What do you first come up with when mentioning the distinctive cultures of China, Spain and Japan? 

The Language and Culture Week at Suzhou-based Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) showed a diversity of answers through various events.  

From April 17 to 21, School of Languages of XJTLU, together with the university’s Art Centre, student associations, Suzhou Silk Museum and One-stop Service Centre of Suzhou Industrial Park, carried out a series of activities regarding language learning and cultural experience for XJTLU students all week.

Dr Henghua Su, Director of the Modern Language Centre of XJTLU School of Languages said, "XJTLU has always been a multi-lingual and multi-cultural international community. We hope that students can experience the cultures of various countries while learning these languages through activities." 

Chinese Traditional Culture Fair 

April 20 happened to be Grain Rain, the 6th of the 24 solar terms in China. The day also marked the 14th UN International Chinese Language Day. At the Chinese Traditional Culture Fair, international students experienced paper cutting, kesi and Su lamps which own unique characteristics of Suzhou intangible cultural heritage. They also designed a variety of ornaments full of "Chinese style", such as perfume sachets, painted fans and hand strings. 

Minjmaa Surkhiisaikhan, a Y2 student from Mongolia, said her favourite activity was the experience of Song Brocade stickers. 

"We made the silk ornaments by ourselves, which was very interesting." she said, "The teacher also explained the development of silk since ancient times. Now, I can share all the interesting history of China with my friends." 

Food stalls such as dough kneads, sugar paintings and Begonia Cakes also won the favour of students.

Students from different clubs in XJTLU also presented wonderful Peking Opera performances and prepared traditional Chinese costumes for participants to experience. 

International students changed into Hanfu and took photos with their friends. 

Singing and Dancing, Passionate Spanish Cultures

16 rich experience activities made students feel the passion and charm of Spanish culture, ranging from professional Spanish literature and translation lectures to film appreciation, singing and dancing experience. 

Among them, the most popular activity was the Spanish Treasure Hunt organized by Miss Cristina Garcia Sanchez.

In the activity, 8 groups of students set out from Hui Bar of XJTLU South campus. They had to work together to complete the tasks of singing Spanish songs, salsa dance performance, Mexican paper cutting, Spanish movie guessing, etc., thus obtaining clues to find the "treasure". 

Yushan Jiang, a Y2 student who major in International Business, said, "We learn Spanish in our major, but the Spanish culture we can learn is not very much, most of which is limited to books. Nevertheless, this treasure hunt really made me feel unprecedented fun and brought me into contact with the charming and enthusiastic Spanish culture that I have never experienced before." 

"Although I was tired of galloping back and forth between several buildings in the South campus and my hair and clothes were soaked with sweat, my companions and I kept laughing all the time. Meanwhile, I felt full inside and my only goal was to find the next treasure. I think this is the charm of Spanish culture." 

It Turns Out That We Share Same Hobbies! 

Besides the "Little White Pavilion" in the north campus, various associations of XJTLU set up booths: cartoon song contest, cosplay contest, VR game experience, fishing for goldfish, sushi making... Students who are favour in the culture of "ACG" (anime, manga, games) gather here to experience the collision of Japanese traditional and popular culture. 

Y2 student Qingqing Jia's favourite activity was the game organized by her Japanese teachers called "SoundHound". "The atmosphere at the event was great! Every song I guessed reminded me of the joys and sorrows when watching manga and anime." 

Helen Beech, dean of the School of Languages, said taking part in cultural experiences can help students learn foreign languages better. 

"Language and culture are closely associated with each other. Through hands-on experience, students will be able to feel the subtle differences between different languages and cultural backgrounds more directly, and build a more meaningful connection with native speakers during the experience." 

"We also plan to hold more and richer cultural activities in the future to optimize students' language learning experience." she said.