Jessica is a third-year Bachelor of International Business (BIB) student in the Mandarin language stream. She is studying at Shanghai International Studies University (SISU) in Shanghai, China. (All students in the BIB program are required to study abroad for their third year at one of our partner institutions.)
Introduce yourself! Tell us a little bit about your goals and interests:
Hey everyone! My name is Jessica, and I am studying in Shanghai, China for one year (10 months) to complete BIB's mandatory third year abroad. My degree is Bachelor of International Business concentrating in strategic management and international human resources and I aspire to work for a non-profit organization in human rights. I was born and raised in Markham which in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) around 1/2 hour drive from Toronto. I enjoy a cup of coffee, shopping, and finding local and cheap eats.
Why did you choose your language?
As a native Cantonese speaker, I grew up speaking Cantonese but never knew how to read or write. I chose to study Mandarin because I've always wanted to learn how to read and write Chinese characters although Mandarin characters simplified versus Cantonese's traditional. Also, Mandarin is an increasingly important language and it will be useful for future career opportunities.
Have you ever travelled overseas before? If so, where?
What 3 things MUST you take with you while abroad?
1. An open mind2. Camera3. Tim Hortons coffee (Trust me, you're going to need it eventually!)
What are you most looking forward to?
This year I am most looking forward to learning the language and being able to communicate with the local people while exploring the Chinese culture while meeting from all over the world.