Extension Education Center co-held a “2006 Chinese Culture Camp for Overseas Chinese Students” in Tamsui campus, from July 10 to August 20. Various shows, including Chinese martial arts, fan dance, Taiwanese Rock, and tap dance, initiate the enjoyable atmosphere of the cultural activities.

Cooperated with Overseas Compatriot Affairs Commission for the first time, TKU has co-hosted a 6-week cultural camp for overseas Chinese students to enrich their acquisition of Chinese language and culture. As to the language program, in addition to drills in reading, writing, and speaking Chinese, there are also practices in Taiwanese and Hakka songs.

15 year-old Kao Li-jon, who come from France, indicates that “I feel overwhelmed by the four-hour classes and various homework lasting everyday; however, I am also aware of my significant progress in Chinese.” All the students reveal a passion in their studies when they take the initiate to get together to preview, review, and do homework, as well as to discuss with the teaching assistants.

One of the teaching assistants, Lee Fan-yien, a junior of Dept. of Insurance, remarks that “all the students are very hardworking. Some even study in the library on weekends. I am very impressed by their learning attitude.”

Students are amazed by the interesting variety of the cultural courses, including Chinese knot craft, Chinese yo-yo, ethnic dances, Chinese calligraphy, ink painting, calligraphy tablet rubbing, pottery, and flower flattening. Yeh Wei-hao, from Arizona, US, expresses that “Chinese knot craft is beautiful and classical. I feel very proud to make them myself.” Wang Yun-chung, an overseas student from Washington University, responds that “doing Chinese calligraphy is like painting, which is a very elegant activity.” Lee Yi-ting, teaching assistant, a sophomore of Dept. of International Trade, was impressed by the complexity of Mahjong. She said she learned this complex Chinese heritage from a overseas Chinese church in US.

In addition to the learning activities, the teaching assistants arranged an entertaining “Understanding Taipei” trip. The students were led to tour famous night markets and department stores in Taipei, as well as taste the local delicacies. “However, they have a special liking for pearl milk tea,” observed TA Huang Pei-ting.

Most students express their appreciation of the organization of the programs. “I have attended another similar cultural camp organized by National Taiwan Normal University. Though the facilities in Tamkang University are no as good as those in NTNU, in this TKU camp I am moved by the thorough arrangement of the activities and the consideration of the assistants,” remarks Lee Tien-lian, a overseas Chinese students from Spain. ( ~ Chi-szu Chen )

UPDATE： 2010/09/27 CLICKS： 1315 DOWNLOADS：