To deepen international students’ understanding of and appreciation for China’s fine traditional culture and to innovate approaches to the global dissemination of Chinese culture, the Office of International Cooperation at Beijing City University (BCU) recently hosted the 2025 Chinese Language Program Idiom Competition for international students. The event was organized and coordinated by Ma Xinkai and Cui Yankun, faculty advisors responsible for international student affairs.
Themed “Idioms and Allusions: Carrying Forward Cultural Heritage,” the competition adopted an integrated teaching model that blended “idiom culture” with “digital technology.” In class, students and teachers actively engaged in interactive learning. Under faculty guidance, participants utilized AIGC (Artificial Intelligence Generated Content) tools to explore the historical contexts and cultural connotations behind Chinese idioms. Based on this exploration, they created a series of visually striking digital artworks and ultimately delivered lively, engaging short performances—each a vibrant fusion of technology and humanities.
José Horacio Flores, an international student from Mexico, shared: "We used AI to analyze the idiom ‘Shǒu Zhū Dài Tù’ (Waiting by the Stump for a Hare), generating contrasting visuals of ancient agrarian life and modern urban settings. We then adapted these into a short skit, bringing the idiom to life and making it feel close and relevant."
The team led by Luis Francisco Zepeda Ayala delivered a vivid performance of the idiom “Dōng Shī Xiào Pín” (Dong Shi Imitates Xi Shi), using expressive facial gestures and body language to illustrate the profound lesson that blind imitation not only fails to earn recognition but may also lead one to lose their true self. Meanwhile, Jacqueline Montserrat Gutiérrez Ortiz’s team employed AI-generated visuals of the idiom “Huà Bǐng Chōng Jī” (Drawing Cakes to Satisfy Hunger), combining them with short videos to artfully convey the idea that while fantasies may appear beautiful, they cannot satisfy real hunger—only hands-on practice can transform castles in the air into tangible sustenance.
Ma Xinkai remarked, “This competition was not merely a showcase of idiom culture, but also an innovative approach to cultural transmission. We witnessed how, when traditional culture meets modern technology, international students not only acquired knowledge of Chinese idioms but also gained deeper insight into the essence of Chinese culture through the creative process. This ‘AI + Culture’ model offers fresh perspectives for BCU’s international Chinese language education.”
Beijing City University (BCU) has always been committed to developing a new paradigm for international Chinese language education that integrates “culture + technology.” By leveraging innovative pedagogical methods, BCU aims to spark students’ interest in learning Chinese and deepen their cultural identification. This idiom competition not only provided international students with a platform to demonstrate their Chinese proficiency but also revitalized classical stories for the modern era, transforming them into vibrant emotional bridges connecting Chinese and global cultures.
