SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2015

Special Announcement Cradle of Chinese Civilization and also a Sorrow of . Students also Our Confucius Institute has been actively participated in the Tianhan selected as one of the ten best traditional Chinese orchestra Confucius Institutes this year. There performance at both schools, and they are more than five hundred CIs were very happy have the opportunity worldwide. to touch and to play traditional Chinese instruments.

North Syracuse Central School District The sixth grade students at Roxboro Road and Gillette Road Middle Schools learned interesting topics about Chinese Culture in Miss Zhang and Mr. Yang’s classes. These topics included the history of the Great Miss Zhang introducing Chinese Culture to her students Wall, the landforms of China, the

Yellow River Civilization, and characteristics of civilization during Geneva City School District the Shang Dynasty, as well as the rise Elyn Song’s Elective Mandarin Class and fall of the Qin Dynasty. The at Geneva West Street School students were quite interested in the expanded to cover every classroom Yellow River, especially the reason this school year. Instead of extending why the river has a yellow color and from Kindergarten to second grade, why the river is called both the the Mandarin class reached out to the Head Start Pre-Kindergarten Program speaking Chinese. The students felt with two different levels for the first excited when they sang Chinese time. The first and second graders songs. Their parents gave some began to learn how to build sentences positive feedback: “Our children this year. And the second graders felt enjoyed singing Chinese songs very unprecedented fulfillment when they much.” were able to write Chinese characters all by themselves after two years of studying Mandarin verbally.

Lili Huang teaching her immersion program students

The Mandarin Immersion Program Elyn Song and her students became positive news in the local The Dual Language Immersion community, as it attracted local TV Program at Geneva West Street stations and newspapers to report on School has attracted more attention the program. We also did many from the community. In September activities to promote cultural and and October, CIAU faculty Lili artistic exchange in the Geneva Huang taught the 1st grade School District. immersion program students how to name body parts, colors, seasons, pets, school supplies, family members, weather, days of the week, and months of the year in Chinese. Lili Huang taught them simple sentences such as “I like…” and “I love…” which provided them with good opportunities for communication and stimulated their enthusiasm for Report on the Mandarin Immersion Program The Nanjing Normal University Art learning activities with these Troupe gave a wonderful beginners. Her students learned performance, increasing the interest Chinese songs and rhymes, read of children and their parents in Chinese story books, watched Chinese culture. Immersion program Chinese cartoons, and made Chinese teacher Lili Huang performed a books. Besides, Starry tried to teach Chinese folk song and had an students math in Chinese, including interaction with her students which counting, measure words, and written achieved a good effect. numbers.

Lili Huang performing a Chinese folk song

In the kindergarten Chinese Immersion Class, Fang (Starry) He Students writing numbers in Chinese during the Center time taught her students words about In less than two months, her students school, colors, animals, family, and mastered about 70 basic and high autumn. “For second- language frequency words in Chinese. The learners, especially for children can now greet others and kindergarteners, it is very important express their opinions with some to give effective input with visual and simple phrases and sentence audio stimulation,” Starry said. Based structures, and they can write on the idea of communication as a numbers and their Chinese names. combination of listening, speaking, September 27th was the traditional reading, and writing, Starry used a Chinese Moon Festival, and CIAU variety of teaching strategies and teacher Chen Jinxiang held a two- activities in her class, including week long cultural experience event pictures, music, rhymes, and Total at Geneva West Street School. She Physical Response (TPR) language organized many activities including Academy in Rochester. Students paper-cutting rabbits and storytelling from kindergarten to sixth grade get to help students learn more about two class periods each week, while Chinese culture. The rabbits were high school students may choose a displayed during the Open House on Chinese AP class from either of two Oct. 15th. periods offered each day. The teachers selected different topics for their students according to their ages and hobbies, combining language learning with interactive activities such as singing, dancing, and playing games, which was fun and motivated the students to learn. So far, the elementary children have warmed up with greetings, counting numbers, making self-introductions, studying body parts, and naming Students cutting out rabbits family members in Chinese.

