[Commentary] Because of learning Chinese, he gained career, love, and settled in China. Recently, Lin Qing, a 29-year-old foreign teacher of Thai language at Chengdu University, was still quite emotional when he recalled the starting point of his "new life".
[Explanation] Lin Qing is from Sisaket, Thailand. Influenced by her Chinese neighbors, she has been curious and longing for China since she was a child.
In 2011, Lin Qing was admitted to Khon Kaen University in Thailand, majoring in Chinese International Education, and started the road of Chinese language learning.
In 2012, Lin Qing flew to Chongqing to study and set foot on Chinese soil for the first time.
During the study period, Lin Qing met her lover because of learning Chinese.
After graduating with a master's degree, she settled in Chengdu with her husband and officially became a "Chengdu daughter-in-law".
It was this sweet experience that made Lin Qing realize that language is the starting point for the communication between Thai and Chinese people, and the increasingly close exchanges and cooperation between the two countries are based on the exchange of languages.
Lin Qing, who was born into a family of teachers, gradually developed the dream of becoming a Thai language teacher in China.
[Concurrent] Lin Qing, a foreign teacher of Thai language at Chengdu University
I just think that first of all, if my two countries can communicate, understand each other, and understand each other’s culture, it must be understood through language. If we don’t understand language, the two countries will not be able to communicate. A kind of beginning, you must first understand the language, and then you can understand the culture of Thailand, the way of life of that person.
[Explanation] At the beginning of 2020, Lin Qing joined Chengdu University through hard work and became a Thai foreign teacher.
In Lin Qing's language class, there are not only the production of Thai food, but also the experience of traditional Thai folk customs... The stylized courses make Lin Qing very popular among students.
[Concurrent] Lin Qing, a foreign teacher of Thai language at Chengdu University
First of all, as a Thai teacher, in fact, for me, I think that I have to be myself, and I want my students to learn Thai well, so it is not enough to learn the language well, he must learn the culture.
What can students learn in two 90-minute classes?
Can he learn some etiquette or culture from me, from the Thai people.
So as a teacher, I have to work very hard to teach them the etiquette culture of Thailand and let them understand deeply.
(In terms of) language, I let them imitate my (the) language, and it will be better to be like a native, a native speaker, like me (in the future).
[Explanation] Not only that, Lin Qing also joined the Sichuan Thailand Research Center, often helping the center translate some Thai documents; in her spare time, she also translated Chinese cultural knowledge, educational policies and other content for many schools in Thailand.
Lin Qing said bluntly that the trend of "Chinese fever" in Thailand is becoming more and more obvious.
[Concurrent] Lin Qing, a foreign teacher of Thai language at Chengdu University
Let's talk about the surrounding areas of Thailand first. Whether it is an airport or a large shopping mall, there is basically Chinese. In the past, there were only English and Thai, but now there is Chinese.
We used to have no Chinese in elementary and junior high schools, only high schools and colleges, but not anymore, we have to start learning from elementary school.
There is also a Confucius Institute that is also cooperating with the Thai government, and the Chinese language has become more and more "hot".
[Explanation] In Lin Qing's view, behind the "Chinese craze" in Thailand is actually the trust of the Thai people in the relationship between the two countries and the recognition of China's development opportunities.
With the closer cooperation between Thailand and China, more employment and entrepreneurial opportunities will be released.
As a beneficiary of learning Chinese, Lin Qing hopes that there will be more young people in the two countries and is willing to start understanding each other from the language.
Reported by Yang Yudi from Chengdu, Sichuan
Responsible editor: [Wang Kai]