March 21, 2025
字圆其说 x IFSA
Workshop
For the third time, Jing Chai was invited by the Program Head of IFSA (Institute for Study Abroad) to give a special talk on The Evolution of Chinese Characters, with a focus on how the written script has been uniquely adapted in teaching Chinese to speakers of other languages. The topic resonated deeply with the visiting cohort of U.S. students, many of whom are currently navigating their own journeys of learning Chinese abroad.
The session quickly evolved into a lively and heartfelt discussion. Students eagerly shared personal stories about their experiences learning to read and write Chinese characters at their respective universities. They spoke of the challenges such as stroke order confusion and character memorization, but also of the unexpected joy they found in uncovering meaning through form, and in witnessing the visual logic of the language unfold.
Following the talk, Professor Chai led the group on a campus tour that concluded at the exhibition A Cosmos Within Chinese Characters. Surrounded by intercultural interpretations and student-generated artworks, the IFSA visitors reflected on how their own learning paths connected with those of the international creators featured in the project. Many expressed how the exhibition reshaped their perception of Chinese, not as an impenetrable code, but as an expressive system alive with creativity, culture, and human experience.
The visit left a deep impression on the group, sparking not only greater appreciation for the Chinese writing system, but also new motivation to embrace their own language learning journey with curiosity and imagination.