Students experience language and culture through board games

Pearce Hall was the site of fierce competition April 9 as students, faculty and staff faced off in card and board game competitions.

International Game Night hosted by the Department of History, World Languages, and Cultures offers an opportunity to relax, meet people, and learn about a variety of cultures. Attendees played Baden-Württemberg Catan, Mille Bornes, Zug um Zug, Serpientes y Escaleras, and sugoroku, among others.

Open to everyone in the CMU community, this event is organized each semester by professors Daniela Richter and Leïla Ennaïli.

Many students taking language classes came to the event and brought their friends—who quickly turned into enemies once the competition heated up. The convivial atmosphere is always conducive to sharing language and cultural knowledge. For instance, a student in Spanish taught some vocabulary to their peers while playing Lotería. Other students found enjoyment in stymieing the progress of their competitors while learning how to say “accident,” “pneu crevé,” and “panne d’essence” through the classic French card game Mille bornes.

International Game Night is a highlight on the calendars of many of the world languages faculty, who grab a seat at the table to join in the games with their students. Whether participants walked away victorious or had an unlucky night this time, they all enjoyed the experience and looked forward to a rematch at the next International Game Night in the fall.