We’re excited to share the engaging activities and projects our students have created. This year began with a strong focus on practical language applications and creative content development to bring Mandarin Chinese to life. Our approach emphasizes providing students with real-world applications of language learning to bring the classroom experience to life.

Cultivating Language Skills Through Creative Content

Students have been actively creating digital content in Mandarin Chinese, including short videos and e-books （Please refer to the illustration on the left). These projects challenge students to use language practically, capturing real-life scenarios that resonate with their daily experiences and interests. For example, a popular project has been the creation of e-books that cover conversational phrases, cultural insights, and essential grammar concepts beneficial for beginning Chinese learners. It’s inspiring to see how students infuse creativity, transforming standard lessons into vibrant, accessible resources.

Through these projects, students sharpen their recording skills and deepen their understanding of pronunciation and rhythm patterns. The experience of hearing their voices played back in Mandarin allows for self-correction, tonal pattern internalization, and increased confidence in speaking. These videos and e-books serve as learning materials and documentation of their language journey, helping them showcase their linguistic skills in future university and scholarship applications.

Celebrating Student Artistry in Chinese

Students had the chance to create artwork in their art class and express their ideas in Chinese. This project showcased their artistic talents and strengthened their language skills. Rosalind's piece was particularly inspiring（Please refer to the illustration on the right). She described her artwork from her Sculpture class in Chinese, saying,

“这个雕塑不仅仅是一个简单的盒子，更表达了我对海洋世界的热爱和对环境保护的思考：人们需要重视对海洋环境的保护，尤其是在面对海洋污染和栖息地破坏等问题时，每个人都能贡献自己的力量以维护我们共同的蓝色星球。”

Through her description, Rosalind conveyed the meaning behind her creation and the emotions it evokes.

This initiative encourages students to blend creativity with language, reminding us that art is a powerful way to express ourselves and share our stories. I look forward to seeing more students articulate their artistic visions in their creations and descriptions!

Skills for Future Careers

We’re excited to introduce new projects, including a cross-cultural video exchange program with Chinese-speaking peers from the La Salle Global Program. This will allow students to use Mandarin in authentic conversations and receive feedback from native speakers.

The first quarter has been filled with growth, creativity, and progress, setting a solid foundation for the year ahead. We look forward to deepening these experiences and seeing our students’ linguistic skills and confidence flourish.