(Interviewee: Sehwan Jang / Chinese language & Chinese Studies student)

Hi everyone! I'm Sehwan Jang from the Chinese Language and Literature department, a senior at KMU. Let me share with you my experience as an exchange student at Northeast Normal University, also known as Dongbei University. Established in 1946 in Changchun, Jilin. As I know, it's one of China's six Colleges of Education and ranks third among them. With over 25,300 Chinese students and nearly 1,500 international students, including about 1,000 international students studying here.

Changchun, where the university is located, is known for its short spring and summer seasons, which came from the nickname, "long spring" in the hopes of extending the beautiful springtime. It's super chilly here, with heavy snowfall. And yes, you guessed it right—Guo Bao Rou (sweet and sour pork) is one of the local foods! Around the campus, just a 5-minute walk from the main gate is Guilin Road. As evening falls, the night market bustles with people every day, offering a variety of Chinese cuisine.

While Chinese university classes share some similarities with those in Korea, the focus here is mainly on interactive and culture-oriented activities. Professors encourage students to present Chinese dramas or songs during class, and they also try to expose us to various cultures beyond just Chinese. I even had the chance to introduce Korean traditional liquor called Makgeolli during class, which was a great opportunity to share Korean culture with other international students. This communicative approach to learning has been immensely helpful in improving my language skills. There are also various activities providing a fantastic opportunity to deepen our understanding of Chinese culture.

Compared to other universities, Keimyung University offers a wide range of programs, and its exchange student program is well-structured. Despite the challenges posed by COVID-19, the increasing availability of exchange student programs presents a great opportunity. Personally, being an exchange student has allowed me to travel around China and study it in depth, while also engaging in direct conversations with locals. Thank you!