SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2017
Geneva West Street School District Yuan Yuan started teaching Chinese at Geneva West Street School on September 11th. All 297 students in 16 classrooms from Kindergarten to 2nd grade show great interest in her class and think Mandarin Chinese is a fun language. In the first week, they were excited to learn their names in Mandarin. They say, “Yuan Laoshi hao,” when they meet their teacher in the hallway. Jennifer Spina, 1st grade teacher, said, “It is very lucky for my kids to learn Mandarin Chinese at this young age, and I am happy to learn and practice this glamorous language with my students.”
Students answering questions in class
Ms. Zhu started her classes at Geneva West Street Elementary School on September 6th. There are 20 students in kindergarten this year. This is first year they have Chinese lessons. On the first day of school, the students were excited to get a Chinese name and try to read it with their teacher. Ms. Zhu chose according to their English names some nice words from Chinese for her students.
Some parents know a name expresses good wishes for children in China.
At the first class, the students learned something about China and drew pictures entitled: “I know China is …” They learned that China is a big country and has a large population, the map of China looks like a rooster, and a national treasure of China is the panda. Students like pandas so much. The students are interested in China, which is a good start.
Students also learned words for greetings, numbers from one to ten, and a “Hello”
song. They read a story, Ducklings Cross the Road, with Chinese pictographic
characters including 日sun, 月 moon, 山 mountain, and 木 wood.
Ms. Zhu teaching “人”
Ms. Ding started the school year with Mandarin lessons at Geneva West Street Elementary School. All the 2nd graders in her class show great interest in Chinese language and culture. Her students enjoy Mandarin class and love to speak Chinese. They can say some basic daily expressions in Chinese, such as: hello, my name is ..., and good morning.
Learning about Chinese New Year
After they learned the words for colors, students liked painting Peking Opera masks very much. They also learned some Peking Opera culture: the patterns and coloring are thought to reveal personality.
Painting Peking Opera Masks
Mengqi Gu started her first class on September 11th. Most of the students in her class have been learning Chinese for one year. On the first day of school, a little girl came to her and drew a picture of a panda for her, which made her so happy, because it showed that these kids already like Chinese, which is a good beginning.
Learning about colors
To encourage students to learn new words, Ms. Gu invited them to take part in a game called, “Flies Pat”. It’s a good way to make learning words interesting.
Everyone had fun. The most important thing that Ms. Gu learned from the Mandarin class is that learning just happens when people are playing, as does sharing of culture.
The game, “Flies Pat”
Geneva North Street School District Ms. Hu worked at Geneva North Street Primary School, starting on the right track on September 11th. Her students are composed of students from four classes, mainly studying immersion literacy, math, and social studies. Hu also served as the Mandarin teacher for the language and cultural elective curriculum. Most of the students in the immersion program have been learning Chinese for two or three years. At present, Ms. Hu is at the stage of gaining further understanding with her students.
Students taking notes in class
Na Wang started her Mandarin teaching at North Street School on September 10th, which happens to be Teacher Appreciation Day in China. Just after the Morning Meeting, a gift bag and a bunch of colorful flowers were sent to her classroom to show the students’
appreciation and respect for Chinese culture. Ms. Wang was really moved and encouraged to do her work with full energy.
Students greeting each other
Northstar Christian Academy
On October 4th, 2017, Mid-Autumn Day in China, three Chinese teachers from the Confucius Institute at Alfred University made their way to Northstar Christian Academy (NCA) in Rochester, NY, and successfully conducted interesting Mid- Autumn Festival cultural activities with the K-6th graders.
Postcards made by 3rd graders
Showing the story of Chang’e Flying to the Moon
One of the classroom activities—writing lucky characters with a Chinese Calligraphy brush
Chinese Mid-Autumn Day bulletin board
North Syracuse Central School District At the beginning of the new school year, CIAU faculty Suping (Emma) Wang, Yuanhuan (Beverly) He and Ping (Kevin) Wang began in two Confucius classrooms at North Syracuse Central School District.
Ms. Annette Speach, North Syracuse Central School District Superintendent, praised the Chinese teachers’
achievements in recent years. She spoke highly of the professionalism shown in
celebrating the 2017 Chinese New Year Festival and Lantern Festival, and expressed willingness to cooperate in the long term.
Chinese teachers with Mrs. Donna Marie Norton, Executive Director for Data/Accountability and
School Improvement (second from right)
The three teachers spent a pleasant time with the fifth and sixth graders at Gillette Road Middle School and Roxboro Road Middle School. They promoted the Chinese program at the school open house and conducted four publicity activities for students and parents.
5th Grade Open House at Roxboro Road
Confucius Classroom at Gillette Road
In September and October, 271 students learned greetings, food, drinks, Tang poetry, and a “Clap Your Hands” song during Mandarin Chinese language classes. At the same time, the teachers went to students’ social studies classes and introduced the Yellow River Valley Civilization, which was popular among the students.
