Life of Foreign Students In China

Yao Yujie

In recent years， due to globalization and expansion of economic， political and cultural relations between the countries in the world， there is increasing demand for specialists speaking several foreign languages. Now it has become a frequent phenomenon， when young people from different countries come to study in China. And also there are an increasing number of students going to study abroad. However， once in country， different culture， traditions and even language from their homeland， the foreigners face a number of challenges. These problems include the introduction to a new social environment， and the system of education in our universities， and the language barrier， and living conditions， as well as a number of other difficulties. Jack， a friend of mine， from a small city abroad， is now studying in China. We often talk about the feeling about learning in China， which later Ill talk in my article.

Since huge number of immigrants came to a new place， new living conditions have cause social-cultural shock associated with unusual realities. Foreigners have to adapt to the new regularity. Basically， the person， like Jack， receives such stress when moving to China from his native country where he was raised earlier. So when the culture is changed， the realities of some foreigners find themselves in a very difficult position. It is especially important to note that foreign students coming to study in Chinese universities， mostly very young people， many of them coming straight out of school， breaking away from the usual conditions of life， native people.

Nevertheless， great help in overcoming stress can provide supervisors， who are often teachers of Chinese as a foreign language； they not only help learn the language of a new environment， i.e. Chinese， but also conduct tours， talks， acquainting students with the new culture. Next， consider the difficulties encountered by foreign students in educational institutions.

This is daily life and living conditions， and the perception and acceptance of the language， and many other problems. For example， the issues of registration and knowledge of official documents， which are indispensable for living in foreign country.

First， this is a temporary visa that you should not forget to re-register， otherwise there is a threat of departure from the country.

Second， many other documents which students need always carry with themselves such as passport， temporary registration， student ID.

Third， in the student health insurance often does not include some types of medical care， for which you have to pay separately， and we need to know in advance in order not to face a difficult situation.

Following the issue of adaptation-socialization， a completely different level of life， problems in relationships with new people. And in this situation also can help Chinese teachers， who will explain the possible tactics of behavior when communicating with strangers and unfamiliar people， especially at the initial stage of staying in China. Jack says， arriving in a foreign country， away from their family， students in China are faced with a completely different lifestyle. We all know living conditions in the dormitories. The main problem arises when living in one room students with different interests. However， dormitory is a kind of life school. There you can find a lot of new friends， to learn to communicate with Chinese students. There is no doubt that all the difficulties in which students have experience concerning with education in foreign country， make them more powerful， purposeful and hardworking.

Life of foreign students may seem fun and carefree， and to study abroad also seems very simple. My friend， Jack， is a foreign student in China， and to some extent he can agree with these ideas. Indeed， to study in a foreign University is not so difficult. It is combined with various tours and dating with people from around the world. But do not forget that coming to China， every foreigner feels a cultural shock and has to overcome many difficulties.

Regardless of what discipline a student came to study， the first thing he will have to undergo is an annual （and in some cases semi-annual） course of the Chinese language. Training begins with the fact that a group of adults trying loudly and discordantly to repeat the syllables with the teacher. It looks ridiculous， but gives good results.

Dormitories for Chinese and foreign students are separated. Dormitories for foreign students are very comfortable and spacious with the best conditions that make us happy.

As a Chinese student， I am very pleased to welcome and even make friends with some foreign students studying in China. And of course they say they are very satisfied with the learning environment. They all love China and are thankful to Chinese government for giving such opportunities to them！

【作者簡介】Yao Yujie， Class 1516 of No. 1 Middle School in Dingcheng District Changde City。