National Sun Yat-sen University's Xiwan College's Center for Excellence in English Instruction (CEEI) held the "Xiwan Treasure Hunt Mystery Game" on April 1st of this semester, organized by Assistant Professor Chen Ruihua. The purpose of this event was to take English teaching outside the classroom and allow students to realize that English is a tool for communication, not just a subject to pass exams. Students showed great enthusiasm for this activity, with registrations filling up within just two days, reaching the maximum capacity of 100 participants, and many more teams were on the waiting list. Participants came from various countries.

In collaboration with the Yangtao Studio, this event used the story of Momotaro as the basis for the treasure hunt mystery. The concept was inspired by National Sun Yat-sen University, often referred to as the "Momotaro University" because it is the only campus in Taiwan with three companions of Momotaro: a monkey, a dog, and a bird.

The puzzles in this event incorporated the school's characteristics and landmarks. For example, quotes from the poem "Train" translated by the late Professor Yu Guangzhong from the works of Turkish poet Tarangi, a portrait of German political philosopher Hannah Arendt next to the gymnasium, and quotes from her book "The Human Condition" published in 1958, a public art piece "The Sun Rises from the West" near the Yixian Hall, which features monkeys and a giant hollow ball composed of flower-shaped patterns, and a public art piece "Zhongshan 40+ Doctor" celebrating the establishment of the Bachelor of Medicine program at National Sun Yat-sen University, etc.

During the game, local students had to explain Chinese poems or questions to international students in English, and international students had to help local students solve the puzzles in English. When encountering difficulties, they could ask the "All-knowing" for help. Students could receive hints by completing English tongue twisters or writing English words with body parts within a limited time frame. Laughter and amazement filled the campus during the game.

To encourage students to unleash their creativity, a special "Madame Cloth" Creative Costume Award was set up. The team "Riddle Solvers are Better than Dancers" stated that the treasure hunt game spanned the entire campus, requiring a lot of energy, and the questions corresponded to winding paths, demanding keen observation skills and physical endurance. They needed to solve puzzles with English words to complete the game successfully. Due to the intense mental stimulation, the words related to the answers were truly unforgettable. They expressed their gratitude to the organizers and looked forward to a good night's sleep.

Executive Director Li Xianglan of the Center for Excellence in English Instruction expressed that the most common difficulty in promoting English on campus is that students are often reluctant to speak up. The purpose of organizing this real-world mystery-solving activity is to make learning English "painless". Using English to solve puzzles during the game creates a more relaxed context compared to regular exams. The center also offers regular activities such as English Table, English Club, and English Speaking and Writing Studios for students to choose freely. Through these non-traditional learning methods, students can practice language skills while also promoting interpersonal interactions. Students are welcome to visit the Xiwan College website for more information and make full use of these free resources. Director of Academic Affairs Lin Boqiao stated that although English cultivation in the classroom is important, continuous extracurricular exposure is also essential. Through the creative activities organized by the Center for Excellence in English Instruction, students' motivation to use English will be enhanced, allowing them to seamlessly integrate into the bilingual environment.