Chinese Students in the Eyes of Their Malaysian Peers

On the Malaysian campus of Xiamen University, Chinese mainland students have a complicated reputation. They tend to be lauded for their focus on their classwork and grades even as they are seen as somewhat isolationist in their studies.

“They are so hardworking and disciplined, that is what I need to learn and to improve,” said Coreen Tan Chuan Xuan, a Malaysian student with Chinese heritage.

Ms. Tan echoed a commonly held belief that her Chinese peers excel at memorization, suggesting that Chinese mainland students learn in primary and secondary school to ingest large amounts of information through rote memorization.

She views this trait as a mixed legacy. “I think it damages students' imagination and thinking ability,” she said. “It contributes to excellent grades in school but does not promote social innovation,” added Ms. Tan.

Students on campus tend to believe that the study habits of their peers influence their own habit. Syed Waqar Fahad, an international student from Bangladesh, said that he has many Chinese friends and enjoys cooperating with them in group assignments.

Mr. Fahad said that his Chinese peers are “smart and hardworking,” adding that he has learned from them the value of “diligence, hard work and perseverance.”

Jerald Zheng, the president of the school's debate club, noted that Chinese students tend to put in long hours, often staying in the library until it closes at 10 p.m. He added that their dedication is a point of admiration and respect.

Ricardo Baba, who teaches in the School of Economics and Business, said that Chinese students are punctual and disciplined. He added that they seem to hold a positive attitude towards their studies and are highly motivated. He sees the result of their dedication in their ability to quickly improve both their conversational and academic English.

Mr. Baba did caution that Chinese students tend to be more averse to teamwork. He added that they have the ability to work in a group but that they usually prefer to work individually.

Malay Language and Malaysian Study lecturer Norsafizar Binti Mohd Noor suggested that Chinese students benefit greatly from learning to cooperate with others. “Sometimes we learn from others as much as we learn from books,” she counseled her Chinese students.

She added that an excessive emphasis on academics can lead to an overabundance of pressure. She advised all of her students to relax from time to time and treasure their time at university both for the knowledge learned and the friendships formed.

By Deng Ruolan