During the Open House, some parents spoke Chinese, as well. They said that they were learning Chinese from their children. The kids enjoyed speaking in Chinese, which made their life full of fun. And they also said they would like to thank the Confucius Institute and would support their children continuing to learn Chinese at West Street School. Mrs. Hao’s first day at Northstar Christian Academy

The elementary students rehearsed Northstar Christian Academy the song “Counting Stars” many In September, instructors Jing Wu times and finally presented their work and Lin Hao started the second year at the Mid-Autumn Festival Concert of Chinese Language and Culture which was held at Gates-Chili School. classes at Northstar Christian It was a very successful performance, as all the students enjoyed the whole Binghamton City School District thing, and they invited their families In September and October, CIAU’s and friends to come to the Zhaoyun Zhai continued teaching at performance. The audience highly both Binghamton East Middle School praised the concert and the students’ and West Middle School. She rewrote excellent presentation while enjoying the workbook for her sixth graders the wonderful Chinese culture according to the new Mandarin brought by Chinese artists. curriculum program and began with a presentation of Chinese culture and fun facts about China. This gave the students some fresh ideas about China, and increased their expectations with respect to Chinese class. During her teaching, Zhaoyun Zhai highlighted course design, review, Students name cards designed by Mrs. Hao & Mrs. Wu and fun and effective language

Mrs. Wu’s two high school Chinese practice. Her sixth graders are now culture and language AP classes met using the right Chinese vocabulary every day and focused on the topics and sentence structures to make such of fashion, entertainment, and media. simple daily conversations as Mrs. Wu helped her students improve greetings, saying thanks and farewell, their listening, speaking and writing self-introductions, asking after name skills. She introduced the AP and nationality, and so on. She also examination to the students and focused on the introduction and helped them apply for the AP Test. exploration of Chinese culture. She introduced the students to the original Chinese characters, traditional customs, stories of the Mid-Autumn Festival, chopsticks, and geographical scenery. The sixth graders had a lot of fun learning how to use chopsticks. They practiced using their chopsticks to pick up

Northstar students at the Mid-Autumn Festival Concert popcorn and marbles. forward to joining Ms. Xu’s enrichment Chinese class.

Students practicing how to use chopsticks

In addition, Ms. Zhai and her students Rita presenting Chinese culture to elementary students organized a Halloween program for which they learned vocabulary, Rita also gave a presentation about played Bingo games, told stories and Chinese food to the 9th & 10th grade watched movies. The students were students of Gates Chili High School. all excited about this program and did The students said they love Chinese a very good job. food, and they went to eat at China During the course, more and more Buffet two days later. students became increasingly interested and developed self- confidence in learning the Chinese Chinese Painting Class in Canisteo language. Our Chinese Painting Class is back

again! It is held every Monday afternoon beginning in October at the Gates Chili School District Wimodaughsian Library in Canisteo, In October, CIAU faculty Juan (Rita) NY. CIAU is honored to have local Xu gave a general introduction of artist Yen Fen (Iris) Huang to teach China and Chinese history and our Chinese Painting Class this year. culture to all K-5th grade students of Neil Armstrong Elementary School. These students learned about Chinese students’ campus life and showed great interest in the Great Wall and the Terra-cotta Army. They were so curious about China that they asked tons of questions. Most of them look Students learning from artist Iris Huang Having learned gongbi, a “tidy”, Chinese lunar calendar, fell on often meticulous, realistic style, from September 27 this year. In order to Professor Xuli in Chinese painting promote Chinese culture and class last year, this time students will celebrate this great festival, the learn xieyi, which is a free and liberal Confucius Institute of Alfred painting style of “sketching thoughts”. University invited the famous In the last two classes, students Tianhan Traditional Chinese learned how to draw wisteria and use Orchestra from province and a foam brush to draw bamboo. Our arranged a series of activities on teacher, Iris, explained the painting traditional Chinese music. skills in great detail and demonstrated On September 22, the director and step by step, making painting much conductor of the Tianhan Traditional easier for the students. Chinese Orchestra, Mr. Yulin Liu, Most of the students in our painting gave an exciting lecture on traditional class are returning students. We also Chinese music in the Miller have two new students coming all the Performing Art Center with his five way from Rochester to join our class. excellent musicians. These five They are really happy that each time musicians were Dizi (Chinese flute) they can bring home an artwork done player Miss Yi, Erhu (Chinese fiddle) by them. We have a great time player Miss Yan, Pipa (Chinese lute) getting together each week. player Miss Liu, Yangqin (Chinese dulcimer) player Miss Yi, and professional dance teacher and Peking Opera singer Mrs. Sun.

