On the morning of January 12, the Autumn Semester Closing Ceremony for Language Students (2025-2026 academic year) was successfully held in Lecture Hall No. 2 of Huixing Building at Shenzhen University’s College of International Exchange. College leaders, all language class advisors, faculty members, and language students gathered together to warmly conclude this learning journey. From commemorative videos capturing daily moments to heartfelt messages exchanged between teachers and students, from award ceremonies recognizing growth to the formal presentation of completion certificates, the event not only served as a summary of the semester’s studies but also became a heartwarming gathering that strengthened friendships and promoted dialogue among civilizations.

At the beginning of the ceremony, a thoughtfully edited commemorative video began to play, instantly immersing the audience in the transnational learning journey. As the scenes unfolded, language students from around the world were seen attentively following along in class, practicing Chinese characters stroke by stroke. In ink painting workshops, they dipped brushes into ink, sketching landscapes, flowers, and birds, deeply immersed in the charm of traditional brushwork. On soccer fields, in library corners, and across campus, they conversed in Mandarin tinged with youthful accents—discussing studies, sharing stories of their hometowns… These fragmented yet heartwarming moments pieced together the students' transformation from initial unfamiliarity to confident integration. Familiar scenes stirred resonance throughout the hall, as warm laughter and applause echoed in the lecture theater.

Following this, Vice Dean Zheng Jie delivered a speech, extending her warmest congratulations to all the students who had successfully completed their studies. She also shared three earnest hopes for their future: to become communicators capable of deep understanding, transcending the "surface-level translation" of AI; to become explorers of innovative thinking, skillfully harnessing AI as an "intelligent tool"; and to remain steadfast guardians of humanistic spirit, nurturing the "warmth of the heart" in the age of AI. She encouraged the students to carry forward the language skills and cultural insights gained at Shenzhen University, and to write their own unique and remarkable stories in this new era of human-machine collaboration.

The speeches delivered by student representatives were sincere and moving, sharing personal reflections and gains from their learning journey. Prashansa Khowal, a student from India in the beginner A1 class, expressed that every joyful moment in their studies had transformed strangers into close friends, and this cross-border camaraderie forged through the Chinese language had become her most treasured and heartwarming memory of the semester. Meanwhile, Nguyen Thuy Bich Thuy, a student from Vietnam in the advanced class, shared that through systematic learning over the semester, she had not only comprehensively improved her listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in Chinese but had also deepened her understanding of Chinese culture and society in subtle yet meaningful ways. She extended her sincere gratitude to Shenzhen University, as well as the teachers and fellow students who had accompanied her along this journey.

The awards ceremony infused the event with a solemn sense of occasion while providing full recognition of the students' diligent efforts. Secretary Qin Qing presented certificates and prizes to recipients of the Perfect Attendance Award, honoring their unwavering commitment through all circumstances. Vice Deans Zhang Daqiang, Ou Ying, and Zheng Jie respectively presented awards to outstanding students from intermediate and advanced classes, beginner classes, and introductory classes. These dual honors bore witness to the students' remarkable growth in both language proficiency and cross-cultural integration.

Before the camera, faces of different skin tones beamed with equally radiant smiles. College leaders and students stood side by side, hand in hand, capturing a cross-border "Shenzhen University family portrait" for the ages. Subsequently, class advisors solemnly presented each student with a completion certificate bound in vibrant red covers—each cover carrying within it the imprints of growth and the harvest of youth accumulated over the semester. The entire ceremony drew to a successful close amidst prolonged and enthusiastic applause.

This closing ceremony profoundly illustrated the deeper significance of "language" and "communication." When language transcends its utilitarian boundaries, it becomes a vessel of warmth and a bond that connects hearts and minds. Young people from across the globe gathered at Shenzhen University through the Chinese language, where diverse cultures converged and intertwined. They were not only practitioners of language learning but also messengers of dialogue among civilizations. What the students take away is not only their growing fluency in Chinese but also a deeper understanding and respect for a multicultural world. What they leave behind is not just their vibrant presence on campus but also seeds of friendship between China and the world. Setting out from Shenzhen University, they will carry with them the belief that "language connects the world" as they journey toward distant horizons, ensuring that this bridge of civilization—built on understanding and rooted in friendship—grows ever broader and more enduring through generations to come.