Chinese department hosts cultural celebration of the Lunar New Year
A red dragon, glistening with gold mane and scales, flew throughout the lobby, its body flowing with the rhythmic beats of traditional Chinese songs. Students and teachers cheered and clapped as they watched the Chinese Second Language (CSL) 8 class perform the complicated yet mesmerizing Chinese Dragon Dance. This is one of the many activities the SMIC-I Middle High School Chinese office had prepared for the most festive holiday of Chinese culture – Chinese New Year.
After weeks of practicing, CSL 8 mastered their performance. Dressed in matching red and black outfits, they waved the dragon up and down and over their heads as if it were dancing throughout the room. Dragon Dance is an old tradition that is quite difficult to master, but the class was still determined, and so they rehearsed endlessly with the help of online tutorials. Ms. Nancy Cheng, the CSL 8 teacher, said, “Dragon and Lion Dances are all crucial parts of Chinese New Year; they bring out the festivity in the holiday. We want our students to experience and get in touch with Chinese culture and the holiday.” After their performance, the students handed out Red Envelopes to the audience, wishing them a Happy New Year. “The performance was really fun,” commented Jay Jung (12C). “The song was really upbeat and the middle schoolers looked really cool.”
Around the school building, handmade decorations have also been hung from the ceilings and pasted on walls to celebrate this national holiday. One of the most interesting decorations is a board pinned in front of the Student Affairs office that contains a series of QR codes next to teachers’ profiles. The CSL 7 Chinese class students had gone to most of the foreign teachers to teach them Chinese festive greetings. By scanning the QR codes, others can hear their hard work. “I am always looking forward to learning Chinese phrases, especially when I get to use them whenever I can,” exclaimed Ms. Molly Sternin, who teaches US History. “Being able to learn a phrase I can use during Chinese New Year was super exciting. I thought it was nice that the middle schoolers were willing to come up to faculty members they didn’t know and encourage [us] to practice our Chinese.” Ms. Madison Li, the CSL 7 teacher, explained her reason for this activity. “We hope we can allow our students to use their newly learned knowledge. Since they are learning Chinese themselves, by letting them teach foreign teachers this language, it gives them a sense of accomplishment.”
Chinese New Year is the biggest holiday in China. Although we are an English private school consisting of mostly foreign students and teachers, we do not forget to celebrate the holidays of the country we live in. “I like how the students and teachers are promoting Chinese culture and going out of their way to educate the student body and faculty,” shared Michelle Wassmuth (12A). Through the Dragon Dance, the decorations, and other various activities, the Chinese faculty has brought the holiday to every one of us with cheer and festivity.
Featured Image – Isha Shirsat, Assia Heikkila, and Mary Kawashima (left to right) stand holding Chinese lanterns and ornaments Courtesy of Ms. Nancy Li