Students showing their work

Culture Week of Traditional Chinese Music The Moon Festival, which is the American students trying the Chinese instrument, Dizi second most important event in the In the lecture, Mr. Liu gave a brief On September 24, Tianhan introduction to the history of Traditional Chinese Orchestra arrived traditional Chinese music and its at North Syracuse. They gave two development nowadays. After that, he marvelous performances for the presented the five typical traditional teachers and students at Gillette Road Chinese musical instruments. His and Roxboro Road Middle Schools. audience, students from the art class, The varied programs, which included learned the structure of the five the famous traditional pieces instruments, their timbre, “Strolling in Suzhou”, “Grapes characteristics, and other professional Harvest”, and “Moon over the knowledge from the lecture. They Peaceful Lake in autumn”, Peking also noted the similarities and Opera, and an introduction to Chinese differences between Eastern and musical instruments, amazed the Western music. Then the Tianhan audience, which responded with lots Traditional Orchestra brought several of applause. More than 400 students famous solos and ensembles to the enjoyed the demonstrations. One audience, which won the warm student told his teacher after the applause of students. performance, “I feel so calm when I The lecture on that day not only hear the ‘Moon over the Peaceful brought beautiful music to students, Lake’.” The performance on that day but also provided a chance for the was a big success, and many students musicians and students to exchange asked for the musicians’ autographs their opinions about music. afterward.

Students communicating with each other about Erhu Students interacting with Chinese musicians

In these two demonstrations, students Before the concert began, CIAU enjoyed traditional Chinese music, provided hearty Chinese food for played the traditional Chinese everyone, and the CIAU staff musical instruments themselves, and introduced the meaning of the gained some interesting knowledge Chinese Moon Festival to them at the about those instruments. All of these same time. inspired them to learn more about The Tianhan Traditional Chinese China, and they all had a nice time. Orchestra performed many classic

Chinese songs with musical instruments including Erhu (Chinese Moon Festival Concert at Gates fiddle), Pipa (Chinese lute), Dizi Chili High School (Chinese bamboo flute), Guzheng On September 25, the Confucius (Chinese zither) and Yangqin Institute at Alfred University held a (Chinese dulcimer). The audience traditional Chinese music concert in was excited to see these different the auditorium of Gates Chili High instruments and liked the songs very School in Rochester to celebrate the much. Chinese Moon Festival. The Tianhan Traditional Chinese Orchestra, which belongs to the grand Tianhan Theater, faculty from the Alfred University Division of Performing Arts, three Tai Chi masters, and nineteen lovely students from Northstar Christian Academy presented a visual feast and Tai Chi performance accompanied by Chinese folk song auditory for the audience. The most popular performance was the Chinese children’s song “Counting Stars”, which was performed by nineteen students from Northstar Christian Academy. They were all from different grades, but they were all learning Chinese. Group photo of musicians and CIAU faculty It’s worth mentioning that the

performance of the Tai Chi masters’ Swimming Dragon was accompanied Coming all the way from China, Tai by Chinese music. The scene was Chi Grandmaster Anren Yu also gave very beautiful, and many members of a speech commemorating the world's the audience took pictures. Anti-fascist Victory. Master Yu This musical concert came to a introduced his parents’ generation successful end. CIAU played an and shared their stories during the important role by serving as a Anti-Japanese War, bringing the window, through which, American audience back to the real historical people can learn more about Chinese scene. He also told the audience his music, Tai Chi, and culture. experiences and international

exchange of teaching Swimming Dragon. Moon Festival Celebration at AU On September 26, 2015, the Confucius Institute sponsored a Traditional Chinese Music Concert at Miller Theater to celebrate the Moon Festival. Before the concert, all the audience had dinner together at

Union University Church Center. AU president with his wife, the Tai Chi masters, and the musicians Alfred University President Charles Edmondson made a speech before the The Traditional Chinese Music dinner and told a story about the Concert was presented by an origin of the Moon Festival. One of orchestra which is well-known in the students at the scene said: “Now I China, the Tianhan Traditional knew more about the Moon Festival, Orchestra. These excellent musicians not just Moon cakes.” played traditional instruments together with Daisy Wu, CIAU Guzheng instructor, and accompanied Professor Luanne Crosby’s soprano solo. Besides, the AU Guzheng Ensemble and students from Chinese class also contributed wonderful

Erhu and ensemble performance performances to the concert.