2017 Mandarin Program Presentation
Webutuck Central School District
On the morning of Sep. 5th, Superintendent R. Castellani convened the annual “day-before-school-starts”
meeting of school district faculty and staff. Mr. Castellani put forward the
development goals for the semester, introduced new colleagues for this year, including the Chinese teacher, Zhang Yi from the Confucius Instituteat Alfred, and expressed the district's expectations for the development of Chinese language teaching. After lunch, Mr. Lynch, Principal of EBIS, held a teacher's meeting to clarify the requirements and arrangements for the new semester. After that, the teachers returned to their own classrooms to organize and prepare for the students returning to school the next day. Our "China Corner" was set up in the classroom to welcome the seventh grade students.
Classroom “Chinese Corner”
Webutuck School District held its Mid- Autumn Festival in October, celebrating the largest Chinese culture lesson since the beginning of the school year.
Accompanied by the beautiful Chinese folk tune, "Moonlight Night in Spring River", Teacher Zhang told the students
the marvelous love tragedy of the magnificent, heroic Hou Yi and the kind and beautiful Chang'e, and the students were moved by the story to sigh.
At the Mid-Autumn Festival, everyone tried a traditional Chinese food, moon cakes, in order to understand the origins of the Mid-Autumn Festival and the traditional celebration methods. Then the students each chose their favorite Chinese fan and a moon and began to paint. The rules of painting were: you can paint anything, but let your fan and moon belong to China; you have to give her a Chinese essence. Children's ability to learn and insight are super; some used the image of the Chinese dragon in the classroom, and some put the story of the rabbit as the protagonist, and some drew Chinese characters.
After the exhibition, we compared the works in the Mid-Autumn Festival Calligraphy Contest made in the previous lesson, and the students visited the exhibition area.
Different countries, different cultures. The same is that we each have loved ones, we love our own home, and home may simply be where our loved ones are.
After this Festival, the children are better able to understand Chinese culture.
Students practicing calligraphy
Webutuck School District’s Mid-Autumn Festival
Pine Plains Central School District The far-away district of Pine Plains enjoyed a funny and interesting Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival on October 4, 2017.
The Chinese teacher, Mr. Huo, showed the Chinese Mid-autumn Festival on the powerpoint and told the students the love story of Hou Yi and Chang’E. When the
teacher showed the song video of Fay Wang’s Shui Diao Ge Tou, the students said, “The Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival song is so beautiful and sad.” After that, when the students gathered around the table to taste Moon cakes, all of them shouted about Chinese food: “It’s so delicious!”Then the students wrote the Chinese characters “中 秋 快 乐 ” with calligraphy brushes on paper. More than a hundred students and teachers enjoyed this activity, expanding the celebration of the Chinese Mid-autumn Festival.
Calligraphy display on Mid-autumn Festival
Chinese Corner Resumes at Alfred University
On September 7, CIAU Chinese Corner at Alfred University resumed for the fall semester in the Foreign Language Department, Perlman 104. More than six people participated in the Chinese Corner, and with the help of Chinese teachers and volunteers, they listened attentively to reading, practiced writing, and performed role plays with great interest.
Students learning to write in Chinese Corner
Chinese Corner meets every Thursday from 3:00-5:00 p.m. in Perlman 104 and welcomes students in Chinese classes and anyone else who is interested in learning the language and culture of China. The session includes language practice, cultural discussions, a video show, and games.
Guzheng Performance at Chamber Music Society of Olean
On September 9th, CIAU Associate Director Daisy Wu was invited to give a guzheng performance in Olean at St.
Bonaventure Church. The beautiful melodies of the guzheng attracted many visitors, and Olean Chamber Music Association chairman, cellist Rintaro Woda, expressed his thanks to Daisy Wu for her performance.
Ensemble of Rintaro Woda and Daisy Wu playing Faint Aroma
Guzheng solo Fighting the Typhoon
“How to Be a Good K-12 Teacher”
Speech at Buffalo University
On September 16th, at the invitation of Associate Professor Huadong Yin, the Chinese director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Buffalo, Associate Professor Jijun Yu, the Chinese director of CIAU, went to give a speech on “How to Be a Good K-12 Teacher.”
The report received a warm response.
Jijun Yu and Zhiqiang Liu, who is the
director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Buffalo, also agreed on future cooperation between the two Confucius Institutes.
Dr. Rick Stephens and Dr. Wilfred Huang Visit Hanban, Confucius Institute Headquarters in Beijing
On September 18th, Alfred University Provost Rick Stephens and Dr. Wilfred Huang, the Director of CIAU, visited Hanban/Confucius Institute Headquarters in Beijing. They were cordially met by Ms. Wei Jing, Deputy Director of Hanban and Vice President of Confucius Institute Headquarters. Hanban Deputy Director Shifang Ren and Project Manager Jiangwei Liu also attended the meeting.
