Why HSE Is So Unique to Me?

Liu Jie shared her unique experiences and insights about her academic journey and the profound impact HSE has had on her personal and professional development.

With a background in Foreign Language Intercultural Teaching, Liu Jie's story is a testament to the transformative power of cross-cultural education and the opportunities it presents.

Could you briefly introduce yourself?

My name is Liu Jie. I am currently a first-year graduate student at HSE University, majoring in Foreign Languages and Intercultural Communication. I earned my undergraduate degree - Russian Language and Literature from Tianjin Foreign Studies University in China, which was a 2+2 exchange program. I spent two years studying in China and two years in Russia. This year is my third year in Russia. I spent the previous two years studying in Tambov as an exchange student. I discovered that I really enjoyed the learning and living atmosphere in Russia, which led me to continue my graduate studies here. I moved to Moscow last September and joined HSE.

You have already studied Russian as your major during your undergraduate years. What specifically motivated you to continue your studies at HSE in a field related to Russian translation and foreign language teaching?

Firstly, I believe there are some differences in the educational culture of Russian teaching between China and Russia. In China, during the first two years of my undergraduate studies, we had to start learning Russian from scratch, so our class teacher supervised us daily and assigned us a lot of homework, which was quite stressful. However, after coming to Russia, I found that Russian teachers are more relaxed, giving us space and opportunities to express our imagination and creativity, encouraging us to express our thoughts more. My personality is more inclined towards communication and interactive teaching, which aligns better with the Russian educational culture. Additionally, I heard that there are fewer Chinese students at HSE, so I came here with the idea of interacting with more international students.

You mentioned earlier that the Russian teaching at HSE is more flexible compared to what you experienced in China. Could you specify how this flexibility is manifested and what benefits it has brought you.

I believe that the nature of graduate studies is inherently different from undergraduate studies. During the undergraduate stage, we are more focused on absorbing knowledge. In contrast, graduate studies require more personal creation and independent learning and summarization. The first aspect of flexibility is in terms of time and space: I can choose the right time and state to study. In China, it's more about teachers supervising you to study during specific times and in designated classrooms. Secondly, the teaching scope at HSE is broader, and we have more options to choose from. After coming to Russia, experiencing different cultures has given me more ideas and perspectives, so I think the flexibility is mainly reflected in these two aspects.

You mentioned that you were an exchange student in Russia during the last two years of your undergraduate studies and then chose to continue your studies at HSE. What differences have you noticed between studying at HSE and your previous exchange experience?

My previous exchange was in Tambov. The academic atmosphere there was quite relaxed, and the teachers were not very strict, so the overall pressure was not that high. However, after coming to HSE, I found that the teachers here are more professional and rigorous, and the overall quality of the students around me is higher. Moreover, HSE students come from all over the world, which has broadened my horizons, so I think HSE is a very good choice.

During your life and studies at HSE, how have you delved deeper into the Russian culture and the entire environment of HSE, and what impact has it had on your personal growth?

I am truly grateful to HSE from the bottom of my heart. In this rigorous, competitive, and pressurized environment at HSE, I have been tempered and refined, which has given me more motivation to improve myself. There is an old Chinese saying that "There is always one mountain higher than another" After coming to Moscow, I have deeply realized this. The overall quality of the people around me is higher, which forces me to work harder. So, I think it has been a very good promotion for my personal growth.

As a student of a cross-cultural major, what efforts do you think HSE has made to promote cross-cultural communication and cooperation?

My major provides many opportunities to communicate with foreigners. At HSE, I have met many international classmates and friends and have had the opportunity to learn different languages. So, I think when a person masters multiple languages and is exposed to many language bodies, it helps one's language system and logical thinking system. Because in the process of learning different languages, we can feel different cultures, and under the influence of these cultures, we can more deeply experience these cultural differences, thus enriching and completing our own worldview and outlook on life.

You mentioned that as you continue to learn more languages, your perspective or view of the world has changed in some way. What are the differences?

I think there are many differences. First, I have been exposed to more cultures, which means I am less narrow-minded and have a broader vision. Therefore, I can be more tolerant of all kinds of people, nations, and countries, and I can be more tolerant of everything in the world. Whether it's culture or people's behavior, I choose to understand and respect. If I can integrate, I will try my best to blend into the local atmosphere and experience the local culture. I think it is a great help for my personal growth and life experience.

HSE also occasionally showcases cultural activities from various places, countries, and ethnic groups. Have you participated in these activities? What do you think is the purpose and significance of HSE providing such activities for students like us, and what impact has it had on you?

I have participated in many such activities. For example, I have been to the official student night organized by HSE. It was very shocking for me because I didn't have this experience in China. The HSE student night allows all HSE students to organize the entire official student event. Everyone enjoys music and dance in the atrium, and in general, everyone is very free and relaxed. This state is something I think is great, and I really like this youthful and self-releasing state. For me, it's a very wonderful experience, and I also like this experience very much. In addition, during this activity, I also met many international friends, including local Russians and friends from European and Asian countries. I think this is a very friendly activity for international students and helps us integrate into the local area. I hope this kind of activity can continue and that more of these activities can be held. In addition, I would like to make a small suggestion: I hope HSE can open more platforms to publicize these activities. Whether it's cultural activities or club activities, I hope to see the news of these activities in a timely manner, arrange my time reasonably, and thus have more opportunities for social interaction.

So far, in terms of both study and life at HSE, what do you think has been your greatest growth and gain?

The first is certainly academic growth. HSE teachers are very rigorous and highly educated, so they have given me a lot of knowledge. The second is that I have a clearer career plan. In fact, before I went to have my graduate study, I didn't have any life plan for my future. But after embarking on this path and going to graduate study at HSE, the students around me have been very motivated to plan for their own future development. Under the influence of this atmosphere, I have become more considerate of my own future and career planning.

As we conclude the insightful journey of Liu Jie, the title "Why HSE is So Unique to Me" resonates with the profound personal and academic transformations she has experienced. Her story underscores the unique educational environment that HSE provides, which has not only enriched her academic pursuits but also significantly influenced her worldview and approach to life. Liu Jie's experiences serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of seeking out educational opportunities that resonate with one's personal values and aspirations, and the transformative potential of embracing a diverse and inclusive academic community.

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Jiale Hou