Dear Parents,
The morning went smoothly and as expected, with our routine activities.
Based on the teachers’ observation that many children appear lethargic and sleepy in the afternoon, we have a slight change in class scheduling. All language classes are now moved to before lunch. So today, we had our Chinese Paper Cutting class early afternoon. Li Laoshi (who teaches B Class) is a professional art teacher; she gives all lessons related to Chinese art. Today, she introduced the children to “tuan2 hua1”—traditional Chinese paper cuts that are used as decorations on various festive occasions. She used PowerPoint to explain shapes, designs, layers, levels, and symbolisms of this art form as well as methods, procedures and pitfalls in the making of this form. She then demonstrated with real paper and scissors how to make one. Everyone had a chance to try at least three or four designs and the end products were put upon classroom windows; it was a beautiful art show! Chloe’s work was conceptually outstanding and meticulously accomplished; Arnold came up with a paired dog shape through trial and error. These two children received special mention by Li Laoshi.
Yan Laoshi, Tian Laoshi and I monitored self-study. All were able to finish their work ahead of scheduled time. A Class read some supplementary materials that we have prepared in connection with our field trips. Afterwards, I gave all the children an orientation of the Great Wall and Chinese porcelain (jing3-tai4-lan2, or cloisonné), to get ready for field trips tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. We discussed Chinese dynasties as they correlate to significant events (as they know it) in world history, the specific historical contingencies and physical features of the Great Wall, as well as the cultural universality that it shares with walls elsewhere in the world. For cloisonné, we discussed its origin, use, and its making. I gave the children a total of eight pages of handout (including both visual, textual background knowledge and practical problems to solve) today and they seemed to be really receptive and responsive to the materials. When I asked them who are interested in history, a vast majority of the children shot up their hands! They seem to relish snippets of history, grotesqueries and legends alike. The children’s attention and enthusiasm at the end of a long day of classes was contagious.
In the evening, some were playing chess in Gong Laoshi’s room, some playing Chinese yo-yo in the hallway, some rehearsing performances that they would give at the closing graduation ceremony next week. Yes, Wang Laoshi and others are already planning the graduation ceremony. It is almost at the end of our second week now. We have only one more week to go for our classroom and fieldtrip learning! Time flies. It has been a short two weeks thus far, but we have traveled a respectable distance, into the realm of Chinese language and culture; and for me, it has also been a journey into our own spheres of mind perhaps hitherto overlooked.
We’ll have a full day out tomorrow. My wireless online card has been giving me some problems since yesterday. So, apologies in advance if the daily report reaches you at erratic times.
Best wishes,
Agnes (aka He Laoshi)