Academic exchanges: students from MarSU at Qingdao City University (QCU)

Fourth-year students Olga Okasheva and Anna Stepanova have arrived in China to study the Chinese language at Qingdao City University (QCU). They have already familiarized themselves with the university and attended their first classes. Olga and Anna will be studying Chinese for the duration of the semester.

They also send their best wishes for the recent Mid-Autumn Festival and the National Day of the People's Republic of China, and they are happy to share their impressions of their first month of studies in China.

«This academic year, we were given a wonderful opportunity to study Chinese at Qingdao City University (QCU). Qingdao is a coastal city, and the climate here is milder than in the interior regions of China. The university is located in the Chengyang District, about 40 minutes from the city center. Everything one might need can be found right on campus, including canteens, shops, sports facilities, and more.

What are the classes like? Before studies begin, there is a placement test—consisting of a written component and a short oral interview—after which you are assigned to an appropriate group. In total, four groups were formed for our course. Classes are based on HSK preparation textbooks, and at the end of the semester, there is even an opportunity to take the HSK exam (levels 1 through 5). The core curriculum—covering comprehensive Chinese, as well as reading, listening, and writing—amounts to 20 hours per week. Additionally, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, there are elective courses available, such as *chengyu* (idioms), business Chinese, Chinese culture, and HSK preparation.

The linguistic environment is truly immersive. Qingdao is not as international as Shanghai, which means you are compelled to speak Chinese. Is it difficult to study here? It is certainly challenging at first, as classes are conducted entirely in Chinese; however, after a month, this format becomes quite natural. We’ve settled in and have even made some Chinese friends! We’d like to thank MarSU—and the Faculty of Foreign Languages ​​in particular—for this opportunity. It’s been a truly invaluable experience. And now, we’re off on a holiday to sunny Shanghai!»