Learn from Each Other in Cultural Exchange Activity
The Office of International Affairs and Foreign Language Education Division held a Cultural Exchange Activity on March 27th, which was a great opportunity for foreign and domestic students to know each other and chat in English. Twenty-five foreign students and five classes of freshman English students participated in the activity. They talked about culture, food, holidays, and taboos. Many foreign students said that they couldn’t stand the smell of stinky tofu and they didn’t know there are indigenous people in Taiwan. Some even brought their hometown food to share.
Taiwanese students said that they learned a lot from this experience, and they also felt that Taiwanese people are often shy and introvert while international students are mostly talkative and energetic. They were impressed by the English-speaking ability of those international students who were not native speakers. Some students said that they found similarities between Taiwan and other countries, such as the lunar year celebration in Vietnam and the way of thinking in Canada.
Some students were encouraged to speak more in English and inspired to travel around and learn in the future. A student said that after talking to French students, his romantic fantasy of Paris disappeared. Everyone enjoyed this exchange activity, which is a great chance to learn from each other and make friends, and hoped to participate in similar events in the future.