Chinese culture through literary education
Date:January 23,2017
Author:YK Pao School
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Hello, Campus Literature – Chinese culture through literary education
YK Pao School students showcase Han clothing in the fashion show segment of 'Hello, Campus Literature'
On November 6, YK Pao School’s Secondary Division hosted ‘Hello, Campus Literature,’ a joint project by Pao School, Xuelin Press, the editorial team behind ‘Literature on Campus of China’ and Shanghai Language Society.
Guests at the event, which included the President of Xuelin Press and Vice President of the Shanghai Language Society Duan Xuejian, Chinese Society Vice President and Shanghai Shibei Middle School Chen Jun, Graduate Advisor and Instructor from East China Normal University’s Institute of Curriculum and Instruction Ou Peimin, actively discussed campus literature at Pao School Secondary Division’s learning hub – the Oxygen Bar.
Pao School students took centre-stage at the event: Jonas Vogt, Pao School design club WeeStudios’ Creative Lead, was responsible for both visual design and on-site monitoring, while classmates and debate club presidents Clementine Li and Alan Zhang served as emcees and Lucy Chen chaired the debate. In addition, over 10 campus ambassadors under the direction of student Ricky Yu welcomed guests and ensured a smooth event from start to finish. Participating Pao School clubs included the Yurun literary club, ‘Pao Weekly,’ Sinology club, drama club and the student anthology editorial team.
An abundance of the day’s planned activities, including drama (‘The Thunderstorm,’ ‘The Fox and the Lion,’ ‘Lecturefield,’ ‘A Dream in Red Mansions’), fashion show, drum performances, music (‘A Song of Pure Happiness,’ ‘Yueyang Tower’), debate (‘A Dream in Red Mansions’ – Lin Daiyu vs Xue Baochai: Which is more popular today?) fully demonstrated the richness of Pao School’s literary programme. Pao School Secondary Division’s Executive Principal Dr Paul Wood was also on hand to personally present certificates to the school’s student anthology team and welcome all attendees in his opening speech: ‘We want our students at YK Pao School to develop an international perspective, but we believe strongly that that international perspective has to be built on a foundation of appreciation for their Chinese heritage and culture. This is also a great learning opportunity for foreign teachers and students.’
One of China's classic works, ‘A Dream in Red Mansions,’ is mandatory reading for YK Pao School’s IB Diploma programme. Its notably high level of difficulty posed no challenge for the attending students, who expertly and passionately contended the novel’s topics, eventually coming to a heated climax. Chinese Society Vice President Chen Jun praised students for elevating the debate to a level beyond the novel itself, reflecting the astounding level of maturity as well as broad perspective and youth vitality of today’s secondary school students, especially those from Pao School.
In the second part of event, Duan Xuejian, Chen Jun and Pao School Headmaster Wu Zijian presented awards to the top 14 ‘Literature on Campus of China’ submissions. Pao School Year 10 student Scarlett Wang was recruited as a member of the ‘Literature on Campus of China’ editorial board. At the ceremony, Headmaster Wu expressed that Chinese language education has always held a very important position at Pao School. The school’s Chinese programme in the primary to senior high school levels are in line with the national standards for such programmes, and at the secondary level, the three classics are a compulsory component. In addition, Pao School’s teachers are not only extremely qualified Chinese teachers, its foreign teachers are also intensifying their studies in Chinese, and have achieved excellent results in the Chinese aptitude tests administered by the city.
President of Xuelin Press Duan Xuejian saw the debate as an example of the true meaning of education, giving students the ability to solve real world problems as well as the opportunity to acquire new skills in the learning process.
Duan Xuejian and Chen Jun were among those interviewed during the question and answer session that followed. Together, they discussed campus literature as well as literature reading and education at the secondary level, offering recommendations on the way in which students can begin reading and and expressing their own views through composition, but also how schools can get involved and encourage students in such endeavours.
YK Pao School is committed to literary education for its students and is continuing to make concerted efforts to develop a unique Chinese programme. The school’s Chinese department leverages its Shanghai Plus, IGCSE and IB Diploma Programmes to explore effective learning methods for students with regard to Chinese literature, guiding them in establishing editorial teams for student anthologies, literature clubs, and supporting cultural activities which combine Chinese literature with Chinese culture, including debate, drama, sinology and calligraphy clubs. In addition, the department also continues to explore partnerships and networks that will provide high-quality learning opportunity for students.
Passing on traditions of Chinese culture is part of YK Pao School’s mission. The school hopes to see even greater participation from other schools, and hopes to continue organising meaningful Chinese literary events, events that are crucial to helping students better understand Chinese culture.
