Russian "Top Student": Embracing China and Sensing its Development

Wang Anna, a student from Russia, is currently studying International Chinese Language Education at Capital Normal University. When talking about her life as an international student and her impression of China, she eloquently expresses herself in fluent Chinese.

"Happy", "Comfortable" and "Abundant" in China

Anna describes her life in China with the words "happy", "comfortable", and "abundant".

"I feel 'happy' because I have clear goals and hope to become an excellent teacher in the future. At Capital Normal University, I can learn from them and move towards my dream; 'comfortable' because various services are very efficient, especially in terms of payment, which is very convenient; 'abundant' because I can interact with many international students from different countries."

Wang Anna, who is studying International Chinese Language Education at Capital Normal University 

The subway allows for easy travel, and quick payment makes shopping more convenient... Anna finds it hard to imagine that in China, everything can be done with just a mobile phone.

"I've found that one motivation for many Russians learning Chinese is China's online shopping, because it's so convenient. Russia is just starting to develop such service platforms. There are several platforms in Russia, but maybe not as many products, and the delivery speed is not as fast as in China."

China in the Eyes of Russian Youth

Having been in China for only two years, Anna has been studying Chinese for over eight years. As a "top student", she is also working as a Chinese language teacher in Russia while studying Chinese. She said that the impression of China in the eyes of Russian youth is changing.

"For example, a few years ago when I taught Russian children, when China was mentioned, they would talk about 'made in China', Chinese characters, and the very spicy Sichuan cuisine... That's what they associated with China. But now they think of China's development, China's 5G, Chinese smartphones, and various Chinese brands... In the eyes of Russian youth, China is a highly developed country."

The impression of China goes far beyond this. Anna says that in her leisure time, she often goes for walks in nearby parks. There, Chinese elderly people gather to sing and dance, full of vitality and joy.

"In Russia, there isn't such a lively atmosphere. Elderly people usually stay at home, reading and such, not gathering together much. So, after seeing such scenes, we international students also go out more to communicate with the elderly. Those elderly people love chatting with us, telling us about the erhu they're playing, asking if we want to learn, or dancing together, and so on."

In early spring, Anna enjoys flowers at Yuyuantan Park

What moves her is not just the "square-dancing grannies", but also the Chinese teachers who dedicate themselves to rural education. She remembers reading an article about Chinese teachers volunteering to teach in poor mountainous areas, which deeply touched her. Such stories have further strengthened her determination to devote herself to the field of education.

"It's about an elderly person engaged in education in rural areas. She's a teacher who has worked very hard for many years in impoverished areas, preparing all her lessons with great care. It's because of her that those children are able to attend better schools. This made me realize the determination of the Chinese people to strive for progress and development."

Experiencing China's Vitality in New Professions

Anna has noticed that as China's economy continues to move towards high-quality development, new professions are emerging one after another. These new professions provide more choices for Chinese youth to realize their own value, reflecting their pursuit and yearning for a better life. "For example, internet anchors, dog trainers, and so on... When I hear about these new professions, I find them very interesting. The emergence of new professions makes me feel China is particularly vibrant."

Anna participates in the 2023 "International Chinese Language Day" event organized by CLEC

Anna says that she also has a 12-year-old brother who plans to come to China to study in the future. The vibrant and progressive China continuously attracts foreign students like Anna. She wishes these young people to come to China themselves, sensing the pulse of China's development.