Cultural Evening – Let’s visit your country!

And understandably so, as it attracts students from over 50 different nationalities, speaking more than 60 diverse languages, and with a variety of cultural backgrounds. So how do students benefit from this “Cours Florent melting pot”?

Culture, and where one is from, shapes the identity and personality of every human being, and in no instance does it manifest more than for the artist. It is essential, in the creative fields, to broaden one’s horizon and delve into understanding the amazing diversity of human cultures and interactions better. One way of promoting and celebrating intercultural awareness is through our Cultural Evening sponsored by the Departments of Acting in English, Schauspiel auf Deutsch (Acting in German) and Actuar en Espanol (Acting in Spanish).  Students are encouraged to invite us to visit their country by offering a presentation on their cultures and traditions, in the language of their choice, highlighting what a visitor should see, do and experience when they first arrive.  Some teach basic words in their mother tongue, some explain unique cultural ways of greeting or give us a culinary experience by letting us taste traditional foods.  Other students share with us highlights about the countryside, explain various festivities or celebrations that exist in that culture, talk about traditional clothes, jewelry, nature, the mentality, the school system, the languages in their country, the political situation, economy, currency, etc.  Some also bring a flag of their home country or show us on a map where their cultural puzzle piece fits.

The goal of the Cultural Evening is to celebrate the international heritage our students bring to and incorporate into their studies, and share some fun, interesting and eye-opening elements of their various cultures and countries. At the end of the evening the students are all excitedly talking with each other, forging new friendships, while enjoying food and culinary treats from around the world. Who wouldn’t be eager to jump on a plane after such  introductions?  One of the games played is called “Where are you from?” which seems like quite a straight-forward and simple question, but given the amazing diversity of students who attend, it becomes the gateway to a literal world of wonders!

If you attended last year’s event, you were amazed by a speech on South Africa and Lesotho, a play on words & puns between the English and French language, a speech on the topic of “Being an Actor and a TCK (Third Culture Kid)”, as well as poems in Antiguan Vybez and a Chinese song. If you are now asking yourself what a TCK is and what that has to do with international students at Cours Florent, you know that you missed out on our Cultural Evening last year.

This year students shared traditional songs from their home countries, and offered amazing dance performances. We travelled around the globe (Israel, Romania, Oman, Namibia, etc.) and if you’re wondering where these countries are and who their neighboring countries are and what they eat in these countries, it confirms that you’ll want to attend our next Cultural Evening!

Understanding each other better, making friendships across borders and continents, laughing together, while also studying hard and becoming better and respectful actors and artists, are all part of the students’ experience in the International Department at Cours Florent.

Read below some comments of our students on how they experienced the Cultural Evening:

• "The highlight was being able to converse with people that I knew and also with other classmates of the colleagues and get to know them on a deeper level. I learnt a new way to learn a language I was struggling with so....yay! As a third year, I’m gonna miss it every year!” (Jordan)
• "I was very happy to attend this evening. It is very nice that Course Florent organizes events for students from which all can learn something and share nice moments and food. It was very exciting to discover new cultures, new foods, new languages, traditions, dance, music. What I learned from this is that it's amazing to open your heart, your point of view, and it makes you get closer to people from other countries.” (Ela)
• "The highlight of the evening for me was the personal insight into so many countries from people who all share a passion of the arts. It was a pleasure to hear something special or unheard of about all the different countries. Trading and sharing first hand local stories and experiences provided me with something different and that’s what made the event so special. I was able to connect similarities between different cultures in terms of habits and traditions. I was able to realize common ground which will help me to strengthen and forge friendships. I noted that in Uganda for example, Swahili is spoken and I know Swahili is also spoken within my country, Oman. I am amazed at how many countries, cultures and languages are represented under one roof at Cours Florent! I am so happy I attended this special evening and encourage all of Cours Florent to take future advantage of such an intimate and insightful collaboration." (Maimoona)