Describe the City You Live In (2024)
This live performance on Twitch takes the form of a simulated TOEFL speaking class, where I assume the role of an instructor guiding students through practice exams. As the “lesson” unfolds, I intertwine technical breakdowns of exam strategies with personal reflections on my study-abroad journey, exploring the evolution of my ideals around global citizenship and my shifting perceptions of the “world” over the past decade.
English was used to answer the exam questions, while the rest of the performance was conducted in Chinese, accompanied by real-time auto-translation.
The performance mirrors the structured, formulaic nature of standardized testing while exposing the emotional and existential layers beneath. During each segment, I juxtapose the rote mechanics of test preparation—templates, structures, and formulas—with my own fragmented memories and contemplation.