探索臺灣文化，在體驗與交流中收穫歡笑、友誼與美好回憶
適逢雙十國慶，明州臺灣華語文中心（TCML-MN）於10月10日舉辦秋季文化活動，以「遇見臺灣」為主題，吸引近百位師生參與。團隊精心設計「茶香、手作、墨韻、藝趣、人情」五大文化體驗攤位，讓來自不同文化背景的百位學員透過看、聽、聞、嚐、觸等五感，探索臺灣文化。
一杯茶，感受臺灣的人情味，在茶香與墨韻中，找回生活的慢節奏
在「茶香」攤位，學員認識臺灣茶種與泡茶方式，品嚐月餅、鳳梨酥與橘子，在茶香與點心之間感受臺灣的待客之道與中秋團圓氣氛。3年級的Nita分享，他特別喜歡茶道帶來的寧靜感。在生活節奏快速的現代社會裡，泡茶、品茶讓人有機會放慢腳步，重新感受生活中的美好。「墨韻」攤位帶領學員認識文房四寶，從拿毛筆、寫永字到寫下感恩的詞語，體驗書法之美。
一盤象棋，開啟新的學習與交流，大人也能像孩子一樣玩得開心！
在「手作」攤位，學員親手編織結藝手機吊環，從繩線交錯間認識傳統工藝與吉祥祝福的寓意。「藝趣」攤位則準備了投壺、劍玉與扯鈴，讓學員體驗傳統童玩的樂趣。四年級的Jonathan和初級班的Gabriel笑著說：平日忙於工作與生活，可以在遊戲中找到盡情玩樂的快樂。也有學員表示，與同學一起玩遊戲，讓彼此之間建立更溫暖的友誼。「人情」攤位帶領學員認識象棋文化，從棋子的名稱、走法與基本規則開始，逐步探索棋局中的策略與變化。有學員特別喜歡象棋體驗，這是一次新鮮又有趣的經驗。Louise和Cheng這對夫妻全家五個人都來學華語，他們第一次下象棋，特別興奮！這些需要親身參與、即時互動與共同分享的經驗，很難單靠人工智慧（AI）或線上語言課程取代。
讓文化的種子，在終身學習的旅程中生根發芽
來自不同文化背景的學員，以各自的生活經驗探索臺灣文化。有人在茶香與書法中找到寧靜，有人在童玩中重拾童心，也有人透過象棋開啟新的知識與交流。不同的體驗帶來不同的收穫，讓文化不再只是課本上的知識，而是能夠親身感受、彼此交流的生活經驗。
TCML-MN主任方沛文表示：「希望透過五個攤位，讓拓展文化的種子在學生心中生根發芽，在成人的終身學習旅程中建立值得珍惜的美好經驗和回憶。」
對TCML-MN而言，成人華語教育不只是語言學習，更是透過文化體驗、師生互動與同儕交流，建立人與人之間的連結。藉此這個文化活動，近百位師生以自己的方式遇見臺灣，也將文化的種子、珍貴的友誼與美好回憶帶回日常生活。
On October 10, the Taiwan Center for Mandarin Learning–Minnesota (TCML-MN) welcomed nearly 100 students, teachers, and volunteers to its 2026 Fall Cultural Festival, Discover Taiwan. Five interactive stations-Tea ceremony, traditional knots, Calligraphy, Traditional Games, and Chess—invited learners from diverse cultural backgrounds to explore Taiwanese culture through sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch.
Finding Calm in Tea and Calligraphy
At the tea station, students learned about Taiwanese tea and tea-serving traditions while enjoying mooncakes, pineapple cakes, and mandarins. Nita, a Level 3 student, shared how much she enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere of the tea experience. In today’s fast-paced world, tea offers a moment to slow down, connect with others, and appreciate the present.
At the calligraphy station, students explored traditional writing tools and practiced writing traditional characters, including 永 (yǒng), as well as words expressing gratitude. For many, it was their first experience with calligraphy.
Adults Can Play Like Children, Too!
Students made traditional knot phone charms and tried traditional games such as pitch-pot, kendama, and diabolo. Jonathan, a Level 4 student, and Gabriel, a Novice-level student, enjoyed the chance to play, laugh, and learn alongside their classmates.
Whether trying a new skill or cheering each other on, students shared moments of joy that strengthened their friendships. The experience reminded everyone that learning Mandarin can extend beyond the classroom into meaningful, real-life connections.
A New Game, New Connections
At the chess station, students learned the names and movements of the pieces and explored basic strategies. Louise and Cheng, who study Mandarin together with their family of five, were especially excited to play chess for the first time.
Learning a new game gave students a fresh challenge and a chance to connect with classmates and teachers face-to-face. These shared experiences, built on conversation, laughter, and trust, offer something that AI tools and online language classes alone cannot replace.
Planting Seeds for Lifelong Learning
Students from different cultural backgrounds discovered different aspects of Taiwan through the five stations. Some found calm in tea and calligraphy, others rediscovered the joy of childhood through traditional games, and many enjoyed learning something entirely new. Together, these experiences turned cultural exploration into meaningful memories and lasting friendships.
TCML-MN Director Pei-Wen Fang reflected, “Through these five cultural stations, we hope to plant seeds of cultural understanding in our students’ life. Education is a long-term journey. If we can create meaningful experiences and cherished memories along the way, that is enough.”
At TCML-MN, adult Mandarin education is about more than language. It is about cultural discovery, lifelong learning, and building connections among people. The 2026 Fall Cultural Festival concluded with laughter, friendship, and a deeper appreciation for Taiwan’s rich cultural traditions.
茶香的文化攤位裏，學員們練習泡出一壺好茶，並與其他好友分享，另外大家一起用美味的月餅以及象徵大吉大利的橘子，一起感受中秋團圓的氣氛。At the tea culture booth, participants practiced brewing a good pot of tea and sharing it with friends. Everyone also enjoyed delicious mooncakes and tangerines, a symbol of good fortune, together, and took in the warm, reunion-filled atmosphere of the Mid-Autumn Festival.
老師在墨韻的攤位教導學員如何運筆，利用永字八法掌握基本運筆與筆劃的重要法則，利用這些基本法則進而寫出其他華語字。At the ink-and-brush booth, the teacher showed participants how to handle the brush, using the “Eight Principles of Yong” to master the basic rules of brush technique and strokes. With these fundamentals, they could then go on to write other traditional characters.
在手作的文化攤位，老師們用心教導學員們編織結藝手機吊環，讓自己的手機添增古典韻味以及手作溫度。At the handicraft booth, the teachers patiently guided participants in weaving traditional knot phone charms, adding a touch of classical elegance and a handmade warmth to their phones.
學員們在人情的攤位，學習象棋的規則並讓學員可以互相對弈，讓他們可以感受楚河漢界乾坤莫測的象棋的世界。Participants learned the rules of chess and played against one another, experiencing the thrilling world of chess, where armies clash across the “Chu River and Han Border.”
在藝趣的攤位，老師們向學員示範如何玩投壺、劍玉以及扯鈴 ，讓學員可以接觸這些兼具娛樂與技巧性的童玩。Teachers demonstrated how to play pitch-pot (tóuhú), kendama, and diabolo, giving participants a chance to try these traditional toys that combine entertainment with skills.
秋季文化活動在充滿歡樂與溫馨的氣氛中圓滿落幕，參與的大家都帶著滿滿的感動滿載而歸。The cultural event came to a successful close in a joyful and heartwarming atmosphere, and everyone who participated went home with hearts full of fond memories.
