From singing numbers in Year 1 to researching Chinese cities in Year 6, our students have joyfully explored the richness of Mandarin and the beauty of God’s diverse creation – each lesson a reminder that learning can be both fun and faith-filled.
This year, our Year 1-6 students have had a wonderful time exploring the Chinese language and culture – both gifts from our amazing Creator! God’s world is full of diversity, and we’ve had fun diving into just a little slice of it through our Mandarin lessons. Let’s peek into what each year level has been up to!
Year 1
We started with the basics – counting from 1 to 10 in Mandarin! With cheerful songs, games, and fun worksheets, students practised saying numbers aloud and recognised them in Chinese characters. You might even hear some counting at home… yī 一, èr 二, sān 三!
Year 2
As we looked at the colourful world God has made, we learned all about colours and shapes in Mandarin. The best part? Making shapes using our hands and bodies! Can you guess which shape we’re trying to be?
Year 3
This term we explored the topic of body parts, and it sparked a sense of wonder at how God has created each of us uniquely and with great care. One of our favourite activities was making our very own panda craft! Each student created a panda, then carefully labelled all its body parts in Chinese. Not only was it a fun and creative task, but it also helped us reflect on Psalm 139:14 – “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” We even played games where we had to point to different body parts as fast as possible in Mandarin – so much laughter and learning at once!
Year 4
We dove into the rich traditions of the Dragon Boat Festival, a famous Chinese celebration. We learned about its origin, the story of Qu Yuan, and the customs people follow today. But more importantly, we took time to reflect on this cultural event through a Christian lens. We discussed questions like: How can we enjoy cultural festivals while still honouring God? What does it mean to be in the world but not of it? It was powerful to see students think deeply and talk openly about faith and culture. Alongside this, we also began learning how to talk about our daily schedule and calendar dates in Mandarin.
Year 5
This term, we explored countries and nationalities – celebrating the diversity of God’s people across the globe. Students learned to ask and answer questions about their culture and background in Mandarin. We took this one step further by conducting real interviews with classmates, discovering the different cultural heritages represented in our very own classroom! After practising the spoken form, students wrote and typed out their findings in full Mandarin sentences. It was inspiring to see them use the language in a meaningful context while also appreciating the beauty of God’s design in cultural diversity. The conversations also gave us the chance to reflect on how every tribe and nation is part of God’s kingdom and how language can be a bridge to love others well.
Year 6
We’ve been diving deep into language learning through personal and cultural projects. Earlier this year, students worked on writing and presenting a self-introduction in Mandarin. It was so encouraging to see students gaining confidence in speaking and writing Mandarin. Currently, we’re researching a city in China of each student’s choice. Through this project, we are discovering famous landmarks, traditional food, interesting customs, and even how Christianity is present in those cities today. Some students have been amazed to learn about churches still active in different provinces, even in places where faith can be challenging. This has opened up meaningful conversations about how God is at work all over the world. We’re excited to present our projects soon – make sure to ask us what we’ve found!
We are so thankful for the opportunity to learn about another language and culture made by God. Please continue to pray for a joyful and fruitful rest of the year as we keep learning and growing – in Mandarin and in Christ!
Soli Deo Gloria!
