Abstract
Hospitality plays a large role in Chinese culture. Not only is it important to be a good host, but also to be a polite guest. These hospitality behaviors show kindness and appreciation to others, and also provide ways to give and save face and nurture relationships. Learning the subtleties of being a good host and polite guest can lead to better interpersonal interactions and intercultural understanding. For language learners, topics related to hospitality, table manners and etiquette are among the most motivating and interesting cultural artifacts. Investigating these topics can not only enhance learners’ language skills, but also inspire their critical thinking, inclusive thinking and respect for others. This paper explores an innovative way to incorporate the Chinese hospitality theme into the curriculum with digitalized materials that combine instructor presentation of aspects of Chinese hospitality with hands-on immersive experiential learning experiences, culminating with the students applying and showcasing their learning through community engagement. This process helps make the learning experience more practical, meaningful and impactful. Next, some examples of student participation in hospitality cultural events, community collaborative activities, or other community engagements are described. Finally, the paper provides some examples of how AI tools can be utilized in the hospitality curriculum. Not only for educators of Chinese, the study should also be useful for educators in other fields who may be interested in applying these techniques in different contexts.
Presenters
Sue Mei WuTeaching Professor of Chinese Studies, Department of Languages, Cultures and Applied Linguistics, Carnegie Mellon University, Pennsylvania, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
2025 Special Focus—The Art of Hospitality
KEYWORDS
Chinese Hospitality, Hospitality Pedagogy, Chinese Language and Culture
