Graphic by Anjali Rao-Herel ‘22
By Sophie Soloway ’23
Global Editor
The Chinese Language Table has moved to a remote space this year. In past years, the group met over a shared meal featuring a traditional Chinese dish, but this year, event organizers have adapted to ensure that students still have an engaging space to practice the Chinese language. Students gather weekly to practice their speaking abilities with peers and TAs as well as discuss current events related to their studies.
Jamie Day ’22, a double major in biology and East Asian studies at Mount Holyoke, talked about what she most appreciates about the event. “I enjoy talking about Chinese culture and … implementing my newly learned vocabulary from that [day’s] Chinese lecture,” she said. “I get the rare opportunity to speak with native speakers and see other peers my age struggle with me to [perfect] a very tonal-heavy language.”
In fact, some participants prefer the move to a remote setting. Day has participated in the Chinese Language Table since her sophomore year but has noticed that some aspects are better on a virtual platform. “Being virtual has made it easier for me personally. Before MHC went remote, [the] Chinese [Language Table] was during dinner time, and I was unable to make it at most times. The [dining] hall would be loud and made it hard to have one-on-one conversations,” she commented.
Remote participation allows some students to have more individualized practice, as well. Day said, “Now, during our [Zoom] gatherings, the students [are] divided up into chat rooms and paired up with a professor or a TA. This [is] an improvement in terms of the learning environment.”
Day described her new routine with the table, saying, “As a third-year Chinese student, I will usually come in with a Chinese newspaper article that I need help reading through for an assignment. When in my private chat room, I can get some quality tutoring and get all my questions answered effectively!”
Day reflected that what she loves most about the Chinese Language Table is “the chance to keep in touch with my previous Chinese teachers that I don’t have classes with anymore, or meeting other professors in the Chinese department that I will likely take courses with in the future!”
The Chinese Language Table meets every Tuesday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. EST and is open to students of all language levels. Contact Professor Alice Kao at akao@mtholyoke.edu to participate.