Goodbye to classroom grammar—speaking up and communicating is the key! To enhance students’ multilingual learning, the Chinese Language Center held the “Bilingual Corner” activity on September 30. The event attracted 19 local Taiwanese students, as well as Chinese-language learners and overseas Chinese students from Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, and other countries. With “My University Life” as its theme, students talked about everything from their academic departments and favorite courses to their future plans. Through relaxed and engaging interactions, they practiced languages and shared their daily lives, while continuous laughter filled the venue, creating a lively atmosphere of cross-cultural exchange.
The activity not only provided students with an opportunity to practice language-based communication but also became a lively social gathering. While talking about the examinations they were recently preparing for, Chen Guangyao, an Indonesian overseas Chinese student from the Department of Restaurant Management and Culinary Arts, demonstrated how to tie a necktie at the event and enthusiastically shared the fun of his practical courses. His interaction instantly broke the slightly reserved atmosphere at the beginning, making cross-national exchanges more natural and lively.
The exchange also helped students from different backgrounds regain their confidence in speaking up. Philippine student Zong Zhenni and Indonesian student Zheng Yifan, who are usually more reserved, shyly shared, “I gained a lot from this activity. I was able to practice speaking Chinese and build my confidence.” Australian student Bai Yuzhen also happily shared, “The most interesting part was listening to the participating students talk about their university experiences in Taiwan.”
The activity also helped Liu Yirou, a first-year student from the Department of Spatial Design, overcome her fear of communicating in a foreign language and realize that “even if your English is not very good, you can still have a conversation.” Cao Qianwei, a Thai overseas Chinese student whose Chinese has reached a fluent level, also made new friends through the interactions and learned more English. Through the exchange, students learned from one another, became language partners, and gained valuable experiences.
After the activity ended, many students were still eager to continue the interaction and exchanged social media accounts with one another, turning their brief encounters into lasting international friendships. Cai Meiduan, Director of the Chinese Language Center, said that “Bilingual Corner” serves as a platform for students to get to know one another through language. In the future, the Center will continue to organize activities featuring different themes, encouraging students to step beyond the classroom and work together to create a diverse, friendly, and inclusive international campus environment.
