FIB USU PR - On Tuesday, September 23, 2025, the Mandarin Language Undergraduate Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, University of North Sumatra (FIB USU), held an academic event through a Guest Lecture titled "Bridging Cultures Through Reading and Translation," which was held online via Zoom for three days: Tuesday, Wednesday, September 23, 24, and 30, 2025.
The guest lecture featured Liu Yang.
This activity aimed to broaden students' insights into the role of reading and translation as important tools for bridging cultural differences and strengthening cross-cultural understanding, particularly in Mandarin language learning.
In his presentation, Liu Yang explained that reading and translation are not only related to technical language proficiency but also require a deep understanding of the cultural context, values, and ways of thinking of the language-speaking community. Participants were invited to view the translation process as a form of intercultural communication that can bring together diverse perspectives through text.
The activity, which took place over several sessions, was interactive. Students demonstrated high enthusiasm through discussions and text analysis exercises, particularly regarding translation strategies and the challenges often encountered when translating texts from Mandarin to Indonesian and vice versa.
Through the Guest Lecture "Bridging Cultures Through Reading and Translation," the Mandarin Language Undergraduate Program at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) of the University of North Sumatra (USU) hopes to enhance students' linguistic and cultural competencies, while strengthening their critical thinking skills in understanding cross-linguistic and cross-cultural texts. This activity is part of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences' commitment to providing learning that is globally minded, inclusive, and relevant to developments in language and cultural studies in the contemporary era.