On Thursday 23rd November, Lancaster University Confucius Institute teachers delivered a Chinese Day at Burton Morewood Primary School, Carnforth immersing pupils in Chinese language and culture. The day featured a variety of activities tailored to different age groups, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of China.

The cornerstone of the day was the Chinese language learning sessions for different year groups. The pupils delved into Chinese language words through engaging and interactive exercises, learning essential greetings and expressions such as "你好" (nǐ hǎo - hello), "老师好" (lǎo shī hǎo - hello, teacher), "你好吗" (nǐ hǎo ma - how are you), "我很好" (wǒ hěn hǎo - I am very well), "谢谢" (xièxiè - thank you), "不客气" (bù kèqì - you're welcome), and "再见" (zàijiàn - goodbye) as well as an introduction to the 12 Chinese Zodiac signs.

In addition to linguistic and cultural explorations, pupils engaged in creative activities. Year 5/6 pupils had the opportunity to create traditional Peking opera masks, fostering their creativity and understanding of Chinese art forms. Year 3/4 pupils enthusiastically crafted animal zodiac hats. Meanwhile, Year 1/2 had a delightful time making panda themed crafts, combining learning with hands-on creativity.

The team received feedback from both students and teachers. One teacher commented, "Alex, spoke really well and lead us on a cultural journey through some important cities in China. He shared pictures and descriptions of his favourite food with the children and encouraged a love of travel in and around China. He finished helping the children to make traditional Peking opera masks, which they thoroughly enjoyed. Alex was engaging, interesting, polite, and helpful - Y5 really enjoyed their session! It was a lovely intro to Chinese language and culture."

A teacher in Year 2 said, “Chen Xiao, Alex, and Ruan Yu were commended for their friendliness and enthusiasm in providing an interactive and enjoyable activity for Year 1 and Year 2 children. The multi-sensory approach employed in their sessions left all the children with a very positive experience.”

The success of Chinese Day at Burton Morewood Primary School not only enriched students' understanding of Chinese language and culture but also fostered an environment of cultural appreciation and collaboration.