TAS Welcomes the Lycée Français de New York for Cultural Exchange

By Fish Tung, Assistant Communications Officer

TAS warmly welcomed students and teachers from the Lycée Français de New York for a day of cultural exchange during their trip to Taiwan. On March 29, our Middle and Upper School students took the lead in ensuring our friends from New York felt embraced and engaged throughout their visit. 

The day was filled with a vibrant array of activities designed to immerse our guests in Taiwanese culture. TAS students assumed the role of ambassadors, guiding the visiting students through our campus. Our Middle School and Upper School Mandarin teachers and students, with infectious enthusiasm, led various hands-on activities, each carefully curated to provide an authentic glimpse into Taiwanese hospitality and culture. 

The Lycée students and teachers offered a delightful blend of Taiwanese melodies in return, including a rendition of a song by the renowned Taiwanese singer Tsai Chin, and a video presentation introducing their wonderful school. 

The highlights of the day included sessions on calligraphy, bookmark making, spirited games of Mahjong, a shuttlecock competition, and even creating a night market-like atmosphere with games. The students particularly enjoyed the ring toss game a lot while they had the chance to win prizes to take home! 

Reflecting on the event, our Upper School and Middle School Mandarin teachers expressed excitement for the opportunity. “Hosting our friends from Lycée Français de New York was a fantastic experience for both our students and faculty. We are grateful for the connections forged during their visit, and it’s heartwarming to see their students had so much fun in those games!”  

The sessions provided a firsthand experience of Taiwanese tradition and fostered a beautiful fusion of cultures and friendships. In response to the cross-cultural and cross-lingual exchanges, the day wrapped up with an engaging French class led by Madame Genoux, where the Lycée students shared their linguistic expertise and cultural context with our TAS students. Language served as a bridge to deeper understanding and respect, enriching the cultural experience for all involved. 

A student participant from Chinese Language Society also shared their thoughts, stating, “It was amazing to see how our new friends from New York embraced Taiwanese culture with such enthusiasm. The exchange of ideas and traditions was truly eye-opening, and I hope we can continue to host events like this in the future.” 

The establishment of this connection between TAS and Lycée Français de New York marks the progress of what we hope for many more opportunities for cultural exchange and partnership with schools globally. 

“Our Middle School and Upper School World Language teams put together a brilliant program, one which had them connect with TAS students, and I am sure that will turn out to be the anchor and highlight of their discovery of Taiwan,” Evelyne Estey, our Head of School (Interim) and former Head of School of the Lycée Français de New York, shared her heartfelt thanks to their visit, and to the team that made this wonderful event happen, “They had stars in their eyes during the campus tour, calligraphy, and Mahjong, among other activities, also gave them an extraordinary glimpse of a culture they have learned about and are eager to experience!”  

The cultural exchange between TAS and Lycée Français de New York exemplifies the power of shared experiences in fostering understanding and friendship across borders. As we continue to nurture these connections, we look forward to more enriching exchanges that celebrate diversity and unity in this community!