Chinese New Year Workshop in Biddick Hall School

From January 22nd to 24th, Confucius Institute at Newcastle University partnered with Biddick Hall Infant and Nursery School to successfully host a Chinese New Year workshop series at the South Shields Community Center.

The event saw approximately 300 students from the school, including toddlers aged 3 to 4 and Year 1 and Year 2 primary students. This marked the first collaboration between Confucius Institute and the school, representing the school's largest-ever Chinese cultural event.

The workshops aimed to immerse students in the charm of traditional Chinese culture, featuring activities such as calligraphy and Chinese painting. In the calligraphy workshop, CI Chinese teachers Na Yao and Wanxiu Chen designed lessons, starting from basic brushstrokes, guiding children to appreciate the beauty of Chinese characters. Using special "magic paper," children excitedly practiced writing, witnessing the ink disappear magically after a while. Subsequently, teachers taught the children Chinese characters for numbers, allowing them to experience the mystery of Chinese characters. They then attempted to write the character "吉" (good fortune) on red paper, conveying their blessings for the Chinese New Year.

Aside from calligraphy, Chinese painting was also a highlight of the workshops. Under the guidance of teacher Xuemei Chen, students explored the charm of ink painting, learning basic techniques to depict plum blossoms with ink outlines and red watercolor for the flowers.

This successful collaboration underscores the growing influence of the Confucius Institute in the local community. It aims to provide local students with more cultural experiences and enhance their opportunities for cross-cultural exchange through such activities.