Gifted French children arrive on study trip - 轉載自中國郵報
Friday, June 6, 2008CNA
TAIPEI, Taiwan -- A group of gifted children from Paris that is visiting Taiwan for a three-week travel-study program are not only improving their understanding of Mandarin Chinese but also experiencing aspects of Chinese culture, such as the coming Dragon Boat Festival.
Twenty-four students of the Leonardo De Vinci School of Paris, aged 8-13, who have already been studying Mandarin in France, arrived in late May to explore Taiwanese folk customs and culture.
With the approach of the June 8 Dragon Boat Festival -- one of the most important holidays of the Chinese calendar -- the students are being taught to make zongzi and "fragrant sachets," which are traditional Dragon Boat Festival highlights.
Zongzi are pyramid-shaped glutinous rice delicacies stuffed with savory fillings and wrapped in bamboo leaves, traditionally eaten in conjunction with the festival, while the "fragrant sachets" are used to repel mosquitoes and other insects in the early summer months.
"French experts and psychologists believe that learning Mandarin can help these children develop their brain potential," said Liao Kuo-pao from Taiwan , who has taught Mandarin at the school for almost a year.
In addition, Tai Chi, a soft Chinese martial art, is used as a method for children to learn emotional control, Liao added.
During the travel-study program, organized in collaboration with Taiwan's Mandarin Daily News, the children learn Mandarin in the morning and take cultural lessons in the afternoon, such as puppetry, calligraphy, the game of go and kung fu, as well as visiting various points of interest in Taipei, said Helene Duchatelle, a teacher accompanying the children.
The private Leonardo De Vinci School of Paris, which caters to children ranging from kindergarten to high school age, is for children who are intellectually gifted.
Three languages -- French, English and Mandarin -- are obligatory, while German and Spanish are elective subjects, said Liao.
Twenty-four students of the Leonardo De Vinci School of Paris, aged 8-13, who have already been studying Mandarin in France, arrived in late May to explore Taiwanese folk customs and culture.
With the approach of the June 8 Dragon Boat Festival -- one of the most important holidays of the Chinese calendar -- the students are being taught to make zongzi and "fragrant sachets," which are traditional Dragon Boat Festival highlights.
Zongzi are pyramid-shaped glutinous rice delicacies stuffed with savory fillings and wrapped in bamboo leaves, traditionally eaten in conjunction with the festival, while the "fragrant sachets" are used to repel mosquitoes and other insects in the early summer months.
"French experts and psychologists believe that learning Mandarin can help these children develop their brain potential," said Liao Kuo-pao from Taiwan , who has taught Mandarin at the school for almost a year.
In addition, Tai Chi, a soft Chinese martial art, is used as a method for children to learn emotional control, Liao added.
During the travel-study program, organized in collaboration with Taiwan's Mandarin Daily News, the children learn Mandarin in the morning and take cultural lessons in the afternoon, such as puppetry, calligraphy, the game of go and kung fu, as well as visiting various points of interest in Taipei, said Helene Duchatelle, a teacher accompanying the children.
The private Leonardo De Vinci School of Paris, which caters to children ranging from kindergarten to high school age, is for children who are intellectually gifted.
Three languages -- French, English and Mandarin -- are obligatory, while German and Spanish are elective subjects, said Liao.
The school started its Mandarin courses about five years ago, catching the first tide of the global Mandarin learning trend, according to Liao.
posted by hsiao-ann at
3:18 PM
1 Comments:
I am 79 years old and live in my retirement village. I was speaking to my wife Dotty the other day and I said "Dotty.. Why is there a Leonardo Da Vinci School for Gifted Children but not a William Shakepeare School for Gifted Childen"?
Hsiao Ann - you seem to know William Shakespeare quite well. Can you give him a call after he finishes his dinner to let him know that Bert at the retirement village is ready to offer my services if he wants to build a William Shakespeare School.
Bert
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