Ni hao!
The first phrase I learned in my first semester of Introduction to Chinese last fall has become my standard response when friends and family ask me to speak the intimidating language. I've always been intrigued by global cultures and languages, but the skills were never there to support the passion, and that remains true today. I took six years of Latin in high school, but scraped by without learning much, despite genuine interest. So when Elon's language requirement crept up on me, I was excited to once again indulge in a challenge I'd probably regret.
Since then, I've been wishing for more opportunities to practice Chinese in everyday life. I hear about El Centro constantly, and that's a great opportunity for students learning Spanish, but what about the rest of us? I may still be out of luck learning Chinese, but for members of the Elon community who take French, there's a well kept secret out there.
I met with senior Margaux Lepretre on Thursday to talk about La Table Francaise, a weekly meeting in Irazu where anyone can practice French with a native speaker. It's a simple idea, but it's a powerful one. Margaux grew up in France, and came to Elon to be immersed in an environment that values different cultures and study abroad experiences. For her, it's nice to speak her native language for a few hours. For students, it's great to practice concepts outside the classroom.
So why is attendance so low? Margaux said she wishes more students took advantage of the program because they might never have the chance again. That reminded me of so many other Elon experiences that are a rarity outside the bubble. As "engaged learners" and "global citizens" we shouldn't want to pass up chances to hear great speakers, listen to incredible music and participate in conversations that will be gone upon graduation. For four years we have countless free events at our fingertips, how could we skip them?
Maybe I'm more aware of the culture on Elon's campus because I work on the Style section of The Pendulum, but my conversation with Margaux has inspired me to try harder to get students into these events and experience the opportunities that are hiding on campus. French students, consider visiting Margaux in Irazu every week to talk about politics, movies or music in a different language. If you don't, fine. But remember you have a once in a lifetime chance to have a cultural event within walking distance every day of the week.
Zaijian!