Mr. Sugiyama first came to Beijing in April of 2019, having very basic knowledge of Chinese. He would take classes at BC every day; he found himself feeling exhausted at first, but more and more relaxed as time went by. A graduate of the University of Tokyo, one could say that Mr. Sugiyama is a naturally gifted student — he passed HSK3 after one month of studies, HSK4 and HSK5 after the second and third respectively, and HSK6 after the fourth month. His teacher was very proud of his achievements. 

Apart from his exam-taking skills, Mr. Sugiyama quickly improved his speaking skills as well. This had a lot to do with the fact that he would often chat with the teachers after class, and help them translate for newly-arrived Japanese students — it strengthened his flexibility in switching between languages and ways of thinking. 

In his free time, he would often participate in BC's activities and get-togethers. He had the opportunity to meet people from all professions, make friends, taste delicacies from many different places. He got to know different customs – the one he can't do without being drinking, of course! With these great experiences in his arsenal, Mr. Sugiyama has now begun working in China. We wish him all the best for the future!