The School of Foreign Languages (SFL) hosted the 7th French Culture Week themed “Exploring French Culture, Building Youth Friendship” in mid-April. The various activities, such as food exhibitions, quiz contests, interactive games, and cultural exploration, enabled students, faculty, and exchange students from France to have an immersive French cultural experience.
On the afternoon of April 8, a food exhibition, “A Bite of France”, was held insmart classroom J03B308. Faculty and students sampled French wines, enjoyed classic French pastries including croissants and cheese, and explored traditional French culture through the medium of cuisine. The students collaborated with foreign teachers to prepare crème brûlée, a French dessert, gaining firsthand experience of the craftsmanship and charm of French sweets.
On the morning of April 9, themed events of video presentations, “French Fashion”, explored the century-long evolution of iconic French brands such as Chanel and Dior. This immersed the students in the charm of design, the changes of aesthetic trends, and the concept that “fashion is a philosophyon the body.” They also practiced drafting original fashion sketches of Gothic magnificence and modern minimalism.
On the evening, a Sino-French cultural exchange event marked the highlight of the Culture Week. The Feitian Folk Music Society performed traditional Chinese melodies with their exquisite skills, including “Lanting Xu” (Preface to the Orchid Pavilion), on the guzheng (Chinese zither) and hulusi (cucurbit flute), showcasing the unique glamour of Eastern music to French exchange students. Students from both countries then engaged in a lively trivia session covering topics like history, festivals, and cuisine, followed by traditional games such as touhu (Chinese pitch-pot) and pétanque (French boules). The cultural fusion continued as they sang together the French song “On écrit sur les murs” and the Chinese classics “Jasmine Flower” (Moli Hua) and “Two Tigers” (Liangzhi Laohu). The games and interactions deepened the participants’ knowledge, mutual understanding, and friendship.
On the evening of April 11, the 'Exploring French Campus Life' event engaged students from both China and France in a virtual tour of Pau via Tencent Meeting. Three French majors from JHU, currently on an exchange program at the University of Pau, gave a live presentation of the campus environment and student accommodations. They shared theirexperiences of studying in France and answered practical questions about visa applications, course selection, and other exchange-related matters. This session provided a comprehensive 'guide for study abroad' for students preparingtheir upcoming exchange programs in France.
The faculty coordinator of this French Culture Week stated: 'This event is not just a cultural practice, but a meaningful dialogue. From cuisine to fashion, from campus exploration to virtual tours, we aim to help students understand France through multiple perspectives while simultaneously showcasing the beauty of Chinese culture to the world.'
Marine, a French exchange student, shared her reflections on the event: 'The creativity of Chinese students was truly impressive. This experience has given me deeper insight into the meaning of 'harmony in diversity'.'
The SFL will further enhance its international exchange programs to cultivate more outstanding global talents, contributing to national development efforts.