Lijun Zhang, the Deputy Director of the Foreign Affairs Department of China University of Geosciences presented at the meeting, as well. All present discussed the future development and key projects of CIAU in the coming years.
Autumn Course in Chinese Painting
On October 3rd, the autumn Chinese painting course offered by the CIAU was opened at the Wimodaughsian Library in Canisteo, NY, attracting 11 Chinese painting amateurs. Volunteer Teacher Yi Wenlin served as the instructor.
Members of the Chinese painting class
The starter was a goldfish. As Yi wielded the brush and sketched the contours, she explained in detail the keys to painting the goldfish’s tail, stomach, and eyes, as well as the metaphor of goldfish for wealth and luck in Chinese culture.
Yi demonstrating painting the goldfish tail
After her demonstration, Yi instructed each member how to paint, step by step.
More and more goldfish were vividly revealed on the paper as the artists practiced earnestly.
Yi instructing members on how to paint
Mrs. Terry Butler showing her painting
October 3rd was by chance the Mid- Autumn Festival in China, so the teacher and volunteer assistants introduced the traditional culture of the Mid-Autumn Festival and shared mooncakes, a traditional festival food, with everyone.
Joanne, the organizer of the Chinese painting course, said, “This is a very good platform for cultural exchange. We get together because we have the same hobby. There’s nothing better than this.”
Confucianism Lecture at AU
CIAU teacher Andy Yu was invited by Mr. Chris Yarnal, professor of religion at Alfred University, to give a lecture on October 9th for the class on world religions. This was the fourth time CIAU was invited to give a cultural lecture at AU.
Andy Yu introducing Confucianism
Professor Yu introduced the doctrine of Confucianism, which advocates an ideal of "sageliness within and kingliness without", and its magnificent influence on Chinese culture. He also discussed the similarities and differences in culture between China and Western countries.
“Confucius Institute Day” at Alfred University
On the afternoon of October 7th, the Confucius Institute at Alfred University held a Chinese cultural experience demonstration to celebrate "Confucius
Institute Day." The second floor of the Joyce & Walton Center was divided into four exhibition areas for a lecture on traditional Chinese medicine, performances of guzheng, and opportunities to try calligraphy and other hand-crafts. Dr. Herbert Lau, a famous Chinese medicine practitioner from Buffalo, gave the experiential lecture on traditional Chinese medicine. Alfred University students, teachers, community residents, visiting scholars, and Confucius teachers attended the celebration.
Dr. Herbert Lau introducing traditional Chinese medicine
Audience members tried acupuncture
Guzheng performance
Traditional Chinese hand-crafts
Hunan University of Technology visits AU
On the morning of October 23rd, Changfan Zhang, the vice chancellor of Hunan University of Technology (HUT), visited CIAU to sign an agreement strengthening cooperation between the two universities. Mark Zupan, the president of Alfred University, and Provost Rick Stephens met with Changfan Zhang and his entourage.
AU Chinese class experiences Chinese food
On October 26th, CIAU held a dumpling- making activity for Chinese Corner at the Confucius House. Many students came to participate and experience Chinese culture.
Students making dough for dumplings
The activity started with the introduction of some Chinese cultural knowledge, and then the CIAU faculty demonstrated the six steps of the whole process, including
making the dough, making fillings, forming wrappers, wrapping the dumplings, cooking the dumplings, and serving the dumplings.
Tasting dumplings
After the event, all the participants tasted their hand-made dumplings.
Upcoming Events:
Jan. 16th: Taichi Class of the spring semester resumes on every Monday to Friday from 9:00 - 10:00 am
Jan. 18th: Chinese Corner of the spring semester resumes on every Thursday from 3:00 - 5:00 pm at Perlman Hall 201
Feb. 17th: Chinese New Year Festival Gala, Powell Campus Center Knight Club, 5:00 – 8:00 pm
Confucius Institute at Alfred University
Board of Directors:
Charles Edmonson Terry S. Galanis Laura Greyson
Fang Hao (Deputy Chair) Changqian Ma
Rick Stephens (Chair) Lijun Zhang
Partner Institute:
China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, Hubei, China
Director:
Wilfred Huang Chinese Director:
Jijun (Andy) Yu Associate Director:
Zhongbei (Daisy) Wu Assistant Director:
Susan Steere Instructors:
Yulong (Charles) Chen Tianyi (Cessie) Cui Liping (Lucy) Ding Wenfang (Doris) Gao Mengqi (Sharon) Gu Yuanhuan (Beverly) He Haiyang (Hilary) Hu Guobao (Jack) Huo Xiaochao (Natasha) Tao Menglin (Niki) Tong Na (Wanda) Wang Ping (Kevin) Wang Suping (Emma) Wang Yun (Katie) Wang Yang (Cherry) Yang Wenlin (Iris) Yi Yuan Yuan
Baike (Helen) Zhang Yi (Joy) Zhang
Mengwei (Vivian) Zhu
