BFT China
Cultural Exchange Class
This course pairs Chinese and American students of similar age and reading levels to engage in an enriching literary exchange. Throughout the course, each student will choose a book to read, relevant to their own cultural context. They will then share this book with their paired partner, creating an opportunity for cultural exchange and understanding. The books serve as a springboard for conversations about plot, narrative structure, cultural contexts, and personal insights. Students are encouraged to share their thoughts and perceptions, listen actively, and question curiously. This course strives to create a cultural bridge, fostering empathy, broadening worldviews, and cultivating the skills necessary for effective intercultural communication in our increasingly globalized world.
Mandarin 101
This course is an introduction to Mandarin Chinese language and culture for students with little or no background. The course will focus on developing the four basic language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Students will learn basic communication skills in Mandarin and explore related cultural aspects. The course will begin with an introduction of the Chinese language and culture. Students will develop their language skills and cultural awareness through daily collaborative activities and practice using text, audio, and video materials. The course will also cover Chinese characters, stroke order, and Pinyin (Chinese phonetic alphabet).
Course overview:
•Introduction to the Chinese language and culture
•Pinyin (Chinese phonetic alphabet)
•Listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills
•Chinese characters and stroke order
•Basic Chinese grammar and vocabulary
Course content:
•Greetings and introductions
•Numbers, dates, and times
•Family and friends
•Food and drink
•Colors and clothing
•Weather and seasons
•Holidays and festivals
Teaching strategies:
•Communicative language teaching approach
•Task-based learning activities
•Multimedia resources and technology
•Cultural experiences
Instructors
Shuyi Dai
Shuyi Dai is a ten-year-old from Hangzhou, China. She is a fifth grader who also takes on the role of a tutor at Bright Future Teens. Her drive for knowledge and learning is displayed in her achievements, such as earning Level 3 in Cambridge English and reaching Level 4 in playing the Zither, a traditional Chinese instrument. Shuyi has a broad range of interests. She enjoys painting, spending hours immersed in bringing her visions to life on canvas. She's also fond of crafting, pouring her creativity into each piece of handwork she creates. Reading is another activity she enjoys, often getting lost in the pages of her favorite books. Not one to stay still for too long, Shuyi also loves skating, an activity that keeps her energized.
Fei Li
Fei Li is an eleven-year-old girl from Hangzhou, China, who loves art and music. She's been really successful in both areas, even though she's still very young. In 2022, Fei won third place in a painting competition at the 13th Culture and Art Festival for Hangzhou Primary and Secondary School Students. This wasn't her only win that year. She also got the Gold Award at the 4th National Creative Art Theme Final Competition of Road to Academy of Fine Arts, which is a big honor. Fei doesn't just paint, though. She also loves music. She even won an Honorable Mention Award in the music project at the "Seven Arts" exhibition festival for kids in Hangzhou in 2022.
Muyan Chen
Muyan Chen is a dedicated and detail-oriented Chinese Language Instructor with proven skills in creating a positive learning environment, lesson planning, and innovative teaching methods. Holding experience as a Teacher's Assistant at Beijing World Youth Academy, she is adept at collaborating on diverse projects and managing classroom environments. She also served as a Badminton Club Leader, displaying her talent in employing diverse instructional strategies to enhance student learning. Muyan completed an internship at the Beijing M&P Law Firm where she honed her organizational and communication skills. Currently pursuing her degree at Beijing World Youth Academy, Muyan is passionate about sports, music, travel, and movies. She is a native Mandarin speaker and is also bilingual in English.