On Tuesday, Oct 8, 8 sections of CHIN 101 and sections of CHIN 111 students got together for the first ever Chinese Fun Night, organized by the Chinese language program at UBC. The night began with the xuesheng (students) bringing handmade business cards and family photos to exchange or share with other students. They have to work on their place in their ‘passports’, booklets with instructions for three unique activities designed to improve these beginning students’ ability to communicate in putonghua (Mandarin) while also building their confidence, a critical step in second language acquisition.
“Alright everyone, get ready to introduce yourselves!” announces Kuo Laoshi (Teacher Kuo). The students begin to mingle, mostly in groups, while some of the more adventurous branch out on their own.
“Ni hao! Ni jiao shenme mingzi?” Hello, what’s your name? the students ask each other quietly and hesitantly at first. As time passes the students begin to joke around, making funny faces and speaking with mock seriousness.
Having already introduced themselves, the next activity is designed to help students talk about their origins.
“Ni xing Wang ma?” Is your last name Wang? a female student shyly asks a classmate. “Shi, wo xing Wang.” Yes, my last name is Wang, the student replies. “Ni shi Jianada ren ma?” Are you from Canada? “Bu, wo shi Meiguo ren!” No, I’m from America! Once the students finds two with a matching last name and country from each of the two color teams different from their own they exchange business cards and ‘stamp’ each others passports.
Finally, for the last activity students have to learn several tricky raokouli (tongue twisters) and two traditional Chinese children’s songs, Wo de Pengyou Zai Nali? (Where is my friend?) and Liang Zhi Laohu (Two Little Tigers). All CHIN101 and CHIN11 instructors circle the room helping students with their pronunciation and encouraging them to keep trying.
All of the games complete, students get a chance to draw raffle tickets for prizes that include boxes of brightly colored traditional candy.
Students who participated the event comment that the event is a lot of fun and they would be more comfortable speaking Chinese to each or reaching out to Chinese students on campus. It is hoped that such activities will not only encourage students to practice their Mandarin, but also to make friends and broaden their social horizons.
