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My students have started to learn Chinese characters. However, remembering the meaning of and how to correctly write Chinese characters is not easy for (and is actually quite discouraging to) many of them. An engaging, effective approach is needed to sustain students’ interest and motivation. Donations to this project will allow my students to learn more about Chinese culture and to learn Chinese characters in fun, hands-on, culturally relevant ways so they more easily remember each character’s meaning and how to correctly write it. Chinese celebrate many holidays, for example, Mid-Autumn Festival, Chinese New Year, and the Dragon Boat Festival. Calligraphy writing and paper cutting are two traditional Chinese ways to celebrate holidays, and both can be used in the classroom to teach characters. Take Chinese New Year as an example. Classroom activities would involve students learning how to say New Year blessing phrases, learning New Year traditions, writing blessing phrases using a calligraphy brush, using paper cutting to make New Year decorations, and making “Red Envelopes” for New Year money gifts. Having adequate and appropriate materials for calligraphy writing and paper cutting would make these culturally appropriate, fun activities possible, enhancing students’ interest in learning Chinese and their Chinese skills, too.
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