Leila Worman
May 21, 2023
Preparing my application materials while simultaneously taking seven classes and studying for my capstone exams was tough at times, but a solid work ethic and persistence proved incredibly helpful.
Admittedly, my decision to start studying Chinese was a little impulsive. I knew that I needed to fulfill a language requirement, but felt it would be nice to be close to fluency by the time I graduated. I stumbled across the website for Chinese Flagship, inquired about the program, and joined shortly thereafter. Before joining, I was already pursuing another major and felt that the program would complement that major and increase the number of future job prospects.
I differ from a few of my classmates in that I did not start studying Chinese until I joined Flagship. Before studying CHN 101 and 102 over the summer, I could not read, speak, or write Mandarin. I had watched a few period dramas but did not retain anything while watching them. This made starting very intimidating. I remember being incredibly nervous at the start of the semester but was surprised at how manageable the coursework was and how accommodating my teachers were. This trend continued from my beginner-level Chinese courses to CHN486. I am incredibly fortunate to have been taught by several incredibly patient and understanding teachers. Without them, I certainly would not be anywhere near where I am today.
At this point, I have only studied Chinese for a year and a half, so I don’t feel as though I’m qualified to give advice. What I can say to students starting with no prior experience is that repetition and patience are crucial. Without these things, you’ll be unable to retain anything. This is especially true when it comes to handwriting characters. It may be troublesome at first, but with practice, you will see results. I frequently use Quizlet in combination with handwriting characters whenever I receive a new set of vocabulary words. This practice became especially important when I took CHN 301 and 302 over the summer in Taiwan. Our teacher had daily vocab quizzes during which we had to handwrite characters after our teacher randomly read a few from our vocab list.
Study methods aside, I firmly believe that a little persistence will go a long way. When encountering difficult or unfamiliar material, don’t stress and slowly work your way through it. This goes not only for your Chinese classes but for your eventual Capstone Application. Preparing my application materials while simultaneously taking seven classes and studying for my capstone exams was tough at times, but a solid work ethic and persistence proved incredibly helpful.
I hope that while I am abroad, I’ll see a significant increase in my Mandarin proficiency. While my post-graduation plans are not set in stone, I do know that I would like to work somewhere where Chinese is widely spoken. To function in that sort of environment, however, I need to put effort into becoming fluent. I hope that this upcoming year provides me with the opportunity to do just that. Aside from the educational reasons behind my applying for Capstone, I am also looking forward to reuniting with old friends and having the opportunity to travel to some of my favorite places in Taiwan.
Leila is a rising Senior at UHM double majoring in Political Science and Chinese Flagship who has been accepted to attend the Taiwan Capstone this Fall 2023-Spring 2024. Leila began studying Chinese as an absolute beginner in the Summer of her Freshman Year less than two years ago.
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