Secondary Chinese New Year Celebration

XLIS 7th Chinese New Year Speech Contest

 

In the current era of multi-cultural interweaving and rapid development, national treasures and cultural roots are like the dazzling pearls hidden behind the prosperity. Though their radiance is bright, they face the challenge of being overlooked by the public. Those ancient skills, traditional festivals, unique art forms, and classic cultural carriers bear the wisdom and memory of the nation, urgently waiting for us to rediscover and cherish.

 

The 7th XLIS Secondary Chinese Speech Contest held by Xi’an Liangjiatan International School, themed “Guarding the national treasures and inheriting the cultural lineage” has opened a wonderful journey for teachers and students to explore the national culture, greatly promoting a deeper understanding and awareness of cultural inheritance. It also infuses new vitality into the school’s cultural development.

 

In this competition, 12 outstanding speakers stepped onto the Blue Dragon Theater stage. Their speech topics were diverse, covering the exploration of historical sites, traditional customs, intangible cultural heritage, food culture, and the integration of modern technology with national culture, delving into the charm of national culture from different perspectives.

 

Through the strict scoring by the judges, the winners of this speech contest are as follows:

 

Champion

Oscar Ma (M1)

Amir Ali Zeinali Heris (M1)

Runner-up

Eva (Yuqi)Wang (M5）
Alicia Scarlett (Alicia) Feng (M1)
Seungsoo (Ethan) Han (M3)

Ree-jin (Celona) Kim (M3)

Third Place

Reagan Lee Maves (M4)

Alice(Peike)Wu (M3）
Garam Kim (M3）

Zihaoxuan (General) Zhou (M2）

Gabrielle Q (Gabby) Liu (M2）

Henry Shi Hubbard (M1)

 

This speech contest is not only a stage for self-expression, but also a concentrated reflection of students’ love and contemplation of national culture, carrying their firm determination to inherit it. With dreams as their boats and aspirations as their oars, the contestants rode the waves in the vast ocean of cultural inheritance, they used their own language to make the national treasures shine more brilliantly in the new era and continue to write the immortal chapter of Chinese national culture.

 

Chinese New Year Culture Fair

 

“Graceful snake brings blessings,with cultural essence ever-flowing”, as the Year of the Snake approaches, XLIS is hosting a student-led celebration. It is not only a feast for the eyes and soul, but also an exchange that immerses international students in the profound richness of traditional Chinese culture.

 

Creative Craftsmanship: Traditional Arts Shine

In Chinese classrooms, students brought paper-cutting art to life, with each cut symbolizing their best wishes for the New Year. In the sachet-making area, students crafted fragrant sachets that serve as tiny cultural ambassadors, conveying the warmth and elegance of Eastern traditions. In experiencing calligraphy, students used brushes as boats to navigate the sea of ink, showcasing the millennia-old beauty of Chinese characters. The creation of lacquer fans merges ancient techniques with modern aesthetics, infusing new vitality into tradition and transforming each fan into a unique work of art. Additionally, areas dedicated to tie-dying, tea ceremony, mahjong, Chinese chess, and cultural board games were bustling with activity. Students learned through play and grow through experience, deeply appreciating the unique allure of Chinese culture.

 

Outdoor Interactions: New Experiences in Traditional Culture

On the Cuju field, students dressed in traditional attire to kick around a Cuju ball, reliving the joys of ancient football; in the throwing pot area, each precise toss elicits cheers, exemplifying a perfect blend of ancient etiquette and competition. Cultural quiz competitions and ring toss games sparked students’ interest in Chinese culture while they gain knowledge and enjoyment in a relaxed atmosphere. The Hanfu Show became one of the fair’s highlights as students stroll through an antique setting in their splendid Hanfu garments, reminiscent of a thousand years ago in prosperous Tang Dynasty.

 

Student-Led Initiatives: Defining Service Through Action

This year, more secondary students have been invoved in planning, organising, and leading activities, through the integration of SA and CAS program, to deepen their understanding of traditional Chinese culture through service and action. Students also organized a volunteer group to assist in preparations and execution. Their dedicated support showcased the spirit of teamwork and responsibility for XLIS community.

 

The New Year Cultural Fair presented a lively yet orderly scene, providing a memorable cultural experience for school students, participating parents and guests. Through personal practice and re-creation, students passed on the value of intangible cultural heritage and given new life to the long-standing Chinese culture.

 

As the Year of the Snake arrives, everything takes on a new look. We will continue to encourage more students to participate in a greater variety of activities to cultivate their leadership and team cooperation awareness and jointly inherit and promote the excellent traditional Chinese culture.

 

Click here for more details.

 

Author:

Secondary Chinese Department