Yuan’s PowerPoint Presentation

Juan has been a great new asset to the school, already making her mark on educating us on interesting things about China.

Recently her English teacher Mrs Tara Zekovic-Bosnjak asked her to prepare and present a speech on China for her English class. With the assistance of Access Asia sponsorship granted to the school, there was an opportunity to extend the audience beyond her class to Year 8 Asian Language and Culture classes and to build on it further to include Chinese dumpling making sessions. Yuan designed and presented a very professional PowerPoint on essential facts about China and its lifestyle and spoke in detail about these on two separate occasions to Mrs Vardy and to Ms Markich’s Year 8 Asian Language and Culture classes.

As well as giving a broad overview, she provided spectacular pictures in her slides about a range of things, from beautiful scenery shots to a slide demonstrating a step-by-step process on how to use chopsticks. Although she had a broad focus, she focussed a lot on Shanghai, her hometown.

Making Chinese Dumplings

Yuan’s presentation was followed by dumpling making sessions with the classes. Dumplings are traditionally used at welcoming dinners in China. In these sessions she was capably led by two visitors from Jinan University, Professor Cai and Miss Tracy Zhang, who also happen to be expert dumpling makers

The students were shown how to hand shape the pastry with a small rolling pin, how to make the filling and how to fill, shape and cook the dumplings. After doing this themselves, they had the chance to eat the dumplings, using chopsticks (or cheating with forks) and dipping them in a vinegar/soy-sauce blend.

With the aid of a few posters, Yuan and our special guests also shared more about China, and our Japanese international student, Yuzuki, assisted Mrs Vardy and Mrs Markich in making parallels with Japan

A few facts Yuan shared with us in her PowerPoint:

•        Chinese Population:  1,321,851,888  (21% of the world's population the largest population in the world)

•        Shanghai is China's largest city and is situated on the banks of the Yangtze River Delta.

•        School years and vacations in Shanghai
◦         Primary school: yr.1~yr.5

◦         Middle school: yr.6~yr.9

◦         ( High school entrance exam)

◦         High school: yr.10~yr.12

◦         ( University entrance exam)

◦         University for 4 years

◦         (Exam again)

•        Timetable for kids in Shanghai (the most relaxed education system in China)

◦         7:30 a.m. Arrive school and morning study

◦         8:00 a.m. Start the first course

◦         12:30 finished courses in a.m.

◦         1:00 Noon study

◦         1:30 Courses begin

◦         4:15 Courses finish

◦         ( Shanghai’s education)

•        Shops in Shanghai, China’s largest city, are usually open from 8.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m. everyday.

•        The Beijing Olympics, due to be held on 8/8/08, has as its slogan One World One Dream and its logo is the Chinese character for unity.

                                                                                  Ms Agnello

                                                                                  International Student Coordinator