Peking University, February 2, 2026: Editor's Note: In our Mastering Mandarin series, we spotlight international students learning Chinese, each with their own reasons, goals, and inspirations. In this story, meet Joonatan Huang, a Finnish-Chinese master's student in data science, who is on an immersive Chinese learning journey at PKU, where music weaves beautiful cross-cultural connections along the way.
Born and raised in Finland and now pursuing a master's degree in data science at the University of Helsinki, Joonatan Huang brings a diverse cultural background. Coming from a mixed family (Chinese and Finnish), Chinese language and traditions were always present in his childhood through family gatherings, weekly lessons, and occasional trips to China. Joonatan also lived in Hong Kong for two years when he was a child, yet it wasn't until recently that he decided to deepen that connection.
This semester, Joonatan chose to step into full immersion through Peking University's Chinese Language Studies Program. From intensive language courses to everyday conversations on campus, he has spent the past months strengthening both his fluency and his understanding of the cultural nuances behind the language. Beyond the classroom, Joonatan even won a singing competition with his band in China, a warm memory that brought him closer to the community.
Why did you start learning Chinese?
"Growing up, even if I wasn't necessarily learning so much Chinese, the Chinese culture was always with us. It showed up in my father's parenting, in the holidays we celebrated, and in our everyday etiquette."
"It was around high school when I started wanting to spend more time with my Chinese friends in Finland. I realized I have so many opportunities to speak Chinese with them, and I also began looking up ways to learn more characters on my own."
Joonatan added that while he was pursuing his master's, he wanted to do an exchange program and ended up choosing China and Peking University as his next destination.
Why did you choose Peking University?
"My dad has been here before as a visiting professor, and I heard a lot about the school through him. There were also other Finnish exchange students who had studied here in earlier years, and I had the privilege of talking with them and hearing about their experiences."
These memorable exchanges are what led Joonatan to enroll in Peking University, and he hopes to inspire future students in the same way by sharing post-program reflections.
Learning tips for beginners?
"As you start learning characters, spend time understanding the stories and history behind them. Chinese is quite a logical language. The simpler characters are often based on ancient pictograms, and the more complicated characters are like jigsaw puzzles built from simple characters. Many follow clear patterns — the radical hinting at the meaning and the component suggesting the pronunciation. The initial learning curve might feel slow, but it drastically speeds up your ability to learn new characters later on."
"For speaking, try to find a hobby group where people use Chinese." Joonatan recommends sports because team-building activities can overcome language barriers and make for a comfortable environment to practice Chinese in.
Joonatan also emphasized that "any exposure is better than no exposure," so Chinese TV shows or online content are useful alternatives if there aren't many Chinese speakers around you.
What was the hardest part, and how did you overcome it?
"When I was younger, one of the hardest parts was finding the courage to make mistakes. Adults would laugh lovingly when I said something wrong, but depending on your temperament, that can feel discouraging."
Joonatan eventually realized that self-worth shouldn't be tied to language fluency. He encouraged learners to learn for their own benefit rather than for other people.
He reflected on the importance of making mistakes: "Making mistakes is one of the best ways to learn. I will never forget the radical I wrote wrong on my exam. That mistake taught me more than getting it right would have."
A memorable moment at PKU or in China when you felt "closer to China"?
"I had the luxury of attending an international singing competition here with a band, and we were even more fortunate to come first. On stage, we were asked to give a short speech in Chinese to the judges and audience. I was surprised by how warm the reception was. It was my first spontaneous public speaking moment in Chinese, and I didn't feel stressed at all."
In that moment, Joonatan realized that nationalities and language barriers did not matter. Through a shared love for music and gratitude for one another, he and the audience were still able to build a strong connection.
"You can and you will start a journey from anywhere."
Joonatan's favorite idiom is "千里之行，始于足下", which means that a thousand-mile journey begins with the first step. He also interprets that this journey starts from your current spot. He concludes that you can never be "late" to start something because this timing is simply part of you and your situation.
Writer: Ashley Leung
Editor: Nicole Accalia Angriawan, Wang Zihan, Chen Shizhuo
Photo: Courtesy of the interviewee
