A Safe Space for Heritage and Non-Heritage Mandarin Speakers  

Did you know that Mandarin Chinese has four distinct spoken tones? As part of Asian Heritage Month, UBC's Language Sciences program interviewed Qian Wang of our Chinese Studies Faculty on creating a safe space for both heritage and non-heritage learners to share similar stories and challenges.

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Sophie Rock is a 3rd year UBC International Relations student minoring in Korean Language and Culture. Currently, she is on a full-year exchange at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea.

How has living in Korea met with your expectations of life there? In what ways has it exceeded it? Anything you didn’t expect or have been particularly challenged by? (Good or bad!)

I made a really concentrated effort to come to Korea with absolutely no expectations - I didn’t want to be discouraged if it didn’t live up to some fantasy I had dreamt in my head. I think many students make the mistake of putting too much pressure on their exchange country to be perfect, and often get let down when they arrive. I also had the luxury of visiting Korea purely for vacation purposes several years ago - and through that experience, I was able to travel around, get a taste of the tourist life, and check most sightseeing boxes. Luckily, this allowed me to move to Korea with a fully “student” mind - that is, with the intention of really living and studying in Korea, rather than having to constantly check a to-do list of sights to see and things to do.

Though I prepared myself for the “busy” lifestyle I was warned of, nothing quite acclimates you to a country than to be thrown right into it. Life here is so much busier and faster-paced than what I am used to in Vancouver. While that inevitably comes with a little more stress and pressure, it also means that there is always something to do. From 6 am sunrise hikes to 2 am chicken delivery, it’s hard to be bored in this city.

Aside from adapting to the new pace of life, pushing outside of the foreigner bubble was also far more difficult than I had expected it to be. I had prepared myself for a month of exclusively foreigner-only hangouts and a lot of English speaking. But that month quickly extended into two and started to grow into a third. If you’re looking to avoid the foreigner bubble, you’ll need to prepare to push yourself often. Of course, it is scary and uncomfortable. But it is all part of the exchange experience! You’re living in this new country, so why not try out your language skills? You’ll inevitably make mistakes, but also, you’ll undoubtedly grow.

Likewise, what has been a highlight of your travels there so far?

For me, spending time with the friends I’ve made here consistently tops the list for best experiences. We don’t have to be doing anything special - but enjoying their company is always such a lovely time. Domestic students might think it’s funny, but having them show me their favorite cafes, parks, and neighborhoods is so special. As a foreigner, it’s difficult to avoid the most common and popular places. So having a local student suggest a place to visit has always yielded great experiences. Recently, I met a friend for dinner, and she suggested we bike along the Han River to our restaurant of choice. She knew the way effortlessly and guided me along a busy bike path during sunset. It is such a great memory, the views of Seoul all around me - along with some angry bikers who were not impressed with my relaxed speed.

Notably, it is undeniably difficult to make local friends while abroad. Many of my professors asked me how I was getting along and if I had made any domestic friends - mentioning that it is often a difficult barrier to break through. My suggestion is to find a space you enjoy being in and occupy it frequently. With enough consistency and a little courage on your part, you’re bound to find a genuine friend or two. Notably, it took me almost four months to solidify the friendships I have now, but I am so grateful for all the experiences those friends have given me!

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In this new series, Asian Studies faculty, staff, students and alumni are sharing their challenges and experiences in the transition to working online and teaching from home. We're adding new stories all the time!

Click the link below to find out the new skills, old habits, technological challenges and words of ancient wisdom that they've come to live by. If you would like to take part, please email sophie.gardner@ubc.ca

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