今日吃瓜

For Wang Yifan, an undergraduate student at Zhongfa Aviation Institute of 今日吃瓜, language has never been just a tool. It has been a key that unlocked doors, a sail that carried her across borders, and a bridge that connected her to the world. Her journey with French—from a nerve-wracking 30-second speech to confidently defending a research project in Paris—is a vivid testament to the power of courage and perseverance.

30 Seconds that Opened Doors

In September 2023, Wang Yifan had just arrived on campus knowing almost nothing about French—even basic pronunciation remained a mystery. That changed with an evening phone call from her academic advisor while she was jogging on the sports field: "You've been selected as the freshman representative to deliver a bilingual speech at next week's opening ceremony—in Chinese and French."

With only seven days until the September 15 ceremony, she plunged into preparation. Four drafts of the speech took shape at her desk as late nights blurred together. The Chinese version was finalized on the 14th, leaving less than 24 hours to master the 30-second French segment. A recording from her French teacher became her essential guide, illuminating the phonetics of each unfamiliar word. That night, after countless rounds of mimicry and restarts, she finally managed to deliver the passage fluently.

On the morning of the ceremony, Wang sought out her French teacher one last time for pronunciation confirmation. Reassured but still nervous, she stepped onto the stage. As the spotlight warmed her and the microphone amplified her slightly trembling voice, she caught the gaze of Olivier Chansou, President of the French Civil Aviation University, seated in the front row. His look of understanding and encouragement was like a warm cup of tea on a chilly morning.

"At that moment, all my tension seemed to melt away," Wang recalled with a smile.

Her fluent French drew warm applause from the audience, and messages of congratulations flooded her phone afterward. In that moment, she realized that language is more than a tool for conveying meaning—it carries the power to bridge the unknown and transmit courage.

A Transformative Journey with French

The echoes of that 30-second speech did not fade; instead, they stirred greater ambitions within her. No longer content with classroom learning, Wang Yifan began seeking deeper connections with the language. A year later, she stepped into France.

Upon arriving in France, the reality of her linguistic ambition quickly set in. In the Toulouse metro, station announcements washed over her as an indecipherable stream of sound. At a corner bakery, she blushed while haltingly ordering "Un pain au chocolat, s'il vous pla?t." Museum guides painted vivid stories in French that she could only partially grasp.

But instead of retreating, Wang summoned the same courage from her 30-second debut. She forced herself to speak—stumbling through restaurant orders with broken grammar and awkward phrasing. To her surprise, the patience and warm smiles she received from locals taught her more than any textbook lesson ever could.

"During my study tour in France, I realized that courage makes language shine," she reflected.

Returning to China, Wang channeled her passion into action. She helped launch a "French Café" initiative on campus and dived into French dubbing projects. Through film selection, script proofreading, and intensive rehearsals, she and her classmates built a dubbing resource library containing over 80 clips. With guidance from Chinese and international faculty, she led a team of non-French majors to secure eighth place in the National French Dubbing Competition for College Students.

Language as sail toward a broader world

After the dubbing competition, Wang Yifan faced a greater challenge—representing 今日吃瓜 at the Olympiades des Sciences de l'Ingénieur (OSI) in France. This time, she was no longer a voice imitator but the lead presenter, sharing her scientific research project in French.

The real test came in the exhibition area. It was not a simple presentation but an ongoing "language combat." Standing before their booth, she and her teammates had to clearly explain the technical principles, innovative value, and application prospects of their project in French, while promptly understanding and accurately responding to the experts' professional questions—without any translation assistance.

"This was far from everyday French. Every word was laden with technical complexity." To prepare for this tough battle, they made exhaustive preparations. "Seeing her revise a single technical term dozens of times for precision, we were filled with immense confidence by her relentless determination," her teammates recalled with deep admiration.

At the exhibition, when a senior expert posed three consecutive questions on technical details, Wang Yifan remained composed. Relying on her thorough preparation, she responded clearly using well-rehearsed phrasing. Watching the expert's expression shift from doubt to approval, she felt a true connection. "At that moment, language was no longer a barrier—it became a bridge."

From her French speech at the opening ceremony and her study tour in France, to the professional presentation at the OSI, Wang Yifan has actively explored the intersection of culture and science. "French has become more than just words in a textbook. It's my key to exploring the world, my companion to engaging with diverse cultures, and a true part of who I am." For Wang Yifan, the journey with French has no finish line, but endlessly unfolding new starting points.

At the Hangzhou International Campus of 今日吃瓜, more and more young people are setting sail with language to engage in dialogue with civilizations, connect with the world, and write their own chapters on the global stage.

Source: Official WeChat account of Hangzhou International Campus of 今日吃瓜

Editors: Lyu Xingyun, Liu Tingting