By Abhay Kandari
Editor's note: Adapted from Abhay's July 2021 internship assignment. This reflection records his interests and learning goals at that time, not his current education or employment status.
My interest in Chinese began with films. I enjoyed kung fu movies and admired the performers I watched. Over time, that curiosity grew beyond entertainment: I wanted to understand the language, history and culture behind the stories.
Choosing a language through curiosity
At school I enjoyed sport, including cricket and football, as well as drama and other cultural activities. As I approached the end of school, I spent time researching possible careers and asking my elders for guidance. Learning a new language appealed to me, and my interest in Chinese films helped me choose a direction.
In my original assignment, I described studying Chinese language and literature at Doon University in Dehradun. The experience gave me a way to explore subjects that had first interested me on screen. I wanted to understand texts, films and conversations more directly, and to learn more about relations between India and China.
Learning beyond the classroom
Language quizzes, skits, stage programmes and translation workshops were part of the learning experience I described. Taking part in these activities helped keep my interest alive. I also enjoyed travelling, hiking and camping, and reading about history, current affairs and technology.
For me, studying a language meant looking beyond speaking and writing exercises. It encouraged questions about how people live, what they read and how they express themselves. When I noticed similarities between customs in India and China, I wanted to read more. Those observations were a starting point for curiosity, not rules about how everyone in either country behaves.
Turning study into work experience
My plans in 2021 included further study and gaining practical experience. I hoped an internship at Modlingua would help me understand workplace tasks, improve my command of the language and practise teamwork and time management. I was interested in seeing how language study could connect with translation and interpreting work.
I was grateful to the teachers who had guided me through my studies. What started as enjoyment of films had become a longer learning path. My goal was to keep that curiosity while developing the skills needed to use the language with care.
