1136 Feeling Unwell
After finding out how Qiao Nan did it, she also wanted to work hard and give it a try. She did not expect that it would be so difficult.
Since Yu Xiaoxiao was able to get the scholarship, her results must be fairly good as well.
The problem was all the English lessons in school were assessment-based. It did not require one to be fluent in English. But if she had to converse in English, she would not be able to.
As a volunteer guide who showed foreign guests around, one needed to be fluent in English. It had nothing to do with one’s English writing skills.
Furthermore, in the nine years of compulsory education, three years of high school, and more than half a year of university life, there was no need for Yu Xiaoxiao to converse in English.
Yu Xiaoxiao was too tense and nervous and did badly in her test. She performed worse than her usual standard in high school.
One could only be selected through one’s ability. Given Yu Xiaoxiao’s performance, they could not accept her and told her nicely that she could try out at other places.
Yu Xiaoxiao followed Qiao Nan and found out about her social practice as a volunteer guide at the Palace Museum. If she knew where to find social practice activities that she could participate in, there was no need for her to ask for Qiao Nan’s help.
Therefore, Yu Xiaoxiao did not want to give up right then. She hoped the other party would give her another chance.
In the end, she came looking for Qiao Nan, hoping that Qiao Nan would put in a good word for her, giving her another chance. She was too nervous and therefore did not perform well previously.
Qiao Nan did not feel very well and she did not get along with Yu Xiaoxiao.
When Yu Xiaoxiao came looking for her, she could tell that she had not given up yet and had found ways to follow her all the way here.
For that alone, Qiao Nan had the right to be angry with Yu Xiaoxiao.
Qiao Nan was already very gracious for not taking issue with Yu Xiaoxiao. There was no way that she would put in a good word for her.
That was why they ended up in a tussle when Zhai Hua reached the Palace Museum.
“This classmate over here, you’d better go back. You are not suitable for this job. You are from Peking University. You should be able to tell that we are very busy now. I believe you don’t want things to turn sour or for me to make a call to your school, right?”
The personnel at the office turned serious. It was nothing embarrassing that the student could not help them as she did not have the ability.
However, if she continued to make a din, it would not look good on them and would affect their work.
Things would turn awkward if the volunteer ended up as a troublemaker.
“No, I don’t mean that. I harbor no evil intentions. I just feel that this job is very meaningful and I want to help out in my own way. If not, can I be a general Chinese volunteer guide?” A thought came to Yu Xiaoxiao’s mind. She might not be fluent in English, but she was fluent in Chinese.
The other party was amused. “Everyone knows how to speak Mandarin. Even if this job is voluntary, it has high requirements. Firstly, you have to know everything about the Palace Museum. You have to memorize all the facts by heart. Secondly, if you want to be a Chinese guide, can your Mandarin meet the standard?”
It was true that as compared to speaking fluent English, the Chinese people would be more fluent in Chinese.
However, they would have higher requirements for Chinese volunteer guides.
The office did not have high requirements for Qiao Nan. They only asked that she be fluent in her English and that she must have no problem in normal conversation.
As for whether she used proper grammar and vocabulary, they could not judge as well since they themselves were not native English speakers. It was alright as long as the foreign visitors could understand Qiao Nan.
Of course, Qiao Nan became more and more fluent in conversing in English after multiple training sessions. It was a surprise to them to receive positive feedback from foreign visitors.
Yu Xiaoxiao was smart. She knew that since she could not be an English volunteer guide, she could be a Chinese guide.
But at the same time, she was foolish. Every citizen in China knew how to speak Mandarin.
Qiao Nan and Yu Xiaoxiao were not the only students who came to the Palace Museum to be volunteer guides. For people applying to be the Chinese volunteer guide, the competition was harsh since there were many applicants. The office would have a set of stringent requirements.
In short, Yu Xiaoxiao could not make it for the English volunteer guide, and she failed to meet the requirements for the Chinese guide as well.
The reason was that they required the Chinese guides to speak standard Chinese, especially in the Beijing accent.
People from other provinces would not be able to speak as well as people from Beijing.
What a joke!
Yu Xiaoxiao almost teared up at the other party’s words.
Yu Xiaoxiao was not fluent in English. As for Mandarin, she had no problem in conversing, but she was not certain how she would rank if she sat for a test. After all, she had never gone through a test on conversational Chinese.
Yu Xiaoxiao sniffed. She bowed to the personnel from the office. “I am really sorry. I have not gotten the facts right and have brought so much trouble for you. But if I am able to meet the mark to be an English or Chinese guide, will I be given a chance if I come again in the second half of the year?”
Yu Xiaoxiao did not continue to make a din. She calmed down and made a rational decision. It was a marked contrast to her previous behavior, and it was a more acceptable behavior of a student.
The personnel from the office paused momentarily at the change and nodded. “Sure. As long as you can meet the requirements, we will welcome youngsters like you.”
Although they were volunteer guides, they still needed to fulfill some requirements.
Once the volunteers fulfilled the requirements, they were willing to take in as many volunteers as possible.
Yu Xiaoxiao breathed a sigh of relief at the reply.
She was only in her first year. There were three more years before she would graduate. No matter what, she had to strive to get a scholarship for her second and third years. She still had time to work on her English. She still had a total of four months, including two months of summer break to improve her English and Mandarin conversational skills.
Yu Xiaoxiao calmed down after sorting out her thoughts. “Qiao Nan, I am really sorry. I have disturbed you and created so much trouble for you. I am sorry and thank you.”
She followed Qiao Nan to find out about this opportunity.
It was indeed dishonorable of her, but she did not feel that she was in the wrong.
It was Qiao Nan who did not render help to her classmates. In fact, Qiao Nan should have taken the initiative to help her after knowing about her situation.
Since Qiao Nan refused to help her, she could not be blamed for following Qiao Nan all the way here.
After making her apology, Yu Xiaoxiao no longer felt guilty or sorry.
Yu Xiaoxiao walked away, thinking of ways to work on her weaknesses.
Even though Yu Xiaoxiao had left, Qiao Nan still seemed to look unwell. Cold sweat broke out on her forehead. “Xiao Qiao, you seemed to be very pale. Are you unwell?”