After the concert, CIAU prepared a not only helped practitioners perfect splendid fireworks show to celebrate their movements, but also deepened the Moon Festival. Our audience and their understanding of the benefits of all the performers spent a wonderful practicing Tai Chi. They all felt they evening together. gained more knowledge of Tai Chi

and Chinese culture and learned a lot through the communication with Visit from Tai Chi Grandmaster Grandmaster Yu. Yu

At the end of September, Grandmaster Anren Yu, who is the The First Tai Chi and Health 12th lineage successor of the Conference Swimming Dragon, visited Alfred On October 2nd and 3rd, the Confucius from his home in China. He joined Institute at Alfred University held its the Alfred’s Tai Chi group, answered first Tai Chi and Health Conference. questions from practitioners, and led More than one hundred Tai Chi the group to practice the Swimming enthusiasts attended this two-day Dragon and Tai Chi 24 Forms. conference. Grandmaster Yu emphasized the importance of stretching and the balance of Yin and Yang in Tai Chi practice.

Grand Master Yu introducing Tai Chi to the audience

On the first day, Alfred University president Charles Edmondson introduced both the Confucius Institute and the local Tai Chi class.

Master Yu communicating with the Alfred Tai Chi class Following warm applause, Grandmaster Anren Yu delivered his Regarding the movements of the keynote about the philosophy of Tai Swimming Dragon routine, he gave a Chi, namely, “Yin” and “Yang”. Next, clear explanation of each step. This AU Professor of Theater Steve On the second day, the Confucius Crosby introduced the history and Institute invited both the Chinese and culture of Tai Chi. Chinese Tai Chi American Tai Chi masters and others Grand master Yu, his disciple to introduce more about Tai Chi Zhaojun Wang, and American Master culture and Chinese medicine. Some George Samuels each displayed the volunteers came to the stage to elegance of Tai Chi. Also, Master experience acupuncture. It is worth Zhaojun Wang talked about the mentioning that the Confucius differences between five genres of Institute Tai Chi class members Taijiquan, another name for Tai Chi. performed the Swimming Dragon exercise and Twenty-Four Steps for the audience.

The audience interacting with the speakers

At dinner, the Confucius Institute provided delicious Chinese food for all, and the participants talked with AlfredTai Chi class members showing the Swimming Dragon each other to share their own stories of Tai Chi. Afterward, CIAU Tai Chi The Tai Chi and Health Conference class teacher Guifang Liu led the concluded with CIAU Director Swimming Dragon exercise, Five Wilfred Huang’s speech. Then many Animals exercise and others together participants came onto the stage to with many volunteers. take pictures with the speakers.

Successful Guzheng Performance in Marie Villa College On October 8, Zhongbei (Daisy) Wu was invited to Villa Marie College for a Guzheng performance. It is

Master Fang playing Tai Chi with Tai Chi lovers reported that Marie Villa College invites a famous musician to give a Nanjing Normal University Art concert every month, and the show is Troupe in Geneva open to the community. Ms. Wu was On October 21, the art troupe from the one for the October performance. Nanjing Normal University presented The performance began at 11 o'clock a marvelous performance to the in the morning and Ms. Wu played a people of Geneva in the auditorium total of six songs, modern and of North Street Elementary School. A classical. In order to let the audience variety of presentations including understand more about the Guzheng folk songs, ethnic dances, group and the contents of the songs she was dances, and instrumental about to play, she gave simple but performances amazed the audience, interesting explanations before who responded with enthusiastic playing, and interacted with the applause. When the concert ended, audience afterwards. The atmosphere many from the audience came onto was very pleasant, and many music the stage to talk with performers and major students were very interested. to take pictures with them. Geneva’s Noticing that American students were Director of Innovative Programming, so interested, Ms. Wu offered to give Tracy Marchionda, CIAU director another lesson about Chinese musical Wilfred Huang, Chinese director instruments and songs right after Peng Tao, and other distinguished lunch. So from 1:40 to 3 p.m., she guests attended the performance. Ms. continued to explain and perform. Marchionda was highly appreciative After the show, Ms. Wu said, “I hope and stated that the performance “was to seize every opportunity to show amazing and our students are so the people of the United States lucky to have Alfred University something good about China.” supporting us.”

