Enthusiastic, friendly, and life loving, as MI student of this month, Sihem is exactly the Italian beauty as we can imagine. Since 2020 with us, Sihem’s Chinese level has been up to HSK 3. In addition to the joint efforts of the teacher and herself, holding curiosity about new things is also one of the reasons for her to keep learning.
热情友好，热爱生活，这个月的优秀学生Sihem完全符合了我们对意大利美女的想象。从2020年结缘Mandarin Inn开始学习汉语至今，她的中文水平已经提升到了HSK三级。除了老师和自身的共同努力之外，对于新鲜事物保持着一份好奇心也是她能够不断学习的原因之一。
Q: Is there any problems to live in Shanghai caused by language?
住在上海有没有碰到过因为语言造成的问题？
A: Sometimes I cannot use applications because they are only in Chinese. When I travel, I meet local people who cannot speak English. They show in their eyes that they are curious and want to know me, but language is the only difficulty…because of this I am learning Chinese.
有时候用不来app，因为上面都是中文；还有旅游的时候碰到当地人，感觉得到他们眼神里的好奇，想要了解我这个外国人，不过碍于语言难关无法交流。因此我想要学中文。
Q: As a good student, how do you learn Mandarin?
作为一个好学生，你是怎么学中文的？
I prefer to keep it as secret. Otherwise, they will do better than me, lol! Well, actually I have no secret tips but to learn mandarin we need to review. The simple thing like homework, to review all the mp3, listen to the recordings. Maybe if you have time, to listen to Chinese music or news, see some films, to get used to the language, understand and absorb.
关于这个，我更想保密，不然大家都学得比我好了（笑）！实际上，学习没有什么秘密。学中文要多复习。做最简单的事情，课后做作业，多听录音。如果有时间，还能听听中文音乐，新闻，看中文电影，习惯这个语言，理解并吸收它。
Q: The first time I saw you, I think you are a very sociable person and may not have much time in studying, but now I am so surprised that you have been with us for a long time and reached Level 3! May I know what makes you to keep studying Mandarin?
其实第一次见到你，我觉得你是一个忙于社交的人，可能没有太多时间学中文；而现在你已经和我们一起学习了那么久，还达到了HSK三级的水准，是什么促使你一直学中文的呢？
A: This nice and interesting country and culture push me to discover them a lot. Every time I learn something, I will know more. Another thing I like is the Chinese character. How to write Chinese is a little bit artistic for me, even if I don’t understand the meaning of what I am writing, as it is completely different from Latin language. The culture, history of the country, also people that I met here make me to try to speak their language and have more contacts with them. Mandarin is not boring at all because every day I learn something new, learning and reviewing at same time.
这个美好有趣的国家和文化促使我不断地发现且想要了解更多。每次学到新知识，我会获得更多东西。我还特别喜欢汉字。写汉字对我来说是个艺术，即使不明白写的是什么，因为这个语言和拉丁文字完全不一样。这里的文化，历史和国家，以及遇到的朋友们，让我想要尝试说他们的语言，与他们有更多的接触。汉语一点儿也不枯燥，每天我都能学习到新东西，不断复习巩固。
It is something excited…if you put it as a goal, and I have to attain my goal. Chinese is nice but at the same time, difficult. I share this with my classmates, all of them excited! We have really nice relation between us, also with teacher. The teacher keeps the ambient nice inside the group.
学习中文是一件令人兴奋的事情，如果把它当做一个目标，那么我要实现这个目标。中文很美妙，同时也很难。我和我的同学们分享了自己的目标，所有人都很兴奋。大家关系也很好，老师也很好，总能在班里创造和谐的氛围。
Q: Do you think Mandarin Inn meets your requirements of Chinese course?
你觉得MI的中文课程符合你的要求了吗？
A: Yes, the timing, the teacher, the atmosphere all very good. Staff here are so nice. I think the hospitality inside the school is important. I feel I meet friends here just like family. I like the building as I want to feel I am in old Shanghainese house. I like to be in old everything…
是的，上课的时间，老师，环境都很好。工作人员也很友好。学校里的氛围很重要，我在这里就像到家一样，我很喜欢这幢楼，让我感到在古老的洋房里学习，我喜欢有历史的东西。
Q: What kind of teacher will encourage you to learn Mandarin?
你的老师怎么样，能够鼓励你学中文吗？
A: My teacher is very nice. She knows how to “deliver the messages” and how to explain the information. She always asks if there is something with misunderstanding and she would explain more. She does not go to the second point without we understanding the first one. When she gives chance to speak, she makes all of us to participate, to read or answer the question. We are in the group but it is like private lesson as we speak directly to her.
老师很好，她懂得如何传达和解释信息。总是确保我们理解正确。如果这一点没搞懂，她不会讲后面的东西，这对我来说很重要。她会给班里所有人机会开口参与，回答问题。虽然是班课，但我们直接和老师对话，就像私课一样。
Q: Now you are doing group and private at the same time. Is there any difference you feel between the two types?
你同时在上班课和私课，觉得两者有什么不同吗？
A: The group class allows me to do the conversations with classmates. In private lesson, I just do all the things with my teacher. I have my time to ask all questions, to ask how to say anything. It gives me something more than the group class. I like both as I keep the group and private class.
班课能够让我和同学对话。在私课上，我和老师能做更多，问任何问题，比如这个怎么说，比班课收获更多。两者都有好处，所以我都在上。
Q: What is your favoutire Chinese sentence and why?
你最喜欢的一句中国话是什么？为什么呢？
A: Yeah, this I can use it for my life. “Xiào yí xiào，shí nián shào。” My friend taught me this. Happiness inside and smile is the best cosmetics even I like to put on makeup sometimes. 🙂 (End)
这句话生活中能用到：“笑一笑，十年少。”我的朋友教我的。开心和笑容是最好的化妆品，虽然有时我也喜欢化妆（笑）。（完）
