Listen to this article17-year-old LE KHANH LINH （黎庆灵） is a high school student at the Tan An High School in Hai Phong City, Hai Phong Province, Vietnam. She signed up for the 2023 “Chinese Bridge” online group project on “Traditional Chinese Medicine Culture and Health Preservation.” This is her fourth time participating in the Chinese Bridge program. She is enthusiastic and outgoing, always willing to share her experiences, and she recommends opportunities like the Chinese Bridge program to fellow Chinese language enthusiasts in Vietnam. She believes that the Chinese Bridge program has improved her spoken language skills, saying, “Teacher Li taught us tone changes, which I find very useful. It allows me to speak Chinese more authentically.” LE KHANH LINH is graduating from high school next year, and when asked about her ideal university, she replied shyly but firmly, “I want to study in China.” She openly admits that her efforts to find various opportunities to learn Chinese are aimed at ensuring a smoother application process for studying in China next year.
The Roots of Her Dream to Study in China
The earliest way LE KHANH LINH learned about China was through news broadcasts on television. Although she can’t remember the content of the news, the word “China” quietly entered her heart. As she grew older, she came into contact with more information about China, and her impressions of China gradually took shape in her mind. For example, she learned that Chinese people highly value traditional festivals, such as the Spring Festival when hundreds of millions of Chinese people travel home to reunite with their families; Tomb Sweeping Festival, a day for honoring ancestors; and the Dragon Boat Festival with customs like making Zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) and dragon boat races, all to commemorate a patriotic poet. Reflecting on her knowledge of Chinese traditions, LE KHANH LINH said, “Understanding the origins and customs of traditional festivals helps me better appreciate the essence of Chinese culture.”
In addition to news, LE KHANH LINH enjoys watching Chinese TV dramas and believes that watching TV dramas is a “shortcut” to learning Chinese. The first Chinese TV drama she watched was the campus youth idol drama “Put Your Head on My Shoulder,” which brought her many emotions and inspired her to seek out more high-quality Chinese TV dramas to enjoy. When asked about her favorite Chinese TV drama, LE KHANH LINH mentioned the classic 1986 version of “Journey to the West.” She explained, “The philosophy conveyed in the classic story is the main reason it became a classic. But my understanding is relatively shallow. The perseverance of the master and disciples in overcoming hardships and obtaining the true scriptures is not as easy as it appears in TV dramas. This spirit is something I need to learn in life and in my studies.”
The more LE KHANH LINH learns about China, the more she is drawn to its rich and profound culture. Her dream of studying in China has taken root and is starting to sprout. She has read the Four Great Classical Novels and many outstanding Chinese literary works. Her favorite is the motivational book “999 Letters to Myself,” where the author shares life wisdom through letters. LE KHANH LINH resonates with it and finds strength and inspiration. Despite being only 17 years old, she has a clear goal, saying, “I love Chinese culture very much, and my dream major is Chinese characters or Chinese culture. If I want to learn real Chinese, my best choice is to study in China.” When she talks about her dreams, her eyes sparkle with unwavering determination.
Interest as the Catalyst, Chinese as the Companion
When planning her academic development, LE KHANH LINH incorporated her dream of studying in China into her future plans. Through research, she learned that Chinese universities offer excellent learning environments, advanced teaching equipment, and opportunities to broaden students’ horizons. They also provide many practical opportunities, which is why she has a strong desire to experience the academic atmosphere at Chinese universities. LE KHANH LINH has developed a detailed study plan for her “Chinese study abroad dream.” She participates in Chinese language courses arranged by her school and has already passed the HSK Level 3 exam. She is currently preparing for higher-level exams. She said, “Compared to school exams, the HSK is more challenging, and I’ve been feeling a bit stressed lately. But I will review regularly, constantly reinforce my knowledge, and approach the exams with careful consideration, completing them meticulously.” She also has her own Chinese language learning plan, such as learning 35 new Chinese words every day and reviewing them the next day while learning 35 new words, even though it can be tiring. This method is effective for her and encourages her to persevere.
As a Vietnamese student facing the college entrance examination, LE KHANH LINH ’s daily life is busy and structured. She typically goes to school in the morning for classes, in the afternoon, she follows her schedule to study at school, and during her free time, she seizes the opportunity to improve her Chinese language skills. She regularly makes time to participate in the school’s Chinese club, where she works and learns diligently.
“This club is organized jointly by the school and a local Chinese center, primarily to teach students Chinese knowledge and enhance their Chinese language proficiency,” she says. In addition to this, LE KHANH LINH is also involved in a project called “The Beauty of China” (TBC), a non-profit initiative initiated by Vietnamese students. The project has been running for over a month, and currently has over 2000 followers. “TBC hopes to share Chinese culture so that everyone can learn and shape their own future,” she explains. TBC also provides guidance for those interested in studying in China, which is one of the main reasons she continues to be actively involved in the project.
Learning Chinese is not an easy task, but during this time, LE KHANH LINH has witnessed China’s rapid development and felt the infinite charm of Chinese culture. “Although China and Vietnam are thousands of miles apart, the Chinese language has connected me closely to China and given wings to my dreams. I hope in the future I can become a bridge for cultural exchange, sharing what I have seen, learned, and felt with more young people in Vietnam, and realize my dream of mastering Chinese,” she says. LE KHANH LINH has made a promise with her Chinese teachers to meet in China next year and personally experience the beauty of China.
