. However, I would beg to differ. I am a American boy who had no prior knowledge of Chinese culture or language and an inability to pronounce or write any Chinese as of two years ago. Many say that to learn Chinese as a person who is not Chinese takes real challenge, but honestly, Chinese is as difficult a language to learn as any other. If you put the time and effort into learning the language, you will find the benefits and fulfillment that comes with learning it.
Two years later, I reflect on all the Chinese I have learned, and all the applications in which I have been able to use the Chinese language to my benefit. In grade 9, I entered my first Chinese class only knowing how to say “你好” and “再见.“ I watched as all my friends, a level above me, with jealousy as they spoke Chinese with such fluidity. I thought to myself, I will make sure that I am able to speak and write Chinese to the same level as they do and set my mind to reach that goal. Throughout the year, I began to see my progression as I learned the basic colors and numbers, clothing, animals, buildings and more. That summer, I took a placement exam seeking to enter the next school year in the same level as all my friends and passed the test.
The first day of school that next year, year 10, I was terrified. Terrified that I would be made fun of should I not understand everything that my teacher said, or for writing the wrong character on the board in front of all my peers. I thought that even though I passed the test and showed my teacher that I could be at the same level as all my friends, that I would never be at the same skill level as all of them. However, within a month of classes, I learned that I was just as good as them, and began to feel more comfortable. I started participating more in class, and showed my peers that just because I only started learning Chinese a year from that time, as opposed to the rest who had been learning for 4 years, that I was just as capable of reading, writing, and speaking this “impossible” language. Within this first month, I started to realize how beneficial the Chinese language could be for me.
One of the first applications in which I was forced to reach outside of my comfort zone with the language was when I went on my school’s exchange trip to China. I was exposed to a culture so different from my own, a country on the total opposite side of the world where Chinese was everywhere. I started noticing how the Chinese language really sounded as opposed to just hearing the language in a classroom. I realized that I was able to pick up on the conversations that I heard as I walked down the streets of 北京 and 西安. I was able to communicate with vendors, speak with the tour guide, and communicate with locals. However, it was not till I reached 西安 that I actually showed myself how amazing the language was. I also showed myself that the language was not that difficult to understand. By listening to the words I had recognized, I was able to put the pieces together in order to further define other characters that I had not known before. The first night in my exchange student’s home, I had left all of my luggage at the school. I had to communicate with my exchange student’s father to tell him that I needed to go back to retrieve my belongings, but was terrified. When he noticed that I was worried, he said to me, “你怎么样？你想做什么？I responded by saying, in Chinglish, “我的 luggage在孙浩博的学校。“ After saying this to him, he started speaking so quickly that it was so difficult for me to decipher that he was asking me if I wanted him to take me to the school to get my stuff. However, I was able to piece everything together by extracting the words I knew such as “你想我” “去” “学校” “衣服.” This is just one instance in which I found that Chinese is so fascinating and so beneficial as I was able to use the language to revise the help that I needed.
My second application in which I was able to use my Chinese skills to my advantage was at my summer program at Yale University. The program held students from all over the world, but there was an overwhelming amount of students from China: students came from 北京，深圳，and 上海. I became friends with many of these Chinese students and was actually able to communicate with them. I was able to understand what they were speaking about, as well as take part in the conversation. I learned new words and terminology in card games such as the world famous Chinese poker, and was able to become better friends with them due to the loss of a language barrier. One of my closest friends, Harry or, 刘竞元(liújìngyuán) had difficulty understanding some of the English that was used in our classes there, or in conversational speak between peers, but thanks to my ability to speak Chinese, I was able to help him understand more and he helped me learn more Chinese as we spoke with the other Chinese students.
Throughout the past two years, I have been able to see the benefits of speaking Chinese, as well as the many applications in which I can use the language. Although Chinese may be a hard language to learn, it is worth it to learn such an amazing language. Additionally, I believe that it is just as hard as any other language to learn. Learning Chinese has been one of the best experiences of my life and I can say one hundred percent that it has been worth it thus far. So go out there and try to learn something new: learn a new phrase, a new character, or maybe even try to go speak with someone in Chinese. The best way to expand your knowledge is through applying the language with other people who are able to speak the language as well!
