CHICAGO, Sept. 23 -- Hundreds of students from Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and their parents gathered at Whitney Young Magnet High School in Chicago Saturday to have a taste of traditional Chinese culture at the annual Chinese Cultural Festival.
Along the hallway of Whitney Young, students and their families learned Chinese calligraphy, paper-cutting, kite-making and Wei Qi, and tried to use chopsticks at more than 20 exhibitors that presented Chinese culture-related activities.
Jiangsu Provincial Performing Arts Troupe from China presented a 90-minute performance in the auditorium of the school. Two men propped up a lion costume and presented to the audience Chinese traditional lion dance, they jumped up and down and did some acrobatics on two benches under the lion costume, drawing waves of applauses.
Chinese artists also performed traditional Chinese folk dance, songs, and Chinese acrobatics.
This is the fourth year for the Confucius Institute in Chicago (CIC) and the CPS to host the event.
"Our Chinese Cultural Festival in the past three years was a great success, with more than 2,000 attendees from CPS and the general public," said Jane Lu, Director of CIC. "We want to share the fun and celebrate Chinese culture again this year."
Hong Lei, Chinese Consul General in Chicago, told Xinhua that Chinese Cultural Festival is a platform to promote Chinses culture as well as to review the achievements of Chinese Teaching in Chicago.
With China and the U.S. being two largest economies in the world, it's very important for the youngsters of the two countries to know each other, to understand each other's culture so "we can appreciate each other and be friends, and forge an even stronger relationship," he added.
Being the third largest school district in the U.S., CPS runs one of the most successful Chinese language programs in the country, with approximately 11,000 students learning Chinese in 42 schools from 58 teachers.
Emily Kurylak, a 14-year-old student at Whitney Young, has been studying Chinese for four years. She told Xinhua she wanted to learn Chinese so that she can talk with her mom and grandparents in their native language. "It's getting hard sometimes, but once you get over the boundary it's easier," said Kurylak.
"As a Chinese language teacher, I'm here not only to teach them language itself, but also help younger generation to know more about Chinese culture and traditional Chinese education philosophy," said Lusha Yin, who has been teaching Chinese at Whitney Young for 12 years.
国内英语资讯:Chinese presidents special envoy attends inauguration of Venezuelan president
体坛英语资讯:River Plate clinch fourth Copa Libertadores title
体坛英语资讯:Europes top clubs in battle to sign Werner, Havertz
体坛英语资讯:Chinas Shi Tingmao awarded FINA Best Female Diver of 2018
体坛英语资讯:Portuguese Da Costa wins Saudia Ad Diriyah E-Prix
体坛英语资讯:Leipzig held to 1-1 draw by Rosenborg, eliminated from UEFA Europa League
国内英语资讯:Xinhua Headlines: Ready! Sino-European nuclear power unit to fuel global fusion
双语阅读:无需流行餐,这样做也可以变得健康
国内英语资讯:Vice premier stresses energy security, high-quality growth
双语阅读:全球首富贝佐斯宣布离婚!他们的爱情故事曾感动世界
体坛英语资讯:Real Madrid win, but booed off again
国际英语资讯:Search for two crew of crashed French Mirage fighter jet continues
国际英语资讯:Libyan PM, UN envoy discuss preparations for upcoming national conference
体坛英语资讯:Bayern Munich still face uncertain future despite topping Champions League group
怎样拯救尴尬的聊天?这9个诀窍要掌握
如果一年不吃甜食会怎样?
国际英语资讯:UN urges Lebanon, Israel to refrain from sudden activities near Blue Line
冬季旅行,温暖和寒冷的目的地你选哪个?网友:跟谁去才重要
双语阅读:坚持不放弃,你便是生活的主人
国内英语资讯:China attends more exhibitions in B&R countries in 2018
体坛英语资讯:Ronaldo reveals Valladolid interest in Vinicius Jr loan
When Faith Is Questioned 当信念动摇
大熊猫地震中受惊吓 目前无伤亡报告
天外飞宝:荷兰公司拟送孕妇去太空生孩子
国内英语资讯:Vice premier stresses farmland water conservancy projects
体坛英语资讯:Japan’s Hanyu to miss national championships due to ankle injury
体坛英语资讯:Cup holders Barca to face Levante in last 16 of Spanish Copa del Rey
The Best Singer 最好的歌手
中国首批“瑜伽硕士生”引外媒关注
体坛英语资讯:Sun Yang helps China rewrite Asian record in relay