Culture reigns in lingual fluency

AP Chinese students traded their polos and sweaters for Chinese traditional clothing called 汉服 (hanfu), in honor of Chinese New Year. Emulating styles from both the Ming dynasty from 600 years ago (girls) and the Tang dynasty from 1,500 years ago (boys), some students held representations of the dragon, lion, and rabbit in their hands; others held silk fans and flowers. Dragon and lion dances are traditions during the New Year Celebration, which this year is the Year of the Rabbit. The round silk fan symbolizes reunion and the flowers’ Cantonese translation is the same as “fortune.” For Upper School Chinese teacher Harry Yang, the key to language fluency rests in an immersive understanding of the culture.

Watch our short video to learn more and watch how our AP Chinese students embrace the language through a deeper connection to Chinese culture.

Photos and video by Alvin Caal/Friends Academy