I found this article very inspiring and relatable. When I was in 6th grade I was coming to Jericho for the first time and I also was wary about taking Chinese since it was considered to be the “hardest” language. When I actually got into 6th grade, however, I really enjoyed the language and still do till this day. I hope that when I go to China I will also be able to talk to the locals in Chinese. I also liked the addition of pictures in the article, and I think it made the article fell more genuine in a sense.
I appreciate you relaying your thoughts to us in this article. I ‘m glad that you can find so many benefits in the Chinese language! And you’re right about always trying to learn something new… It can apply to anything!
It is amazing to see how your Chinese has improved through the years. You’ve been so diligent with your studies! It’s amazing to see how you are able to apply Chinese in real world situations! You were truly able to make new friends in Yale University, something that may not have been possible if you did not know the language. I hope you are able to continue your studies. I can tell you’ll become an amazing Chinese speaker one day. Keep up your studies!
Congratulations on passing the placement test! It’s great to see that you took the challenge and time to try to get to a higher level. I also really enjoyed reading about how you were able to make sense of what the locals were saying with the words you knew. It really shows how hard you tried to be able to communicate well. This was a very inspiring article. Thank you for sharing!
哈哈哈，作者一定特别喜欢中国，中国真的值得去旅行一次。一生中不去中国真的是个遗憾。我到了美国以后就特别怀念中国的各种美食和人文。中国的美食真的会让你怀念。有时间我一定要回国去吃好吃的Kevin Liu
通过这篇文章真的了解到了很多中国的东西， 中国真的是一个很值得一去的地方， 每个城市都有自己的特色， 就比如我最喜欢的河南，最经典的就属河南的烩面了， 每次回去都要来一大碗。
It’s incredible to see the progress you’ve made in your education of the Chinese language! Even though you had no background of Chinese whatsoever, you were able to conquer the challenge and stay determined. After your trips to China and Yale it’s clear that you’ve benefitted much from studying the language and had continued to grow in this journey. By explaining how you had understood them and replying in Chenglish, you’ve further created the bridge between the Chinese and the English speakers. I hope to hear more about your experiences!
I was pretty shocked that you decided to take Chinese in 9th grade but you’ve been doing really well since. The progress you made in the last two years in unremarkable. It’s amazing how much Chinese is integrated into your daily life now and how much fun you had doing it. You’re a better Chinese speaker than me at this point. I hope you continue to improve and grow as you learn more about the Chinese culture!
It is great to see such a young man like yourself reach out of your comfort zone and explore an unknown world. Taking the next step forward and taking a journey to China and exploring the culture, the food, and the language is a once in a lifetime experience. It is wonderful that you found so many uses for Chinese other than in the classroom. I hope that you continue your journey into college and for the rest of your life. There is much more to explore and you should spend some time abroad in China if you can in order to fully experience what it is like to study and live in China.
It’s been really amazing seeing your progress through the Chinese language and I can’t wait to see where it will take you! I think that Chinese Exchange Program was something so special and I hope to do something like that again soon as well. With this article, you were so open and honest about how you felt throughout the years, which is why it’s so interesting to read. Additionally, I love the message at the end! I feel so many people today are too scared to try something new and I think it’s amazing that you did.
Chinese in my opinion is a very difficult language so it is awesome to hear that you are now comfortable speaking the language. Your exchange trips looked amazing as well. I’m glad that the you could apply the things you learned in class to the streets in China. Reading about your journey to discover more about the Chinese language has really motivated me to work harder as well. I hope you continue to learn more!!
Dylan, I had no idea that you started Chinese in ninth grade! It is a mark of your dedication to this language that I automatically assumed you’ve been taking Chinese since middle school, like most students in the program. It is touching to see how learning this language has impacted you in so many ways and exposed you to an unfamiliar culture in China and in America as well. Additionally, I understand how you feel, as when I first started learning Chinese I could barely remember 1-10. Your closing message is very true and very inspiring to me. Keep studying hard, 加油！
This article was very interesting. I was inspired that you were able to work so hard and improve on your Chinese skills. When I was younger I always question the usefulness of speaking Chinese. However, now I can see there are many benefits to knowing this language. Hopefully I get the chance too, to go to China and experience similar things.
