Building Confidence through Practice from Hosting Foreign Guests to Cross-Cultural Communication  – YANG Pinzhuo  

Growth Highlights:  Reception of foreign guests at major international conferences, IELTS 6.0, with elevated global perspective and practical skills.

Current Employment: Staying in Hong Kong to expand international education and exchange.

For me, learning English was not a goal determined from the very beginning. In the past, I did not specifically view English proficiency as an important direction for my future development. However, during my studies in the Master of Arts in Chinese Value-led Leadership Education program, through participating in various academic activities and hospitality work, I gradually discovered that language is not just a tool for communication, but a key that opens up the world.

In the past, I participated in major events such as the East Meets West: Chinese Value-Based Leadership in Education Conference 2026, the Professional and Vocational Education Conference 2025, as well as flag-raising ceremonies and National Security Education Day. I was repeatedly responsible for hosting foreign guests and assisting with venue arrangements. From greeting guests and guiding them into the venue to explaining the agenda and providing real-time coordination, every single task tested and sharpened my English proficiency, adaptability, and cross-cultural communication skills.

In the beginning, I used to worry that my English was not good enough, making me hesitant to initiate conversations. However, through repeated real-world exchanges, I have gradually come to understand that the key to communication lies not just in the language itself, but more importantly, in mutual understanding, respect, and sincerity.

It is precisely these experiences that made me truly realize the importance of English proficiency. Consequently, I began to immerse myself more actively in learning English, hoping to create more opportunities to communicate with people from diverse cultural backgrounds, and ultimately achieved an IELTS score of 6.0. To me, this is not just a score, but a journey of growth from being afraid to speak to being willing to express myself proactively.

The most memorable experience for me was hosting a guest from Australia at an international conference. Having just arrived directly from the airport, he began coughing upon reaching the venue. Noticing his discomfort, I proactively assisted him in confirming his agenda and thoughtfully prepared warm water for him, which made him feel deeply welcomed and cared for.

During a coffee break, the guest also discussed with me how Hong Kong schools balance academic performance and all-round development. Rather than reciting rigid theories, I shared the real experience of how students with different backgrounds collaborated and completed group projects, based on my observations in the curriculum. This natural and sincere response left a deep impression on the guest.

Before parting ways, the guest specifically told me, “Your student representative really made my day. She’s professional, attentive, and she gave me a real taste of Hong Kong — not just the conference hall.”

This validation made me even more convinced that English proficiency comes not only from textbooks but also from the courageous attempts in real communication. These experiences have given me a deeper understanding of the meaning of "humility": humility is not retreating, but in the face of different cultural and linguistic backgrounds, being willing to listen, learn, and also willing to admit shortcomings and continue to improve.

In the future, I plan to stay in Hong Kong for employment, hoping to make the best use of my strengths in education, administration, or international exchange related fields. From English learning to international hospitality, from nervous speaking to composure, I am gradually transforming language skills into professional skills, and also building bridges of cross-cultural understanding with sincerity and confidence.