Nigerian student Oray from Soochow University in Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu province is a big fan of Chinese culture.
Before he came to Suzhou in 2019 to enroll in a program initiated by Soochow University and University of Lagos in Nigeria, the 22-year-old already had a strong passion for Chinese culture. Oray, whose Chinese name is Chen Yiqiang, had also learned how to speak Mandarin at the Confucius Institute in Nigeria.
At Soochow University's 2022 graduation ceremony on June 21, Oray spoke about his life at the School of Chinese Language and Literature of the university and sang the Chinese song The Moon Represents My Heart.
The Nigerian said he found learning how to pronounce Chinese words and mastering grammar to be big challenges. To improve his grasp of the language, he took part in a variety of activities on campus and learned to sing Chinese songs. "Now I have a better understanding of the feelings and culture behind the lyrics," Oray said.
Oray will now pursue a master's degree in international Chinese language education at Soochow University. "I want to be a translator or Chinese teacher in the future and will continue efforts to promote friendship between China and Nigeria," he said.
