Our Mandarin students have had a wonderfully busy and enriching week as they prepared to welcome the Lunar New Year and the arrival of the Year of the Horse, which falls on 17th February (during Half Term).
In lessons, students explored the cultural traditions associated with Lunar New Year and took part in a range of hands-on activities on Monday. They practised Chinese calligraphy, learning how to write the auspicious character 福 (Fu), and discovered the tradition of displaying “Fu” upside down to symbolise that good fortune has arrived. Students also created intricate paper cuttings and crafted traditional Chinese knots, both of which symbolise luck, unity and prosperity for the year ahead. These activities not only developed their cultural understanding but also gave them an appreciation of the artistry and symbolism behind the festival decorations seen across the Chinese-speaking world.
Students also enjoyed the Chinese food specially prepared by the school canteen, including spring rolls (celebrating the arrival of spring), chicken (which sounds similar to the word for good luck, 吉), fortune cookies and prawn crackers. The food added a wonderful festive atmosphere to the celebrations and was very much appreciated by the students.
On Thursday, students further enriched their learning by attending the BFI Mandarin Study Day, themed “Family, Culture and Modernity in Chinese Cinema.” The day offered students a valuable opportunity to engage with authentic Chinese film and to reflect on how themes of tradition, generational relationships and social change are portrayed in contemporary cinema. Students participated thoughtfully in discussions and workshops, and many commented on how much they enjoyed experiencing Mandarin in a real-world cultural context beyond the classroom.
It has been a fantastic week celebrating language, culture and creativity. We are very proud of the students’ enthusiasm and engagement, and we look forward to continuing our exploration of Chinese language and culture in the future.
We would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Happy Lunar New Year — may the Year of the Horse bring you happiness, good health and good fortune. We also wish everyone a restful and enjoyable Half Term break.
