Who is your Chinese language trainer?

My name is Leen and I graduated as a Sinologist from KU Leuven.

My fascination with the Chinese language began when, as a child, I attended Chinese classes with my family every Saturday morning. It soon became clear to me that Chinese is not only a fascinating language, but that the culture is deeply intertwined with the language itself.

Later, when I was allowed to choose a field of study, Sinology was an obvious choice for me. During my first master's year, I was given the opportunity to study for a year at a Chinese university (Nanjing), which I grabbed with both hands. During that year I lived and studied in Nanjing, an extremely valuable experience in which I got to know not only the language, but also the culture, history, and way of life up close.

After completing my studies, I started working at a production company where English and Chinese were mainly spoken, exactly the languages I prefer. This further strengthened my professional and language skills.

Besides language, I also learned a lot about cultural sensitivities. The differences between the Dutch and Chinese languages are great, as are the cultural differences between Belgium and China. It is crucial for an entrepreneur to be aware of these differences and deal with them appropriately. This can make a significant difference in both formal and informal contexts and helps build long-term business relationships.