【選修課推薦】Central Asian Studies｜一場不只是課堂，而是真正的中亞之旅//Elective Course Recommendation
國立政治大學 外交學系
Hi! I’m a second-year student in the Department of Diplomacy, and this semester I had the opportunity to take Central Asian Studies. Looking back, I can honestly say that this class felt more like a journey than just another academic course.
I intentionally describe it as a journey because it perfectly combined theory with practice—the best possible approach to learning about any region. The course was structured in two parts, which made the learning process both engaging and immersive.
大家好！我是外交學系二年級學生。這學期很幸運選修了 Central Asian Studies（中亞研究），對我而言，這不只是一門課，更像是一場探索中亞的旅程。
我之所以說是「旅程」，是因為這門課最大的特色在於——理論與實踐並行。對任何區域研究來說，這無疑是最理想的學習方式。
First Half of the Semester: Building Foundations
During the first half, we explored various topics related to Central Asia, including its history, culture, politics, and society. Classes were highly interactive. Besides lectures, we played Kahoot quizzes, gave presentations, and discussed different issues together. These activities created a lively atmosphere and encouraged everyone to participate actively.
課程內容: 課程大致分為兩個部分。
前半學期：建立基礎知識
前半學期主要介紹中亞地區的歷史、文化、政治與社會等議題。上課方式非常多元，不只是傳統講授，我們還會：
📌進行小組報告；
📌討論不同議題；
📌透過 Kahoot 互動遊戲複習內容；
分享各自對中亞地區的觀察與看法。
整個課堂氣氛非常輕鬆活潑，讓人能夠自然地參與討論。
Second Half of the Semester: Meeting Central Asia Face-to-Face
The second half was what made this course truly special. We had the opportunity to meet and speak directly with representatives from Central Asian countries. Several guest sessions were organized around different themes, allowing us to gain first-hand perspectives and understand the region from multiple angles.
These conversations transformed what we had learned in class into something much more tangible and meaningful. It was a unique chance to hear personal experiences and engage with people whose cultures and backgrounds we had been studying.
後半學期：與中亞人民面對面交流
我認為這也是這門課最特別的部分。
在後半學期，我們有機會直接與來自中亞各國的人士交流。每一次講座都有不同主題，從文化、社會到國家發展等議題，讓我們能夠從第一手經驗更全面地認識中亞，而不只是透過課本上的知識。
這樣的安排讓區域研究變得更加立體，也真正體現了「學以致用」。
A Wonderful Learning Environment
Our professor Aymira Tasbas (艾彌拉) was incredibly kind, enthusiastic, and cheerful. Her passion for the subject was contagious and made every class enjoyable. She always encouraged discussion and created a welcoming atmosphere where everyone felt comfortable sharing their thoughts.
One of my favorite memories from the course was the final class. Our professor prepared plov, a traditional Central Asian dish, for everyone to enjoy. We also had the opportunity to see and interact with cultural artifacts from Kyrgyzstan, which added a wonderful cultural dimension to the course and made the semester end on a memorable note.
課堂氛圍
授課老師艾彌拉非常親切、熱情且充滿活力。無論是在上課、討論還是回答問題時，都能感受到老師對中亞研究的熱愛，也讓學生更願意主動參與。
最令人印象深刻的是，在學期最後一堂課，老師親自準備了中亞特色料理——抓飯（Plov），與大家一起分享。此外，我們還有機會接觸來自吉爾吉斯的傳統文化物品，讓課堂不只是知識的學習，更是一場文化體驗。
Course Information
📌 Credits: 3
📌 Assessment: Midterm exam + final essay on a topic of your choice
成績方式
📌 學分：3 學分
📌 評量方式：
期中考
期末依照自己感興趣的主題撰寫期末報告（Essay）
Overall Impression
I would highly recommend this course to anyone interested in international relations, diplomacy, regional studies, or cultural exchange. It is much more than a class about Central Asia—it is an opportunity to experience the region through academic study, meaningful discussions, and direct interaction with people from Central Asia.
Without a doubt, it has been one of the most enjoyable and memorable elective courses I have taken.
推薦理由
如果你對國際關係、外交、文化交流、區域研究感興趣，我非常推薦這門課。
它不只是讓你「學習中亞」，而是讓你真正走進中亞、接觸中亞、理解中亞。
對我來說，這是一門兼具知識性、人文性與互動性的課程，也是這學期最有溫度、最難忘的一門選修課。
P.S.: If you say the code phrase: I'm from Lera, you will get +1 point to the essay