Nanjing Normal University Art Troupe performing CIAU Guzheng instructor Daisy Wu performing Nanjing Normal University Art Visit from Hanban Troupe Performance in Corning Linlin Shi, who is an officer from the Together with the Corning Chinese Cultural Section of Hanban, visited Association, CIAU also held a CIAU on October 22nd. Cultural concert given by the Nanjing Normal Activities Coordinator Daisy Wu University Art Troupe on September introduced the development and 25 in Corning, NY. CIAU Chinese prospects of CIAU to her, especially director Tao Peng along with faculty the achievements in Mandarin Wenyao Ding, Jing Wu, Zhongbei language teaching and cultural Wu, and Lingyan Zhang attended this communication. Faculty members concert. also talked about their life and work here. The significant influence made by CIAU and the hard work of CIAU faculty members were recognized by Ms. Shi. She spoke highly in praise of CIAU and also discussed with

Audience applauding the performance CIAU faculty about future work.

The performers from Nanjing gave a musical treat to the community of Corning. What’s more, this concert concentrated on the culture of traditional Chinese folk music which helped the local audience to know more about traditional Chinese instruments. More than 600 people attended the concert and had fun there.

Photo of Linlin Shi and CIAU faculty

Upcoming Events Nov. 12th: Confucius to School, Chautaugua Lake Central School Group photo of both audience and performers Nov. 16th: Lecture on Taoism and Tai supernatural powers. First, the Chi, Alfred University stranger cured a carpenter whose eyes were burned by lime using a golden Nov. 19th: Confucius to School, pill, which he then distributed to all North Syracuse Central School those sick. At dinnertime, seeing that

everyone had only porridge and spoiled dishes to eat, he magically Learn a Chinese Word and Know turned woodchips into rice using his its Culture: gourd, and wood shavings, which he scattered into the lake, into fish. Casting its magnificent reflection on Before long, the workers were having the is the glorious the most delicious meal. The stranger Confucius Institute at Alfred Tower. Its construction in black, however, disappeared. began more than 1400 years ago, University when Yuezhou aristocrats forced Board of Directors: local peasants to raise this tower as a Charles Edmondson (Chair) place for scenic viewing. The Terry S. Galanis workers labored endlessly, but in Rick Stephens (Executive Director) return they were mistreated, so many fell ill. Changqian Ma Joel P. Moskowitz

Yanxin Wang (Deputy Chair)

Lijun Zhang Yueyang Tower Partner Institute: Attracted by the cheerful noises, the China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, officers came and discovered the , China appetizing meal, which they rushed to Director: Wilfred Huang devour for themselves. Yet, just as the snow-white rice and the savory Chinese Director: Tao Peng Yueyang Tower Assistant Director: Susan Steere fish entered their mouths, they One afternoon, a passerby clothed in became woodchips and shaving again. Instructors: black and carrying a gourd came to Some impatient officers even had Zhongbei (Daisy) Wu agonizing stomachaches. Since that plead for some overnight lodging. Yangfang (Elyn) Song After his stay was granted, the day, the officers dared not to neglect Zhaoyun (Catherine) Zhai workers began to discover his the workers again and the workers, Daqian (Eric) Yang

Lin (Michelle) Hao

Yao (Lucy) Zhang

Fang (Starry) He having had rice and fish every day, built the most magnificent Yueyang Confucius Institute at Alfred Tower. So who was that visitor? One University old carpenter recalled that it was the Board of Directors: divine Lu Dongbin. Charles Edmondson (Chair) Terry S. Galanis Rick Stephens (Executive Director) Changqian Ma Joel P. Moskowitz Yanxin Wang (Deputy Chair) Lijun Zhang Partner Institute:

China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, Hubei, China

Director:

Wilfred Huang

Chinese Director:

Tao Peng

Assistant Director:

Susan Steere

Instructors:

Zhongbei (Daisy) Wu Yangfang (Elyn) Song Zhaoyun(Catherine) Zhai Daqian (Eric) Yang Lin (Michelle) Hao Jing Wu Yao (Lucy) Zhang Fang (Starry) He Lanfang (Haley) Gao Ruijun (Mark) Duan Jinxiang (Linda) Chen Lili (Lily) Huang Juan (Rita) Xu Wenyao (Flare) Ding Jing (Jane) Wu Lingyan (Molly) Zhang