On October 15, 2025, Soochow University's Office of International and Cross-Strait Affairs hosted a lively Language Exchange Event at the Waishuanghsi Campus in Room G101. The event attracted enthusiastic participation from both exchange and local students, creating an energetic atmosphere filled with cultural interaction and linguistic diversity.
The event began with an engaging icebreaker activity. Participants were asked to select three questions from a prepared list and ask them to three different peers while recording their answers. The questions ranged from “Why did you choose Taiwan for your exchange program?” and “What’s your favorite Taiwanese food?” to “What’s your favorite place at Soochow University?” Within minutes, the classroom buzzed with conversations in Chinese, English, Japanese, and Korean. Students quickly broke the ice, learned more about one another, and set a positive tone for the activities ahead.
Following the icebreaker, the main language exchange sessions began. Participants were randomly divided into small groups consisting of students from different countries. Guided by discussion cards prepared by ICAE volunteers, each group engaged in lively conversations. The first round focused on self-introductions and language learning. Students shared their majors, countries they had previously studied in, and the languages they hoped to learn. Many participants mentioned that people in Taiwan are “very kind and welcoming.”
The second round explored cultural differences and language-related fun facts. Topics included motivations for learning Chinese—such as its global importance or career advantages—differences between traditional and simplified Chinese characters, and comparisons between the Zhuyin and Pinyin systems. One participant even remarked that “Zhuyin symbols look similar to Korean letters,” sparking laughter across the room.
In the third round, discussions became more relaxed and diverse, covering topics such as Yunnan mushroom hotpot, real estate in Paraguay, Dragon Boat traditions in Japan and Taiwan, French numbers, and even Istanbul’s cityscape. Several students expressed their desire to “stay longer in Taiwan,” noting that conversations with international peers “not only help improve English but also broaden their worldview.”
Throughout the event, the room was filled with multilingual conversations, creating a “mini global village” atmosphere. As the event concluded, exchange students and volunteers gathered for a group photo and exchanged contact information. Many participants shared that the event helped them make new friends while gaining deeper cultural insights through genuine conversation.
The Office of International and Cross-Strait Affairs hopes to continue organizing similar activities in the future, allowing exchange students to not only learn Chinese during their time at Soochow University but also experience the joy of multicultural exchange and build connections across cultures.