I loved your article! I was scared that I wouldn’t know anything in Chinese and that I would also embarrass myself in front of my Chinese class. But knowing that you learned so much and was able to improve, it made me relieved that maybe I can also improve on my Chinese. I have tried to use Chinese to communicate with my teachers and families, but sometimes it’s a struggle for me as I struggle with the Chinese language. I hope that I can continue to grow and improve in Chinese.
Great article, Dylan! As a Chinese-American, Chinese language and culture is obviously an important aspect of my life. But, it is really interesting to see how it impacts someone like you. Coming from a non-Chinese household, your love of the Chinese language is rather unique. Your appreciation for Chinese is very apparent and it’s great see that you love Chinese as much as I do! Keep up the great work!
Amazing article D-Swicks! I love how you were able to connect with soo many Chinese people! It looks like the trip was a lot of fun. I also agree that Chinese is an amazing language, and is very fun and useful for the future! I can’t believe that you actually had the chance to go to China. I hope to go to China one day!
当你真正了解到中国文化之后呢，你就会发现中国为什么要叫做文明古国。不管是从美食到习俗还是语言，所有的东西都是息息相关的。甚至你可以在中国欣赏到不同风景。在云南有雪山，在北京有故宫和天安门广场，再到新疆可以看到沙漠。完全感受的到你超喜欢中国的嘻嘻。希望你可以一直抱有喜欢中国的心态一直坚持下去啊！
I think its amazing that you are so interested in taking this language (even though you started later than others) and you are very successful in the class. You were able to challenge yourself and not let anything hold you back! It’s evident that your trips to China and Yale has benefitted your learning and speaking skills. Not many people are up for a challenge or to try something new but its awesome that you decided to learn Chinese AND actually like it. I hope to hear more about your experiences!
Wow Dylan! This article is a true testament to your willpower and strength as an individual. It took lots of courage to pick up the Chinese language in 9th grade and you have come a long way since then. Your speaking and writing as improved so much and it’s truly remarkable. It’s great that you were able to apply what you’ve learned thus far in your experiences with native speakers and use these encounters as learning opportunities to further your understanding of the language. I hope you continue to stay on this path of vast improvement and to continue to seek opportunities to use this language to your advantage.
I admire your interest and passion for the Chinese language. Even though it’s such a difficult language to learn, you still managed to pull through the most difficult parts and push on. Though you may not know everything, I can see you becoming very fluent and experienced in Chinese culture and language. Keep up the work!
Wow! You’ve come so far in learning Chinese in only two years! I hadn’t known that you’d only started learning Chinese in ninth grade! As a heritage student, I do have the benefit of a Chinese-speaking family when learning the language, but that can only go so far. Your story, enthusiasm towards Chinese, and work ethic really inspire me! Thanks for sharing!
Your motivation to learn Chinese is truly inspiring Dylan! Despite being possibly one of the hardest languages to learn, you proved that Chinese is not as big of a challenge if you set your mind to it. I have always thought that you have studied Chinese for a very long time, but I guess that just shows how much you have improved in the course of two years. Great Work! Being a heritage student gives me the advantage of at least understanding most of what I hear. However, I could not read or write as well I could interpret. You inspire me to work harder!
I like your interest in trying your best to learn the Chinese language, even though everyone in your class was a level above you. I can see that you had the motivation and determination to continue to take this course and continue to learn this difficult language. This article has inspired me to be able to achieve new things and to also try new things. I hope that i can also be able to learn new things with deermination. Thanks for writing this article!
I hope you keep going with your interests. China’s deep historical background and exotic culture are aspects we should respect and appreciate. I hope you write more informative articles about life in China.
你是真的很喜欢中文啊，就算难你还是在学，我觉得你以后中文肯定不会差，以后你也可以在中国多走走，你会看到很多不同的东西，很喜欢你这种心态
我看得出来他很喜欢中国，中国很好玩，我来到美国后很想念中国的美食等等东西，中国很多地方都有不同的美景
This is such an interesting article! While reading through the article, I thought that your journey is incredible. It’s common knowledge that Chinese is one of the most difficult languages in the world. Knowing that, it’s very admirable that you’re able to learn and speak such a difficult language after only a few years. This article made me feel inspired as well. Great job writing!