Adjusting to Thinking in Mandarin
Name: Hannah Bases
Home Country: United States of America
Degree: Master of Arts in International Studies (MAIS)
Incoming Hopkins-Nanjing Center students arrived in Nanjing for fall semester orientation in September. Hannah Bases, MAIS '26, reflects on what led her to enroll in the master's program, and the process of adjusting to this immersive experience abroad.
Tell us about your background and how you became interested in China.
I have been studying Mandarin since elementary school, and became interested in learning more about Chinese history, government, and politics through the language. In college, I started pursuing more courses on Chinese foreign policy and U.S.-China relations, which furthered my desire to dive deeper into studying the relationship between the U.S. and China.Before joining the Hopkins-Nanjing Center, what were you doing?
I completed my undergraduate degree in political science and East Asian languages and cultures at the University of Pennsylvania. During my undergraduate years, I interned at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, a nonpartisan think tank; as well as the Department of Commerce and the Department of State.What made you choose the Hopkins-Nanjing Center?
I wanted to further improve my Mandarin skills beyond conversations for daily life, and learn about the topics I am really interested in. I also wanted to gain understanding in academic Chinese and learn more about Chinese philosophy and policy in Mandarin. The MAIS program is great for improving academic Chinese in reading and speaking, and it also provides an opportunity to dive deeper into topics of interest with a thesis. I wanted to challenge myself to learn as much as possible and build expertise in my second language.It will be scary sometimes to speak up and ask for clarification, but to improve you need to push. Make sure to be kind to everyone who is learning as well and to be honest when you don’t understand.
If you could give one piece of advice to future HNC students, what would that be?
I am currently in the process of adjusting my brain to think in Mandarin, and it is not always easy! It will be scary sometimes to speak up and ask for clarification, but to improve you need to push. Make sure to be kind to everyone who is learning as well and to be honest when you don’t understand. Speaking up for yourself is important for your learning!What can we expect to hear from you as a contributor to the HNC admissions blog?
As this is only my first month in the program, I am currently adjusting to life in Nanjing. I hope to provide an honest view about my experiences building a life here, including discussing my participation in activities inside and outside the HNC campus. Be sure to check out write-ups of student activities and admissions tips at saisnanjing.blogspot.com.If you are looking to learn more about what it's like to be a current student at Johns Hopkins SAIS, we encourage you to schedule a virtual appointment with one of our Admissions Fellows.
Enjoyed reading Hannah's experience? Learn more about our Master of Arts in International Studies.
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