A team from Shanghai International Studies University, or SISU, secured second place in the international student category in the 7th Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press Cup National College Students' Intercultural Competence Contest.

For the three team members – Russian student Polina Ianchenko, German student Giulia Maria Urbani Pinto, and Vietnamese student Thi Phuong Phan – the competition represented a significant milestone on their journey to studying abroad. Here are their stories:

Polina Ianchenko said her connection with China began with her grandfather, a professor who lectured in the country during the 1990s and who frequently shared stories about China.

As she grew older, Ianchenko attended an international high school funded by Chinese investment, where she had the opportunity to embark on her first study tour in China, igniting her dream of becoming a translator.

During her undergraduate studies, she majored in Chinese and in 2019 furthered her studies in Beijing. On the advice of a senior, she pursued a master's degree in interpreting at SISU. She was particularly impressed by SISU professors' fluency in Russian during her graduate school interview, initially mistaking them for native Russians.

Before learning Chinese, Giulia Maria Urbani Pinto was already proficient in English, French, and Spanish. She developed a keen interest in Chinese during her high school years and began teaching herself at home.

After graduating, she chose China as her destination to pursue an au pair role during her gap year and moved to Shanghai.

There, she systematically studied Chinese while experiencing the cultural differences between China and Germany. In the contest, she was responsible for content related to Chinese culture, believing that cultural differences are not just a concept but something she has lived through during her years of studying abroad.

Thi Phuong Phan originally dreamed of becoming a police officer but was unable to fulfill this dream due to not meeting the height requirement.

Influenced by friends, she enrolled in a Chinese language program, starting from scratch. During her first year, she formed friendships with a group of exchange students from Guangxi University in China, which quickly enhanced her spoken Chinese skills.

After graduation, she gained extensive practical experience in Chinese, including providing simultaneous interpretations for government officials and helping Vietnamese farmers enter the Chinese market.

In September 2024, she became a graduate student in the International Chinese Education program and participated in the contest, viewing it as a gift to her academic journey.

Source: Official WeChat account of SISU Office of International Student Affairs at "Study_in_SISU"