Global Lounge— A New Place for Cross-Cultural Communication
By Lizzie Tsai
After the grand opening ceremony of Global Lounge at the first floor of Giet Building last semester, Global Lounge has been gaining attention from more and more students and faculties. This semester, activities that took place in Global Lounge include the Welcome Back Party for International Students held on Oct. 29, World Cinema II and movie display of Measuring the World on Nov. 26, and the artist Leon Fenster’s Talk about the ancient Jewish festival—Hanukkah held on Dec 1. The Resource Center of Foreign Language Teaching and Digital Learning, and the Office of International Education and College of Foreign Languages are all parties active in building up cross-cultural communication and collaboration within the campus, utilizing the space and facilities of Global Lounge.
“This is our idea— we hope to make the Global Lounge a center for cross-cultural communication.” Professor Kate Liu, also Dean of the College of Foreign Languages said in the interview, “and cross-cultural communication can start with festivals since they are more accessible and more welcomed by students.” This is why many activities held this semester all present themes connected to festivals all over the world. The annual Christmas market and exhibition is another successful example. With last year’s introduction to the birth of Jesus Christ and this year’s presentation of the love and light of the ancient Jewish festival Hanukkah, the College of Foreign Languages hopes to remind students of the meanings and spirits behind Christmas.
Besides holding activities promoting cross-cultural communication, the College of Foreign Languages also has a vision of bringing classes into the Global Lounge. “The Global Lounge is not just a lounge,” said Professor Kate, “it’s also an open space for education.” Today, students in the College of Foreign Languages have varied interests and expectations toward the application of language. While many students put their passion into music, lighting, and drama, enjoying working together as a team either in the spotlight or behind the scene, many other students find their interests in business, marketing, and education.
“This is our idea— we hope to make the Global Lounge a center for cross-cultural communication.” Professor Kate Liu, also Dean of the College of Foreign Languages said in the interview, “and cross-cultural communication can start with festivals since they are more accessible and more welcomed by students.” This is why many activities held this semester all present themes connected to festivals all over the world. The annual Christmas market and exhibition is another successful example. With last year’s introduction to the birth of Jesus Christ and this year’s presentation of the love and light of the ancient Jewish festival Hanukkah, the College of Foreign Languages hopes to remind students of the meanings and spirits behind Christmas.
Besides holding activities promoting cross-cultural communication, the College of Foreign Languages also has a vision of bringing classes into the Global Lounge. “The Global Lounge is not just a lounge,” said Professor Kate, “it’s also an open space for education.” Today, students in the College of Foreign Languages have varied interests and expectations toward the application of language. While many students put their passion into music, lighting, and drama, enjoying working together as a team either in the spotlight or behind the scene, many other students find their interests in business, marketing, and education.
The decorations of Fr. Franz Giet Building at FJCU CFL during Christmas, photograph by Alyson Wang
According to Professor Kate, if the CFL Theatre is the first place where students can demonstrate their multiple skills and talents, Global Lounge is another stage and canvas in which students can display their specialties and learnings. Teachers including Professor Lydia Tseng and Professor Lin in the English Department are all taking leads in bringing students’ works into the Global Lounge. Many interactive games and projects with educational purposes designed by students had been exhibited in Global Lounge in the past few months. “To boast a little bit, we (referring to both faculties and students) are making a real social impact on our education,” said Professor Kate when asked about the impacts that Global Lounge brings upon CFL.
In fact, the Global Lounge has become an appealing attention not only through increasing its “visibility,” but also through its “fragrancy.” Since the new light meal bar entered Global Lounge, the aroma of light meals including sandwiches, congee, and pancakes has been tickling people’s appetite whenever passing by. “Food is the key!” a student from the College of Management said, “with delicious food, Global Lounge becomes a great place for hanging out with friends at noon or between classes.” The magic of food that gathers students together and at the same time creates a relaxing atmosphere indeed, is another ingenious arrangement highly correspondent with the core value as well as the slogan of Global Lounge, “Connect the Dots.”
In fact, the Global Lounge has become an appealing attention not only through increasing its “visibility,” but also through its “fragrancy.” Since the new light meal bar entered Global Lounge, the aroma of light meals including sandwiches, congee, and pancakes has been tickling people’s appetite whenever passing by. “Food is the key!” a student from the College of Management said, “with delicious food, Global Lounge becomes a great place for hanging out with friends at noon or between classes.” The magic of food that gathers students together and at the same time creates a relaxing atmosphere indeed, is another ingenious arrangement highly correspondent with the core value as well as the slogan of Global Lounge, “Connect the Dots.”
Along with the high table and seats next to the windows, the letters hanging down compose the slogan of the Global Lounge. “Connect the Dots,” as simple and straightforward as it is, conveys the vision of connecting students, faculties, societies, cultures, religions, and wisdom of different generations, or even more generally, connecting the contribution and love of individuals across any time and space. One of Steve Job’s quotes says, “You can’t connect the dots looking forward. You can only connect them looking backward. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future,” meaning everything we have done in the past will contribute to the future as long as we know how to connect the dots. Yet, besides this interpretation, “the phrase can refer to anything,” Professor Kate said, “it could also mean cross-cultural connection. This is why I like this phrase a lot.”
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The Global Lounge's windows seats and the slogan of Global Lounge – CONNECT THE DOTS, photograph by Lizzie Tsai
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