Beijing Foreign Studies University students leave for Pakistan to study Urdu at NUML

August 28,2018

A group of seven Chinese students from Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU)’s Urdu Department left for Pakistan on 28 August 2018 for a six-month training programme to further enhance their Urdu language proficiency.
“The students wereselected from a batch of 22 students currently studying Urdu at the BFSU and willjoin National University of Modern Language (NUML), Islamabad to improve theirUrdu language skills,” Head of Urdu Department, School of Asian and AfricanStudies, BSF University, Zhou Yuan said.
“This activity will provide a chance to our students to not only enhance the standard of Urdu language but also raise awareness about Pakistan, its people and culture,” shetold APP.
Zhou Yuan, who has adopted a Pakistani name ‘Nasreen’ informed that the BFSU had been teaching Urdu since 2007 and till now two batches of its students have completed their degrees.
She said the current batch of students had been studying Urdu for last two years, adding,“We have recently organized an Urdu Dubbing Competition to further promote theUrdu language, Pakistani culture and society among the Chinese students.”
Out of the graduated students, a few have got admissions on scholarships in foreign universities for higher education while some joined different companies.
Zhou Yuan said many Chinese students are learning Urdu at different universities and institutes around the country, including in Beijing.
The reasons for learning Urdu vary. Some have been romanced by Pakistan’s culture, food and landscape; others by the beauty of the language itself. Yet others see learning Urdu as a practical means of eventually working with Chinese companies carrying out different projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework in Pakistan.
To cope with the demand, several universities in Shanghai, Tianjian, Kunming, Urumqi and Inner Mongolia are considering setting up Urdu departments, Zhou Yuan said.
While sharing their sentiments prior to their departure, Wu Jiahao, who has adopted Pakistaniname Amber said that it was an honor to have the opportunity to study in NUMLwhich was one of the best language universities in Pakistan for one term,adding, “It will be an excellent opportunity for me to learn Urdu language andculture in NUML, and I’ll take a good use of the opportunity to become moreproficient in Urdu.”
During theperiod of studying in Pakistan, she would listen to the teachers carefully inthe class and finish her homework after school, and also hoped to take a gooduse of the library resources of NUML, read more books and newspaper in theoriginal Urdu as much as she could, and expand her vocabulary while learningknowledge and news.
“At the sametime, I think my oral speaking and listening will be greatly improved throughthe communication with local speakers in my daily life when studying abroad,”she added.
In addition, itwas also very important for her to have a better understanding of the socialculture and the local customs of Pakistan, enjoy the delicious Pakistani food andto make friends with Pakistani students and to understand each other’s cultureand jointly contribute to the long-term development of China-Pakistanfriendship.
Wang Jingjiuhaving an Urdu name Junaid said that he cherished this opportunity to further hisUrdu study in NUML very much and acknowledged it as a precious chance toimprove the level of his Urdu, at the same time enhanced the understanding ofPakistani culture and society.
“In my opinion,only if you go to Pakistan to learn Urdu, where Urdu is used as a dailylanguage, can you think and live like Pakistani do,” he added.
He hoped toimprove him oral Urdu while deepening the understanding of Pakistani culturevia this opportunity. “Considering that we go to Pakistan to work in thefuture, I think it will be a chance to adapt to the life there and get preparedfor the future work,” he added.
Another Chinesestudent, Zhu Liyuan who has known as Sehrish informed that she had beenlearning Urdu for the last two years.
“I schedule togo to NUML for further study this semester. During the time in Pakistan, I willtry to practice my oral language with local friends, read original Urdu booksand learn more about society and culture about Pakistan,” she added.
Lu Dongxinhaving a Pakistani name Sadaf hoped that she could gain some language skillsduring the period in NUML. Besides, she expected that she could experience alot regarding Pakistan culture, making new friends as well.
Despite a littlebit worried about the difference of food and culture, she firmly believed thatthis period of study in NUML would be an impressive and beautiful journeyduring her college life, and also, during her practical life.
In her shortcomments, Xu Yichen – Sahar said that since they had never been to Pakistanbefore, they were looking forward to studying in this country.
She hoped thatthey could study hard in Pakistan, learn more about Pakistani culture and makenew friends.
Chen Qiyuan,with Urdu name Musa, was very happy to be able to participate in this publicabroad study program saying “Living in a new environment can experience newcustoms, and enjoy unventilated folk culture. It can open up a personal visionand appreciate the purest and most authentic Urdu, learn the language further.”
He said at thesame time, he could also exercise his personal potential well. “In a foreigncountry, every problem must be solved by myself, and I can learn to be moreindependent.”
He said he waslooking forward to this experience of going abroad to improve his Urdu languagelevel and further develop his self-reliance, financial management andinterpersonal skills.
Fan Siyuan –Mehtab, hoped he could learn more about Pakistani culture and people’s life.