On November 7, 2025, four students from the English Language and Literature program at Xiamen University Malaysia (XMUM), with a focus on French studies, participated in WikiSelera 2025: Francophone Gastronomy. The event was organized by Wikimedia Malaysia in partnership with the French Embassy in Malaysia and Alliance Française Kuala Lumpur, aimed at producing a bilingual recipe book that highlights Francophone cuisine. This initiative allowed participants to explore and engage with Francophone culture while contributing to the broader field of open knowledge.
Wikibook Editing Workshop
During the event, students participated in a Wikibook editing workshop that concentrated on French gastronomy. They collaborated with French language learners from the University of Malaya, Nottingham University, and Sunway University. Under the supervision of instructors and volunteers, participants developed skills in source verification, objective writing, and multilingual editing in English, Malay, and French.
Participant Feedback
Feedback from participants indicated that the experience was impactful. A third-year student, Jin Shuo, noted the significance of each edit made, stating it contributed to knowledge available to a global audience. Wang Ziye, another student, remarked that researching French dishes provided a seamless blend of language learning and cultural immersion, enhancing her understanding of Francophone culinary traditions.
(Source: Xiamen University Malaysia)
