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0Why do foreign students come to China to learn Chinese? And what keeps them motivated even at the advanced HSK 6 level?
In this episode, host Daisy sits down with two dedicated Chinese Surfing students – Jenny (from Luxembourg) and Raina (from Indonesia) – who are both studying HSK 6. They share their personal journeys learning Chinese, their honest thoughts on living in Hangzhou, and their most awkward (and proudest) Chinese language moments.
You’ll hear:
What it’s really like to live and study Chinese in Hangzhou 🌿
The biggest challenges when coming back to Chinese after a long break👀
A hilarious story about misusing a word😂
A proud moment using the idiom with family😄
Practical study tips: how to remember new vocabulary fast💡
If you’re considering an intensive class in Hangzhou, a summer camp in Hangzhou, or HSK preparation in Hangzhou, this episode is for you.
🎧 Listen now and discover why Hangzhou is the perfect place to learn Chinese!
🎧 Timestamps & Key Takeaways
– Opening & Guest Introductions
Daisy welcomes Jenny (from Luxembourg) and Raina (from Indonesia). Both have been studying at Chinese Surfing for over two years and are currently taking HSK6 group classes.
– What Do You Think of Hangzhou?
Jenny shares her first impression: West Lake is beautiful, but the city feels similar to other big Chinese cities. After living here longer, she appreciates Hangzhou’s greenery – you can quickly get to nature for a walk or a small hike. The only downside? Summer is extremely hot and lasts a long time.
Raina agrees: she really enjoys Hangzhou’s绿化 (greenery) and environment.
📖 Keywords:
绿化 (lǜhuà) – greenery / landscaping
环境 (huánjìng) – environment
– Your Chinese Learning Background
Raina started learning Chinese in kindergarten and continued through high school – then took a 10-year break. When she came back, her Chinese had dropped to HSK 3 level. She restarted at Beijing Language and Culture University in 2023, then transferred to Zhejiang University in 2024. Now she’s at HSK 6.
📖 Keywords:
退步 (tuìbù) – to regress
重新开始 (chóngxīn kāishǐ) – to start over
Jenny grew up speaking Chinese with her family in Luxembourg but was born and raised there. She attended a Chinese primary school in Hangzhou for one year, then returned to Luxembourg. Her Chinese stayed at around HSK 4 level for years. She attended weekend Chinese schools but says they only maintained her level – they didn’t help her improve.
📖 Keywords:
保持 (bǎochí) – to maintain
提高 (tígāo) – to improve
华侨 (huáqiáo) – overseas Chinese
What drives Jenny to learn Chinese now?
Two regrets:
1) She couldn’t communicate deeply with her family because of language barriers.
2) She felt a distance from Chinese culture and people when visiting China. Improving her Chinese gives her more confidence and a sense of 归属感 (guīshǔgǎn – belonging) .
📖 Keywords:
距离 (jùlí) – distance
自信 (zìxìn) – confidence
归属感 (guīshǔgǎn) – sense of belonging
– What Keeps You Motivated to Study?
Daisy asks: besides your main goals, what motivates you to keep taking Chinese classes?
Raina says her motivation comes from the fun and interesting class content and the joy of studying with Jenny and her teacher.
Jenny jokes that she’s motivated by Raina’s compliments! (But really, studying with a friend makes it more enjoyable.)
📖 Keywords:
动力 (dònglì) – motivation
内容 (nèiróng) – content
有趣 (yǒuqù) – interesting
– Proud & Embarrassing Moments
Raina shares an embarrassing story: she heard her boyfriend use the word 懵逼 (měngbī – stunned/confused) and thought it meant “distracted” – so she told her boyfriend “开车不要懵逼” while he was driving, which sounded harsh and rude. 😂
Jenny shares a proud moment: she used the idiom 门可罗雀 (ménkěluóquè – very quiet/deserted) in front of her dad, and he was surprised and impressed!
– Best Study Tips
Jenny’s tip: Use new words immediately – in daily life, in conversations with family, or even in text messages. If nobody is around, practice by imagining sentences in your head. She says this helps her remember vocabulary faster.
Raina’s tip: When she sees a Chinese character, she mentally breaks down its structure and thinks about what words go with it – this helps her recognize characters and their combinations more easily.
📖 Keywords:
马上 (mǎshàng) – immediately
想象 (xiǎngxiàng) – to imagine
结构 (jiégòu) – structure
搭配 (dāpèi) – collocation
– One Piece of Advice for Other Learners
Raina: “Keep your passion for learning. Don’t lose confidence because of grades or tough exams. These are just normal challenges in learning.”
Jenny: “It’s never too late to start learning Chinese – or to rediscover it. ” No matter your age or past experience, you can always find a new way to learn that fits your current life.
– Closing: DeepSeek & Learning Chinese in Hangzhou
Daisy shares a timely connection: DeepSeek, the Chinese AI company that has been making global headlines, is headquartered in Hangzhou . And they’re actively hiring – no nationality restrictions, but they require employees to be able to work in Chinese . A perfect example of why Chinese skills matter more than ever.
Daisy invites listeners to join Chinese Surfing’s summer course in Hangzhou: morning classes with professional teachers, afternoon cultural activities – walking by West Lake, visiting Longjing Village for tea culture, exploring local markets, and practicing Chinese in real-life settings. Contact info in the shownotes.
💬 Join the Conversation
Have you ever visited Hangzhou? What did you think?
What keeps you motivated to learn Chinese?
What’s your most embarrassing (or proudest) Chinese language moment?
Leave a comment on your podcast platform or share your thoughts in your Chinese learning group.
📩 Learn Chinese with Chinese Surfing
Interested in intensive class in Hangzhou, summer camp in Hangzhou, or HSK preparation in Hangzhou? Check out our summer program!
📧 Email: info@chinese-surfing.com
💬 WeChat: Chinesesurfing2
Follow us:
Instagram & Xiaohongshu: Chinese Surfing
🎁 Free learning materials: 👉 www.chinese-surfing.com
📜 Want the full PDF script of this episode?
📧 Email: daisy@chinese-surfing.com
