Yilin Ren, the host of CLIC’s bi-weekly Chinese Tea Time, appreciates the opportunity to continue hosting remotely on Zoom. “I think it is a very valuable opportunity for the students to have conversations in the language they’re learning, with other students and with me,” said Yilin, a Sid Rich College junior. She has been hosting Chinese Tea Time for two semesters. Cadfael Soulard, a Baker College junior, hosts the weekly Café Français. Both of these events were held in Rayzor Hall in past semesters but now have moved on to Zoom.
Are there benefits to meeting online? “The students are just a few clicks away from a francophone environment,” noted Cad. “They can join and leave anytime; in that regard, it’s easier for them to get motivated and join the Zoom calls.” He also thinks that students are more willing to join the weekly café.
The weekly Portuguese lunch table is also meeting on Zoom. Alan Scherman, also a junior at Baker College, organizes that event. Alan pointed out “It is a tradition in Brazilian culture to have loud and energetic conversations during meal times, and there is probably no better way to learn language and culture than by doing just that.” Alan reported that even in the Zoom format, they have a good mix of students and other Rice community members who enjoy diverse and funny chatting.
Do they miss getting together in person? Of course. “The in-person gatherings felt less formal and more convivial since there was food and faculty chiming in when they passed through the hall,” said Cad. Yilin observed, “when the tea time was still in-person, people would naturally break into smaller groups based on the topic they were interested in, but right now, even with zoom breakout room function, it’s not easy to group people by a common interest.
Even so, language gatherings provide a valuable experience for learners and native speakers. “I’ve been hosting Chinese Tea Time for two semesters and I am lucky enough to make a lot of amazing friends,” said Yilin.“The students who join the French Café are truly interested in the language, and it warms my heart to see students genuinely interested in my native tongue,” remarked Cad.
CLIC sponsors other language tables in Arabic, German, Japanese, and Russian. Language learners and native speakers are welcome to join in the conversations.