Dr. Lei Huang

Hello, my name is Lei Huang and I come from China. Before I came to Germany ten years ago, I had already completed a Bachelor degree in “Computer Science” and a Master degree in “Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages” in China. I am constantly looking for opportunities for self-improvement and I think studying abroad is an ideal way to open my eyes and future. Therefore, I applied for a China-Germany cooperation Master program, which is organized by InWEnt - Capacity Building International (Internationale Weiterbildung und Entwicklung gGmbH) and Tianjin University. Thanks to this program, I had the chance to learn the German language, study at Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg in Germany and achieved my second Master degree in “Education and Economy Management”. Afterwards, I successfully applied for a PhD position at JLU and followed the PhD program at the International Graduate Centre for the Study of Culture (GCSC). In 2017, I achieved my doctorate with a satisfactory grade. Currently, I am working as a cultural mediator and psychological consultant for international students at the University of Turin in Italy.

1. You did your PhD in „Intercultural Communication and Cross-Culture Management“ at JLU. Why did you decide to take this subject and why at JLU?

I have been through many communication matters caused by cultural differences during my Master's studies in Germany, and it became my desire to conduct a research to clear the problems and find out the underlying causes.

I came to Germany ten years ago as a Master’s student because it is my ideal to broaden my horizon and in my opinion, Germany is the place to find passion, innovation and development.
The inspiration for this PhD subject at JLU comes from my own experience. Studying abroad is an exciting experience, but it is also full of challenges.
For example, during my Master's studies in Germany, I really enjoyed the learning style and appreciated the teaching methods at German universities. However, the relationship between my German teachers and me did meet with some difficulties at the beginning because of the cultural difference. One simple example: It is considered impolite in China for students to challenge and contradict teachers in public, such as in a lecture or seminar, but at German universities, this is encouraged.
I have been through many communication matters caused by cultural differences during my Master's studies in Germany, and it became my desire to conduct a research to clear the problems and find out the underlying causes. This would not only answer my own questions and worries, but also help other international students who want to study in Germany in the future. Therefore, when I decided to work on my doctorate, the subject “Intercultural Communication”, particularly between Chinese students and German teachers, became my first choice.
I chose JLU because the GCSC (International Graduate Centre for the Study of Culture) accepted my doctoral research propose and offered me a PhD position. GCSC offers a high-level doctoral program tailored to the needs of PhD students with an excellent research environment and comprehensive support. It was a wonderful experience to complete my doctoral studies at GCSC. I benefit a lot from it, both in the academic field and in non-academic careers.

2. What did you like most about JLU?

I greatly appreciated the freedom, good sense of community, and the superb teaching and support from teachers [...]. I also liked the fact that the atmosphere at JLU is extremely friendly and welcoming.

To study at JLU is something that I will never forget. I loved JLU because it endowed me with matureness, pride and bravery, which made me a better person.
I greatly appreciated the freedom, good sense of community, and the superb teaching and support from teachers, even if they are not involved with you. Teachers always give feedback about work and set you targets on things they feel you could improve on. I was also given independence, which in turn gave me responsibility for my own learning.
I also liked the fact that the atmosphere at JLU is extremely friendly and welcoming. Everybody gets along, there is no bitter environment or hostility between anybody. I got to know many good teachers and international friends. This will be a great treasure for the rest of my life.

3. During your studies, you already gained some professional experience. How has this professional experience helped you with your career start?

During my study in Germany, I obtained opportunities to improve myself through different jobs. For example, in the academic field, I worked as a research assistant at GCSC and a tutor for international students at the International Office of JLU. Additionally, I also worked as a Chinese language teacher at Confucius Institute in Frankfurt am Main, as a translator for business delegations and tour groups, as staff at exhibitions, and so on. All these work experiences not only enriched my life experience, but also prepared me to get ready for my future career:

• Broaden my horizon

Different countries have different cultures and work methods. I am very happy to have had the chance to work in Germany in various areas, because I experienced personally the German working style, attitude and approach to things, which is much different in my own country. These experiences extend my vision and are definitely opening up my mind and letting me see things from a different perspective.

• Develop my soft skills

Soft skills are necessary across all industries and job types. The different jobs I had during my studies allowed me to hone my written and verbal communication skills, learn to manage time efficiently, solve problems self-motivated, and expand my knowledge and understanding. Besides, since my jobs were always in an international context, this trained my ability to work with a high level of multicultural awareness and adaptability. All the soft skills I developed helped me prepare for future work situations.

• Get to know myself better

It is inevitable in the professional life to encounter good and bad moments. In my view, these are the moments to understand myself better and to clear my strengths and weaknesses. Getting to know myself is all about developing a real picture of who I am, including the parts I am proud of and the parts that I struggle with from time to time. When I know myself better, I can make better choices about everything, from small decisions like which shirt I will wear to work to big decisions like the direction of my future career. When I know myself, I understand what motivates me to resist bad habits and develop good ones, which can help me to solve life’s varied problems in the future.

4. Were there other factors that were helpful for your career start (e.g., personal networks, offers from the university, etc.)?

In addition to the necessary personal abilities that you need to develop, a personal social network is also very important for starting a career – hence, I suggest making contacts widely.

