Meeting the world on campus

Global partners

International students have also become vital contributors. Serving as language partners, they work with faculty members to facilitate oral-practice sessions across the different villages.

Niafarra Ayla, an Indonesian student majoring in tourism management, is one of them. During her first session, she noticed many students were shy and worried about making mistakes.

"This is normal because everyone communicates differently," she said. "My role is to introduce lighthearted topics everyone feels comfortable talking about — like hobbies, food, and movies."

One Chinese student left a deep impression on her. Withdrawn at first, he gradually relaxed under Ayla's guidance and soon began participating confidently. Helping peers from different cultures meet in a shared conversational space feels deeply meaningful, she said.

Nadia Kloos, a student from Thailand, made similar discoveries. When faced with imprecise expressions or misunderstandings during Thai-language activities, she initially blamed her own teaching ability. But over time, she realized that communication isn't only about language.

"It also involves tone, facial expressions, gestures, how activities are organized, and even my attitude toward cultural topics," she said.

So Kloos began using simple sketches and short skits to engage students, encouraging them to observe, express emotions, and participate physically.

She also organized a Thai-festival-themed workshop to make culture more accessible. When students struggled with the Thai explanations she had prepared, she quickly shifted her plan — dividing them into small groups and using music and movement so they could experience rather than merely listen. The atmosphere immediately came alive.

Through these activities, Kloos has met students from around the world and regularly introduces aspects of Thai life and traditions.

"The value of the Global Village is that it keeps creating opportunities to be understood," she said.

Her experience echoes that of many instructors who use the village's immersive settings to reshape traditional teaching.

In one Russian-language practice session, for example, students sat on a bench "outside the Bolshoi Theater", discussing a performance, while others strolled through a birch grove toward a log cabin — scenes staged entirely within the Russian Village.

Practice-based sessions now account for nearly one-fifth of major-specific coursework hours, said Xu Xiujuan, who teaches Russian at the village.

Xu believes the village's strength lies in creating authentic scenarios that spark students' initiative.

"A natural affinity for a culture guides students forward," she said. "Only after they experience and grow to like it can they truly learn better."

mengshuyan@i21st.cn