Event Information
1. DATE : 1st November 2020 - 9th January 2021
2. VENUE: Online (Google Meet)
3. ORGANIZER: UTM Mandarin Club
Role / Position
Student (Participant)
Event Description
The event introduces students on basic Mandarin vocabulary, nouns, grammar, and greetings that are normally used in our daily life. The class was held every Monday night for 9 consecutive weeks and handled by the UTM Mandarin Club members. A lot of activities has been done together despite having online classes such as making Tik Tok videos and role-playing session.
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Graduate Attributes
Adaptability
Despite having the class online, there are some factors that I need to adapt to. Since it is not conducted academically such as registering for the course in MyUTM, it is harder to commit to the task given by the tutors. Hence, I am able to prioritize that the Mandarin exercises are vital to improve my understanding of the concept learn week in and week out.
Communication skills
When it comes to learning a new language, it is undeniable that I have improved my confidence in speaking basic Mandarin in public. I am able to interact with new people in the class as well as get to know their backgrounds as well. I have also managed to write, speak and listen clearly to Mandarin speakers although I am learning only the basic verbs.
Self-Reflection
What I learn from joining this event is the importance of having basic Mandarin knowledge. This is because, from my previous experiences, I always encounter people who would speak Mandarin firsthand because they assume that I have a Mandarin-looking person. Consequently, I learn that by at least knowing some basic greetings and simple writing of sentences, I was able to communicate with native Mandarin speakers. Since I am also doing volunteering activities, I have encountered Chinese people who struggle to speak English or Malay. Hence, I am able to understand what they are requesting and provide the help they need. Overall, I could that the classes held improved my confidence in speaking in public, especially in the newly learned language. I believe that I can continue to improve my Mandarin from time to time through exercises and language application with people in my daily surroundings.