Recently, the Chinese Corner classroom at ECNU rang with laughter and cheers as the students of Class 2-2C of the Global Education Center Intensive Chinese Program transformed it into a dazzling “Global Treasures Live Studio,” staging a vibrant culture feast themed “Global Treasures”!

Spotlight on the Event

PART. 1 

Global Flavors: Taste of Home Stories

Acting as "cultural ambassadors," the students used PowerPoint presentations, videos, physical items, and even self-made snacks to showcase their homelands. From Japanese ramen to Chilean street food, every specialty shared was infused with a unique cultural story.

Japanese student Atsushi Nishida shared the history and evolution of ramen; Mexican student Denise brought local snacks for everyone to taste; students from South Korea introduced "Yeonyang-guk," a traditional Korean nutritional snack, and showcased Korean Hanbok. Over ten Indonesian students presented a vibrant collage of their homeland's cuisine, accompanied by a heartfelt folk song performance.

Chilean student Liu Junqi introduced popular street food from his country and treated everyone to homemade pumpkin pastries he had prepared himself.

 

PART. 2

World's Best Finds: Crowning the Recommendation Champion 

"OMG, you guys NEED this!"

— As soon as the "live stream" mode kicked off, students instantly transformed into enthusiastic hosts, promoting their favorite hometown products in fluent Chinese. The room buzzed with excitement, filled with constant applause and laughter.

After a lively round of voting, the winners for both "Most Popular Specialty" and "Best Presenter" were announced!

With his fluent Chinese and engaging presentation, James was honored as the "Best Presenter" of the event.

The Mexican chili sauce brought by Denise won the “Most Popular Specialty” award for its authentic spicy flavor and popularity among the students.

PART. 3

Open Dialogue: Where Culture Connects

The conversation flowed around thoughtful questions: “Do you buy local specialties while traveling?” and “What does ‘it’s the thought that counts’ truly mean across cultures?” Students shared openly about gifting traditions and the meaning behind local products.

In this dialogue, customs around specialty foods and gifts from different countries met, compared, and found common ground — turning difference into understanding.

PART. 4 

Game Corner: Fun & Sharing

During the lively "Pictionary-Style Guessing Game," students revisited specialties from around the world. Their drawings were then assembled into a vibrant "Global Goods Map," creating a visual celebration of shared culture.

Students also exchanged specially prepared "Mystery Gift Boxes" filled with hometown treats, sharing both surprises and joy through the act of giving.

From guessing games and collaborative art to gift swaps — the activities reinforced their learning, highlighted the fun of teamwork, and delivered heartfelt connections through every exchange.

Final Thoughts

This gathering of global treasures gave students a chance to practice expression through sharing and recommendation, and to connect with one another through listening and conversation.

We did more than just "share favorites" — we planted seeds of respect for diverse cultures and a lasting curiosity to explore the wider world.

Source: East China Normal University