Qingming Huang
2023 WISLI Vietnamese Student
Why did you choose to study at WISLI? What motivated you to choose our program?
I knew WISLI many years ago but didn’t get a chance to apply for it due to other academic commitments. But I decided to apply this year to start building my Vietnamese language skills for my future research about Vietnam.
How has learning a less commonly taught language enriched your personal and professional life?
Doing research about Vietnam is one of my lifelong goals as a researcher who focuses on East Asia and Southeast Asia. Through my research and scholarship, I plan to engage with at least three types of audiences: policymakers, the public, and academic community. I came to realize during my research that learning Vietnamese is essential for achieving these long-term academic and professional goals. The lack of Vietnamese language skill not only hinders my ability in utilizing sources beyond those written in English, Chinese, or Korean, for my research. It also limits my potential in carrying out field work, observing changes in the Vietnamese society, learning from ordinary people’s perspectives, and engaging with the scholarly community in Vietnam. My previous experience in learning Korean since 2019 has taught me that learning a new language can offer a precious opportunity to embrace all of these possibilities. I was able to carry out archival research in Seoul, closely observe the changes in the South Korean society, engage with academic community working on Korean studies, and serve as a bridge for mutual understanding between China and South Korea. I believe learning Vietnamese can also help me achieve similar goals in my personal and professional life.
What about WISLI/UW-Madison stands out to you?
I attended this year’s program remotely, but I felt a strong sense of community with my cohort and with my instructors. I think this sense of community is essential in helping me navigate my journey in learning a new language.
How do you plan to apply proficiency of your target language and cultural skills to your personal/professional journey?
I already tested my Vietnamese language skills during my visit to Vietnam for a conference and for traveling with my family in early August. We travelled to Hanoi, Hue, Dong Hoi and Phong Nha, and I continued to attend my language program remotely from these places. The things I learned in class can be immediately applied to real-life context the next day. Through learning the language, I was able to adapt and immerse myself in different parts of Vietnam with their differences in culture, pace, and vocabulary. I also got to know many Vietnamese friends and I plan to improve my Vietnamese through
language exchange with my new friends. I also plan to visit Vietnam every year to carry out my research and engage with the Vietnamese community in my university in China.
What were some of the highlights of your program? What events did you particularly enjoy?
In my task-based projects, I introduced two cities (Gainesville in the US and Dali in China) where I used to live and have strong emotional connection with. During my visit to Vietnam, I got to meet in person my language instructor cô Hồng in her hometown Hue. She took my family to explore the local food, heritage sites, culture, and history in Hue. In addition, my daughter and I contributed to our cohort’s final performance by dancing in the University of Arts, Hue University.
What role did the WISLI Tuition Scholarship play when you were making decisions? How would you encourage other students who might be interested in the scholarship to apply?
The WISLI Tuition Scholarship made it possible for me to attend the Vietnamese language program which I am immensely grateful for. I encourage everyone interested in learning a Southeast Asian language or other languages taught in WISLI to apply for this scholarship.
What advice would you give to students who want to study the same language as you?
The summer intensive language program is really intensive! I attended this program while having other academic and family commitments. It was really tough. So if you plan to study Vietnamese, you have to be prepared for this very fast-paced program. It may be better to temporarily leave aside some other tasks.
What is your favorite expression in the language you studied this summer?
My favorite expression is một lần nữa (one more time). This expression symbolizes our struggle and commitment in learning this new language. It is also our class motto.