Mahjong: Traditional Culture Meets International Communication (April 7, 2023)

Have you ever felt at a loss for words when facing foreign friends? Try using Mahjong to spark conversations and play while chatting! The Career Development Office of the College of Management organized an all-English Mahjong international exchange event on April 7th to promote students' global perspectives and create opportunities for local and international students to interact. About 24 students from seven different countries and various departments and grades participated in the event, experiencing the fun of Mahjong together.

The event invited a teacher from the Chinese Language Center as the instructor. In the beginning, the participants were divided into four groups, and students who were already familiar with Mahjong rules were assigned to different groups as assistants. Since Mahjong is a game for four players, some groups had a local and an international student playing together, discussing how to make the best use of their 16 tiles. The teacher explained the rules in English, from choosing the dealer's seat to shuffling and building the wall, using formal terms for each step. The teacher emphasized that playing Mahjong is a way to deepen friendships, and it's common for players to become more talkative and lively during the game.

After a complete explanation of the rules, students started playing on their own, with the teacher providing guidance on how to handle different tile combinations. The pace of the game became faster as the students gained more experience. Local students also shared with foreigners what kind of food and topics usually accompany Mahjong games in Chinese culture. Throughout the 60-minute hands-on experience, students cheered and applauded each other, especially when someone had a self-drawn win.

The participating students came from various countries, and everyone had different reasons for joining the Mahjong event. Some wanted to learn Chinese or engage in language exchange, while others hoped to gain a deeper understanding of Chinese culture. Taiwanese students also learned how to choose the right English words to explain Mahjong rules to foreigners. During the event, students generously shared information about their countries' cuisine and tourist attractions. Some students who were about to study abroad took the opportunity to ask for recommendations from international students.

Before the end of the event, a group photo was taken, and students helped to restore the temporary Mahjong tables. After the event, students exchanged contact information, and some even invited their international peers to their homes to practice Mahjong together. The event aimed not only to introduce foreign students to the Chinese Mahjong culture but also to encourage cultural exchange and interaction among students, making their academic life more enriching.