On April 27, 2026, the Department of Spanish Language and Literature, part of the School of Foreign Languages and Cultures, held the inaugural session of its “Words Have a Path, Passing the Torch” lecture series. For the launch, the department welcomed back Wang Zijian, a standout member of its class of 2024, to share what he had seen and learned on his journalistic work in Latin America with a talk titled "In the Eye of the Storm: Six Months Reporting in Latin America". Speaking directly with faculty and students about the paths open to Spanish majors and his own read on the industry, Wang helped bridge the gap between classroom theory and real-world practice.
The session was hosted by Liu Yang, deputy director of the department, who opened by explaining the thinking behind the new series. Its purpose, he said, is to create a regular channel between alumni and current students and faculty—a way for students to learn from those already working in the field, widen their horizons, and connect their studies more closely to professional practice, with successful graduates serving as models to help Spanish majors find their footing and chart a clear course forward.
Wang began by thanking the teachers who had trained him before turning to his six months of reporting in Latin America in a talk that was detailed, distinctive, and substantive. Ranging across a number of themes—the university programs that gave him hands-on experience, his reading of the current political situation in Latin America, the realities of gathering and editing news in the field, the cross-cultural differences he encountered, the value of person-to-person communication, what he took from studying across disciplines, and the state of China's international communication efforts in the region—he drew on vivid, real-life examples and candid personal reflection to bring the social texture of Latin America and the human side of journalism to life, giving the audience a far more concrete sense of what reporting and international communication actually involve.
The lively exchange drew not only students and faculty from the Spanish Department but also students from across other departments. Listening closely and taking careful notes throughout, the audience came alive during the Q&A, pressing Wang on practical questions—what to prioritize in their studies, how to handle the challenges of internships, and where their careers might lead.
Following the talk, Professor Zhang Rui, vice dean of the School of Foreign Languages and Cultures, presented Wang with a commemorative certificate, after which those in attendance gathered for a group photo.
The first session brought students into close contact with front-line reporting from Latin America and the latest developments in the field, while also opening up a valuable space for alumni to pass on their experience and for students and faculty to trade ideas.
