Students from the People's Republic of China are completing their first semester of Master's studies at the Department of Journalism and Philology of the Faculty FPSC of SumDU.
The Master's degree in Journalism (group ZhT.m-32an) is taught in a foreign language, and to facilitate the integration process, Chinese students are allowed to take intensive Ukrainian language courses in parallel with their studies of the main program disciplines.
Teachers lucky enough to work with Chinese students unanimously express their admiration for the student's creativity and responsibility.
"Working with international students is an enriching experience. Many things impress me about working with them: their respect for the teacher, which is felt in their polite manner of addressing the teacher; their responsibility in preparing practical assignments; their genuine interest in journalism; the peculiarity of their professional communication, etc. I hope our cooperation will bring productive results," says Anna Chernysh, senior lecturer at the Department of Journalism and Philology.
Nataliia Pylypenko — Frytsak, a lecturer at the Department of Language Training for Foreign Citizens of the Faculty FPSC of SumDU, who teaches Ukrainian to Chinese students, says that this subject is not easy for today's students, as Ukrainian and Chinese belong to different language systems. However, the students are committed to daily hard work, thoughtful completion of tasks, and active creative thinking. Natalia also emphasized that the group has a friendly atmosphere, with students helping each other, discussing complex issues in phonetics, grammar, and morphology, and comparing the laws of Ukrainian with those of their native language. Despite the difficulties, Chinese students enjoy learning Ukrainian: today, they can not only read but also translate Ukrainian texts, understand their meaning, answer questions, make dialogues, participate in small talk, and talk about themselves and their families.
And here is what the Chinese students themselves think about studying at the Department of Journalism and Philology of the Faculty FPSC of SumDU:
"First of all, I was very attracted by the quality of teaching and the academic atmosphere of Sumy State University. The teachers are amazingly knowledgeable and talented; every day is full of challenges and surprises. Studying in Sumy is like a fantastic journey for me! It's like entering a new world full of wisdom and creativity. I decided to study for a Master's degree in Journalism because I am curious and enthusiastic about the media field. I want to learn about different stories and more about the world by studying journalism. Journalism is one of the most important fields in modern society. It can convey information promptly, manage public opinion, and influence the state of society. With China's rapid development, its international influence continues to grow, and the demand for international news is also increasing. Therefore, the prospects for developing the journalism industry are excellent."
I believe that the experience of studying at the Department of Journalism and Philology of the Faculty FPSC of SumDU will be an unforgettable journey for me, will allow me to expand my international outlook and intercultural communication skills, and build a solid foundation for future academic and career development. I hope to become an exemplary scientist or professional and contribute to society," notes Li Ying, a student.
Student Hu Yawei is convinced: "The Master's program in "Journalism" at Sumy State University has a high academic reputation and a team of experienced, professional, and respected teachers who can provide students with quality education and training." Hu talks about his experience of studying at the SumDU:
"Although we can only study online now for obvious reasons, each teacher is very attentive to teaching specialized knowledge and willing to answer our questions, so this experience is special for me, as well as learning Ukrainian from scratch. Specialized teaching in pure English is another huge challenge for me, but I am confident that I will overcome these difficulties and that it will be a great learning journey."
"Working with foreign students studying journalism in Sumy is our first experience and a great challenge. We have prepared for this, accepted this challenge, and are working successfully. The professionalism of the department's teaching staff gives us hope for the successful implementation of international journalism education in Sumy," admits Volodymyr SADIVNYCHYI, Head of the Department of Journalism and Philology at the Faculty FPSC of SumDU.
Olha Yakovenko, postgraduate student of the Department of Journalism and Philology.