In addition to the necessary personal abilities that you need to develop, a personal social network is also very important for starting a career. For example, several jobs I have had before were recommended to me by friends or former employers. Hence, I suggest making contacts widely. Connections can either introduce you to a new idea or to another person that might help you get what you want easier and faster.

5. Currently you are working as a Cultural Mediator and Psychological Consultant for International Students at the University of Turin. How did you find this position and what was the application process like?

Since I worked as a tutor for international students at JLU for almost 5 years, as well as considering my academic background of intercultural communication, a position connected with international students was always my ideal job. When my husband accepted an offer from the University of Turin, I started looking for a job there, too. I found the current position on the website of the University of Turin. This position was very attractive to me because we need to help the international students not just from a daily learning point of view, but also to the level of psychological counseling. Compared to my previous work experience at JLU, this position meets my expectations and also brings something new to me.
From my experience, the application process in Italy is quite different from Germany. For example, in Italy, the position selection process and the result are public and traceable. In my case, applying for a position at the University of Turin needs to follow a unique process. Each position normally corresponds with an online form. To apply for the position, I needed to fill out the form and upload the required documents, such as Master and Doctoral degrees and recommendation letters of former employers. After submitting the online form, I had to print out the mail receipt, sign it on each page and send it back to the personnel office within the deadline. Only in this way, my application was accepted.

Be aware that different countries have different processes and priorities, and to be clear what and whom you are responding to.

The time and place of the interview are announced online and are open to all the applicants who successfully submit the online form. After the interview, the assessment results of all applicants are published online as a ranking list with scores, which are based on the evaluation of application materials and interview performance. The position is offered to the person at the top of the ranking list.
This is the application process I experienced in Italy at the university.
Therefore, what I want to stress is to be aware that different countries have different processes and priorities, and to be clear what and whom you are responding to. But in any case, a clear and perfect resume is necessary for any job application.

6. How can one imagine your current occupation? What does your day-to-day work look like?

My current position belongs to a scientific project funded by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research. This project is a psychological counseling service aiming at listening and understanding practical and emotional difficulties that students may face during their study and life experience in Turin, with a special focus on students coming from non-EU countries characterized by educational and social models that are culturally different from the European ones.
I work together with three other colleagues as a team on this project. Our work is based on two levels, practice and research.
On the practical level, we meet students who contact us for seeking counseling and offer them free psychological counseling sessions with the purpose to solve their difficulties and release their concerns. Since this project is mainly for non-EU international students, my role is to support the Italian psychologist in our team with language and cultural interpretation, particularly relating to Asian culture and languages.
On the research level, according to the psychological counseling cases we experienced, these cases are analyzed from the perspective of academic theories (anthropology, sociology, history, and psychology, etc.) and investigated by following up on the changes in their mental health. The findings will be published as articles.

7. What advice would you give to international students?

Having been an international student myself, I have several recommendations to international students who want to study and work outside their home country. I would summarize my words into the following points:

Do not be shy to ask for help, connect with people, make plans and set up goals, be clear about what you are interested in and what you want, and be sure to get involved as much as you can.

• You do not need to know everything and do not be afraid to ask for help

While it is important to prepare for a culture shock and to familiarize yourself with your campus, higher education, particularly outside your own home, is meant to be a time to learn and explore as a community. It is helpful to remember that many of the other students on campus are also likely to be away from home and are adjusting to a new place, too. Therefore, never be afraid to raise your hand or ask for clarification when you do not quite understand something. That extends beyond the classroom, too.

• Make connections

You’ve probably heard the saying “Who you know is more important than what you know”. While I wouldn’t go that far, you never know what career opportunities your contacts might be able to provide in the future. Build relationships with your classmates, your teachers, other faculty students, and coworkers. Connect with these professionals on social media, such as LinkedIn and XING, so you have a line of communication to reach out once you’ve moved on from your current role.

• Set goals beforehand

Have a plan for what you want to do during and after your studies. Like so many other things in life, you only get out of studying abroad what you put into it. You want to learn the language? Enroll in a class, break away from your mother tongue speaking group, volunteer with a local organization. You want to develop a global perspective? Try new things, buy a ticket to travel, and befriend locals. You want to have a job in Germany? Write a perfect CV and cogent motivation letters, send out applications. Becoming a global citizen isn’t just something that “happens” to you when you go abroad; it’s a goal that you must work towards.

• Have priorities

Don’t try to do everything. Pick a couple of things you want to do and concentrate on them. There are tons of things you can do in Germany. If you spend all of your time trying to do everything, you don’t get to enjoy what you’re doing. Set priorities and live life!

• Be open-minded

Germany is not like your home country in all aspects: from the food to the climate to the mentality, even to the education system. It might be surprising, so don't start to focus on the differences between home and Germany. Being open-minded abroad gives you the most opportunity and the best experience ever!

So the main things to remember: do not be shy to ask for help, connect with people, make plans and set up goals, be clear about what you are interested in and what you want, and be sure to get involved as much as you can.
Remember that this a unique opportunity that you will spend the rest of your life reflecting upon, so MAKE THE MOST OF IT!

Many thanks for your support!

(The interview was conducted in October 2020)