Home > Profile > Institutions > Faculties  > Talent Cultivation > Teaching and Scientific Research > International Exchanges > Campus Culture 
 
Position: Home>>>News>>>News>>>Content
Overcoming All Obstacles and Staying True to the Original Aspiration
Jun 11, 2019 01:40 PM  

Wu Jing, a French major who graduated in 2008 from the School of Western Languages in Jilin International Studies University (JISU), now works as a consultant for overseas study programs in Changchun Golden Arrow Educational Information Consulting Service Co., Ltd. She used to be a translator and interpreter of French in the Congo-Brazzaville office affiliated with the Beijing Construction Engineering Group in charge of escort interpreting for business meetings with local authorities there.

When beginning to learn French, Wu Jing was afraid of communicating in French due to a lack of self-confidence. At that time, her French foreign teacher was an amiable elder lady adored by her students as “Lao Tai-Tai” in Chinese. Once at an optical store nearby, Wu accidentally encountered her foreign teacher, who was glad to see Wu because there was trouble in conversations between her and a salesman.

Wu, as a freshman, decided to speak with her teacher in English instead of French because she was unsure of how to deliver complete French sentences after only two months of study. However, after purchasing the glasses, the lady said, “Why not try to speak in French? Even only one French word uttered could still be seen as a success of my teaching. And, your choice of English interpreting manifests a failure of my teaching and that the two months of studying French was of little avail for you.” Wu was ashamed of her timidity. Thereafter, she always remembered her French teacher’s words when she met with difficulty. Since then, she has adjusted her mindset and attempted to always try, never giving up whether in success or defeat.

Wu was a member of the Youth League Committee of the Department of French in her freshman year. She grew to be Director and Secretary-General in her junior year. She organized all the activities related to her department amid the 3-year working period as a student leader. She also did part-time jobs on the weekends apart from daily studies and student-related work schedules. She gained an internship in the Jilin University Study Abroad Consulting Service Center in her senior year. She became a French teacher from an assistant of spoken French, making arduous efforts and achieving her value. She summarized her university life at JISU as “Happiness, Pragmatism and Luck.”

Just like an orchid enduring hardship of the changing seasons, Wu, a once novice turned confident interpreter and consultant, continuously suck the nutrients from the earth and developed herself into blossoms with a sweet fragrance, managing all the work-related things in good order.

In 2008 after graduation, Wu began working as a French interpreter in Congo-Brazzaville, Africa. She coincided with an obstacle on her first day of work. As the only interpreter among the 10-person team, she didn’t understand when asked by a clerk to show an invitation card in the customs of Congo-Brazzaville, because of local accents. She kept calm and engaged in communicating with the customs clerks, avoiding causing panic among other team members. Eventually, a veteran interpreter assisted Wu to deal with the issue. Yet, the interpreter, scornfully, said to Wu, “Why didn’t you understand about the Invitation after learning French for so many years?”

Wu constantly strived to raise her capability of on-spot interpreting to demonstrate her performance. She luckily met with a kind and lettered local driver who liked to help Wu practice spoken French. Then, she persisted in exercising a one-hour conversation with him every day for 3 consecutive months.

In 2008, at a time when the branch office in the Democratic Republic of Congo was still at its initial stage, Wu Jin was overloaded with work. She was responsible for project negotiations in the early stages and also will work as translator for the supervisory board when the project gets underway. She is also responsible for the settlement of the construction payment and the acceptance of the project, as well as quality assurance of the final phase. Additionally, she had to deal with a lot of minor duties, such as customs clearance of construction materials and living supplies, payroll, and project settlement.

She often tells herself that everything will work out as long as you work hard. One time, Wu was the interpreter in a meeting between the General Manager and the President of the Congo when accepting the project. It is also worth noting that the General Manager prefers using lines from classical poetry when he talks with others, since he likes ancient poetry so much. On the day, the Ambassador and Counselors of the Chinese embassy in Congo also attended the meeting. So Wu read and recited poems, translating them into French for several days. Turning pressure into motivation is her attitude when facing difficulties.

After returning to Changchun, she worked as a consultant in an overseas-study agency – Changchun Jinshi. Working in a new field is always a challenge. What’s more, the work as an overseas-study consultant covers many fields. In order to improve her work efficiency and her thirst for knowledge, Wu takes her work as a process of learning. Learning about the differences between Chinese and foreign education and cultures, and communicating with parents and children of all kinds are all fun for Wu Jing. She once said, “The dream will come true only through accumulated effort. No pain, no gain.”

Reflecting back on the days when she studied at JISU, she was deeply touched. Especially after graduation, she benefited a lot from the cultivation she earned here. As JISU focuses on cultivating practical talents, professional skills, and morality, Wu realized the importance of career planning through systematic courses given in her first year of college. Therefore, she never felt trapped when confronted with her decision for a career.          

“JISU has a very good learning atmosphere,” Wu said. This has a great impact on students. JISU has always been committed to cultivating high-level foreign affairs talents. Therefore, the school attaches great importance to the teaching staff. Wu expressed that everyone at JISU, professors and faculty members, wholeheartedly worked with due diligence and consideration for the students. Due to the strict requirements of teachers, Wu Jing insisted on reciting words and texts every day during her college years. All of these things have laid a good foundation for her work in society.

Wu said, “The students are expected to work hard to learn professional knowledge and master various required skills. In order to have the confidence to face the unknown challenges, they have to improve their comprehensive ability. In addition, taking part in various activities, such as internships and part-time jobs, can improve the students’ social skills and enrich their experience.” She hopes that the junior students cherish everything provided by JISU, and she wishes a bright future for JISU. As for herself, she will love life as always and forever stay true to who she is.

 

Close Window
Related Articles

读取内容中,请等待...
 
Copyright 2017 by Jilin International Studies University. All Rights Reserved. Record No: Ji ICP 19002357.