Get to know our Students at the Contemporary China Studies Program!

Here an interview with Ada Wozniak from Poland, who joined the program in 2016:

Thank you for agreeing to this interview! Why don’t you just start off with your name your background and a little bit about yourself?

My name is Ada Wozniak. I am from Poland, I came here to do my masters in Contemporary Chinese Studies. When I was doing my bachelors in Business and Diplomacy in Asia, my focus was mostly on Japan, Korea and China, so now here I am in China.

You did your undergrad in Poland?

Yes and during my study in Poland I came to Tianjin for a semester of language course.

So this is your second time in China?

Actually it's my third time, because last year during summer holiday, I was here working in the Polish Embassy.

Wow, so how did your interest in China begin?

I think I began in junior high school when I started watching Chinese dramas, then teachers would teach us about Chinese culture and history. Now due to the growing economic power of China I decided to come here.

What got you interested in this program specifically?

I was thinking since I already speak good Chinese I would go for an English speaking program. I wanted something broader than just international relations. I had a Chinese friend who was studying in Renmin University and she told me they created this program for international students.

Are you in your first or second year? Do you already have plans for after graduation?

I’m in my first year. After graduation I plan to stay in China for the next few years and work here. I want to further deepen my experience in China and to perfect my Chinese. Potentially becoming a translator, I see my self in diplomacy perhaps in the Embassy.

How do you feel the Contemporary China Studies Program has helped you so far along your path?

I learned that many of our professors have extensive networks in the field of IR (eg with diplomats, etc), so gaining access to these connections through the program is highly useful.

What sort of classes do you find interesting in in the program?

For me personally, at this moment, that would be anything relating to politics as well as China's history.

Have you found the professors and staff helpful?

Much more than I’d expected, since during my undergrad you couldn’t really count on anyone to help. Here, anytime you need something, you can just go to office and ask for help. The program is not one of those mass-programs with hundreds of students. It's a small team and they support us students wherever they can.

Throughout the program so far, are there a lot of trips or guest lectures?

Yes! Last (first) semester we had a lecture series type course, with guest lectures every week. This (second) semester the guest lectures are a little less and we have field trips.

What did you do on those trips?

The first one was just of Beijing, to non-touristy locations, for us to experience a little something different from the mega city environment. The second was to Datong Telecom company.

Would you recommend this program to others?

Yes I would! Especially for people who have a love toward China but do not yet speak Chinese well. This program allows you to study in English while working on your Chinese.

[fusion_button link="http://chinastudies.education/students/job-market-candidates/" title="" target="_self" alignment="" modal="" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" class="" id="" color="default" button_gradient_top_color="" button_gradient_bottom_color="" button_gradient_top_color_hover="" button_gradient_bottom_color_hover="" accent_color="" accent_hover_color="" type="" bevel_color="" border_width="" size="" stretch="default" shape="" icon="fa-graduation-cap" icon_position="left" icon_divider="no" animation_type="" animation_direction="left" animation_speed="0.3" animation_offset=""]Meet some more current students and recent graduates[/fusion_button]