A number of Bryn Mawr College students applied for and received funding to conduct research projects overseas this summer through the Global Bryn Mawr Student Fellowship. Those students were asked to share their experiences through words and images.
Name: Blossom Jeong
Class Year: 2020
Major: Mathematics, Comparative Literature
Overseas study or project: Princeton in Beijing, a summer Chinese language study program
Overseas location: Beijing, China
Q. What led you to apply for this overseas study or project?
A: I’ve been studying Chinese for more than five years now, but I always felt that my listening/speaking skills still had room for improvement. Throughout my study I have never had an opportunity to learn Chinese in a total immersion setting, and I felt that Princeton in Beijing, notorious as it is for academic rigor, would be apt in improving my conversation skills. As I am also minoring in Chinese language here at Bryn Mawr, extra credits over the summer from this prestigious program sounded very tempting and worthwhile.
Q. What did you do while on your overseas study or project?
A: We had four hours of lectures every day from Monday to Thursday from 8 a.m. to noon, and then a one-to-one conversation class in the afternoon for an hour every day. There was tons of homework, debates and presentations to prepare for, new passages to read, and exams every Friday. Every student participating in the program had to sign the Language Pledge, which meant that we were always speaking Chinese everywhere, even in our dorm rooms with our roommates (the exception being when calling friends/family back home). We also had “Chinese Table” twice a week, where one instructor would be matched with two or three students to have lunch in local restaurants. There were various cultural activities throughout the program; for example, a weekend trip to Datong, an orchestra performance at the National Center for the Performing Arts, “Beijing Night,” etc. I was learning about Chinese language and culture not only through textbooks but also through the people and the environment around me.
"Reconsider your comfort zones. Going overseas can sound intimidating, but the experience really offers a new perspective."
Q. What did you learn that surprised you?
A: I learned that speaking out in a foreign language isn’t so hard. One time I was out on the street with my classmate and we really wanted to go have bubble tea, but we had no idea where to go. So I just asked a random person on the road. This was at the beginning of the program — my Chinese pronunciation was probably horrible, but I asked anyway. It was that easy. And believe it or not, we became friends with that random person on the road. We went out to eat and watched a movie together. No great skill is necessary to make friends on the road, just a big smile.
Q. What was your favorite part of this experience?
A: My favorite part of this experience was the one-to-one conversation class every day in the afternoon. Each day it would be with a different instructor, and most of the times I would talk about topics of my own liking, ranging from my Bryn Mawr life to K-pop idol groups. As I was interacting fully with a native Chinese speaker for that one hour, I really felt like my Chinese conversation skills were improving rapidly, and the process was actually fun! I was getting to know all my instructors in person, and as they were not much older than I was, they felt like friends rather than instructors. I think the conversation classes in the afternoon, along with the Language Pledge, really pushed me out of my comfort zone and encouraged me to speak out in Chinese. Another component of the program that really appealed to me was the Chinese Table every week. Of course, Chinese food can never go wrong; it was just really nice eating out with your classmates and an instructor in small groups.
Q. What advice or guidance would you offer future students?
A: Reconsider your comfort zones. Going overseas can sound intimidating, but the experience really offers a new perspective. This summer I really enjoyed discussing the trade war, Chinese socialism, and various other social problems with my classmates in Chinese. You may not have the opportunity like this, to explore and learn, later on in your life, and I want to cherish this experience. And if you are an avid Chinese learner and are looking for a summer language program, consider Princeton in Beijing! It is one of the most prestigious programs in the Chinese language, and totally worthwhile.
Through the Global Bryn Mawr Student Fellowship, established by the Overseas Study and Engagement Committee at Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr students can apply for funding of up to $1,500 to support overseas-related travel in the form of study abroad, internships, or organization-led projects. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.