Learning & Performing

LJA Keiki Chinese learners certainly help me out with my puppetry! 小龙 and 小老鼠 created these lovely shadow puppets. I really like they way the artists used color to enhance the shadow! Laoshi did a little snip, snip, snipping with the scissors to create a little more definition with the puppets and then we dove right into a show! 1st graders are starting to learn the words for family members. The dragon is the 哥哥 (ge1 ge big brother) who forgot who he was after bumping his head on the playground. The other animals had to fly into action to help 哥哥 remember who he was and find his way home.

Elan Molina especially liked the puppet show because he is a 哥哥 and even has a 弟弟 (di4 di little brother). Elan takes really good care of his 弟弟。Are you a 哥哥 or a 弟弟？

I thought you might enjoy this photograph of 小龙 and my dog, Cookie Monster. Cookie Monster and 小龙 became instant friends. Congrats to Representative Corinne Ching (Anna's mom) on her Nov 4 win! We are proud of you Representative Ching!

Excellent Learners!

What curious Chinese learners we have at LJA! This Chinese teacher could not be more proud!

Wai Han brought his Lucky Bamboo tree to school today. What a lovely plant he is growing. Students have really taken an interest in Chinese Lucky Bamboo trees and bonsai. Every day students take time to mist the bonsai. Remember, always mist your bonsai. Never pour water on your beautiful little tree!

2nd graders had loads of laughs reviewing characters by playing hopscotch. Laoshi likes to make the game harder and harder and harder! WOW! The students just keep rising to the top! Hey, I have an idea...get some sidewalk chalk, go outside, and write some beautiful Chinese words on the sidewalk. You neighbors will be dazzled by the simple beauty of Chinese characters.

Kindergarteners were introduced to the world of Kung Fu Jian (kung fu sword) today. This beautiful form of exercise is widely practiced by all ages in China. In China, the jian is known as one of the four weapons used in traditional Kung Fu. Some even say the jian is derived from a common kitchen knife! These swords have long, straight blades that are not sharp (for practicing). It is thought that once a student has mastered the jian he or she is quite accomplished in Wu Shu (martial arts). Kindergarteners go to hold the jian and even see Laoshi practice her routine. Next Kindergarteners will learn another form of Chinese Wu Shu (martial arts) called Kung Fun Shang Zi (Fan Kung Fu).

Common Classroom Objects

Want to learn the Chinese word common objects around the classroom? This should get you started.

水 shui3 water

门 men2 door

废物 fei1 wu4 rubbish

Students have also enjoyed learning our new song Ni Wa Wa (Little Rag Doll). You can practice at home with this link. Enjoy a song with your xiao pengyou! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpMCoavHQws

Chinese Halloween?

Chinese Halloween? In China it is called the Ghost Festival. Some say this festival finds its origins in Chinese Buddhism, others claim the origins to be deeply rooted in Chinese folk religion. But what is the Ghost Festival? Good question! On this day it is believed that ghosts and spirits visit the human realm. Ghost Festival is unlike the Chinese Qingming Festival and Chung Yuen Festival. During the Qingming and Chung Yuen Festivals descendants honor their deceased ancestors. Traditional activities during the Ghost Festival include burning incense, joss paper, and papier-mache items in the form of every day items such as clothes and fine good. These activities are conducted for the pleasure and entertainment of the visiting ancestors.

Another Chinese festival with ghosts includes buying and releasing miniature boats on the water. The miniature boats and lanterns signify directions for the lost ghosts and spirits of ancestors. More on that festival later!

Do our Chinese friends share candy during Ghost Festival like we do during Halloween? The Ghost Festival tradition is a little different. Rather then candy eating, families prepare a big vegetarian feast and set places at the table for their ghost ancestors. Wow! Now that could get interesting!

Have a safe and happy Halloween! And remember...practice what you know.

Hop, Hop, Learn

Learning Chinese simply must be all fun and games! Here you see 小朋友 jump, jump, jumping to learn new words. When 老师 （lao3 shi1) says a word, kids have to jump, jump to the correct picture card. And everyone knows how 老师 likes to make it harder and harder! 2nd grade students are having barrels of fun learning new vocabulary. Want to try? Here are a few new words for you to practice at home:

汉字 Han4 zi Chinese character

中文 Zhong1 wen2 Chinese written language

拼音 pin1 yin1 Chinese romanization

Stay tuned for an audio flashcard. Remember...you must always LISTEN to Chinese to LEARN Chinese!

Good Luck 好运 （hao3 yun4)

They Speak Chinese!

Those crazy high schoolers just don't get enough air-time on this blog! What about 小猫猫 and 大龙？ Both seniors suffer from certifiable cases of the Senior Blues are excellent Chinese speakers! these power-house seniors enjoy memorizing vocabulary, writing thousands of Chinese characters, and especially like daily quizzes! Oh, did I mention they favor Kung Fu movies and Chinese soap operas?

Yes, LJA also has a High School Mandarin Chinese Department. This active department chalked full of eager students who are self-motivated learners. Level I and II students even have their own class monitors (Josh I. and Miranda A.) to help Laoshi. Level III and IV students are a talkative and friendly bunch of self starting and accomplished Mandarin speakers that would make any Chinese teacher proud to send to represent our good country in the Chinese speaking world.

So there you have it folks, LJA High Schoolers Rock! Keep up the good work kids!

Chinese Geography

你好中文的学生！ Time to learn some Chinese geography! Can you find Beijing on this map? You found it? Good job! Now try to find Taiwan. Did you find it? Good job! Now, try to find the Great Wall of China. I will give you a hint. It is a blue line. Can you see it? Good job! My how very smart my 小学生 are! Luck me!

Speaking of The Great Wall of China. 1st graders have been having a lot of fun learning Chinese geography and hearing stories about Huang Di and all his expeditions around China. Google the city Xian, China and be prepared for a very be learning adventure!