Many international students come to China with the hope of one day working at businesses here. However, without Chinese workplace vocabulary and a real understanding of the country’s corporate culture, securing – and later succeeding in – such a role is difficult.
In Suzhou-based Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU), Business Chinese module helps fill those gaps, say students who have taken the module.
Mastering business Mandarin
Learning how to speak with Chinese businesspeople in practical scenarios is one key benefit for students.
“Unlike other Chinese courses that focus on daily conversation, our Business Chinese prioritises real-world application, which will help me use these skills in both professional and real-life settings,” says Ephraim Tjiunardi, a Year Four BEng Information and Computing Science student from Indonesia.
Ephraim Tjiunardi
For a job fair held at XJTLU, students were assigned to prepare CVs in Mandarin and talk with at least three potential employers. While this assignment seemed daunting at first, Tjiunardi says the module work prepared him well.
“The practice we had in class, particularly job interview vocabulary, boosted my confidence and allowed me to apply my skills in a real-world scenario,” Tjiunardi says.
Yuseon Lee, a Year Four student from South Korea, credits the module for helping her land multiple interviews at the job fair.
“We learned specialised Chinese expressions for business, like introducing academic backgrounds or answering interview questions. This knowledge made me more confident when communicating with employers at the job fair,” says Lee, who is studying BA International Business with a Language.
Yuseon Lee (second from right) shares her experience of learning in China at the China International Import Expo
Ulzii-Uchral Batbayar, a 2024 XJTLU graduate from Mongolia who is now employed at a company in Suzhou, says what she learned in the module last year supports her work.
“Learning the formal Chinese vocabulary and gaining some understanding of the business environment from the Business Chinese module helped me adapt to working in China,” she says. “It was useful, especially for formal communication in the working environment.”
XJTLU graduate Ulzii-Uchral Batbayar (right), recruits XJTLU students for internships at her company in China at a job fair
Local enterprise excursions
The module’s field trips to local businesses are another invaluable part of the learning experience, students say.
Lee’s class visited APTIV (Suzhou Campus), a global automotive technology company. Students toured their factory, heard a presentation about the company’s global business services and sustainability strategies, and spoke in Mandarin with company representatives.
Lee (right) speaks with Aptiv representatives in Mandarin
“The company tour gave me a firsthand look at how a global company operates in China, and the conversation with the Aptiv representative was a valuable opportunity to practice my Chinese in a professional setting,” Lee says.
“Since I plan to intern in China after graduation, this activity helped me understand Chinese corporate culture and workplace dynamics, preparing me better for future opportunities.”
A company representative (left) tells international students about the management system for Aptiv’s Suzhou factory
An Aptiv representative (left) communicates in Mandarin with international students
Ting Wen (first from left), Yuseon Lee(second from left), and Ephraim Tjiunardi(second from right) with other international students a job fair held at XJTLU
According to Ting Wen, the lecturer for the Business Chinese module at XJTLU’s School of Languages, this immersive approach is an important strategy. Therefore, she explains, she collaborates closely with XJTLU’s Career Centre to arrange more opportunities for firsthand interactions.
“Many of our final-year international students are at a crossroads – deciding between entering the workforce or pursuing further studies,” she says. “These fieldwork activities are designed to meet their unique needs, offering practical experience in real-world Chinese business setting.”
Lee, the student from South Korea, appears to have received just what Wen worked to deliver.
“I gained a deeper understanding of Chinese corporate culture and workplace etiquette, and it has given me more confidence in the possibilities of developing my career in China,” she says.
