Jacques Li with the 600 dumplings he cooked for the children at St Patrick's Catholic School. Photo / Ling Clarke
Jacques Li with the 600 dumplings he cooked for the children at St Patrick's Catholic School. Photo / Ling Clarke
Children from St Patrick's Catholic School Taupō were treated to all things Chinese last week as they celebrated New Zealand Chinese Language Week.
First generation Chinese New Zealander and St Patrick's room 9 teacher Ling Clarke said the aim of Chinese Language Week is to increase Chinese culture and languagelearning in New Zealand in a fun and practical way.
She said resources for the activities were funded through Asia NZ Foundation.
Her dad Jacques Li joined in the festivities and cooked 600 dumplings for the whole school and Japanese cuisine cafe Wabi Sabi Taupō also provided a sushi tasting station.
Ling said experiencing the food from another culture was an enjoyable and exciting experience for the children. There was also tea tasting and the children learnt to play a game with chopsticks.
"We practised eating our morning tea with chopsticks. Muesli bars are very hard to eat with chopsticks," said Olliver Pask.
Jacques Li with the 600 dumplings he cooked for the children at St Patrick's Catholic School. Photo / Ling Clarke
Making fans, lanterns, dragon masks and practicing traditional Chinese calligraphy were highlights for student Emily Webber. Lily Malem learned to count to 10 and to recite the days of the week in Chinese. Kelais Kala-Heke made zodiac animals.
Ling said the children enjoyed learning a Chinese traditional dance and music teacher Kaylene Carson taught the whole school taiko drumming.
The fortune cookies were a big hit and Connor Pink went home and made his own fortune cookies. He brought the cookies to school to show his classmates but was saving them for 'a friend or my family'.
Emily Ede had a good message for her fortune cookie. Emily's message was 'a good friend is a strong defence'.
