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A Culturally Rich Day in Chinatown!

8 February 2023
Deborah Z, Alex ‘23
Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year, occurred this year on January 22, 2023, and is the most celebrated and longest of all Asian festivals, observed by hundreds of millions of people around the world. Last Sunday, the Mandarin 11 & 12 class, along with some additional lucky Brentwood students, had the fun opportunity to travel down to Victoria’s Chinatown to enjoy the festivities.

Mandarin 11 & 12 is a language class offered at Brentwood that focuses on a communicative method in which students are encouraged to learn orally and also through writing. This teaching strategy emphasizes risk-takers and a variety of methods are utilized to establish fundamental engagement with this learning environment. The small student-teacher ratio, as well as the degree of instructor ability, are key factors. Students are often asked to explain or narrate events, circumstances, or experiences with some supporting information. They are encouraged to communicate their thoughts on current events, use idiomatic terms with considerable fluency, and engage with more freedom in everyday circumstances. Students can also gain information through seeing, listening to, and reading creative works and responding to them in numerous ways. Cultural awareness is improved by identifying and comparing customs and traditions from many cultures in the Canadian context to those of Chinese civilizations.

For the festivities, we bussed over the beautiful Malahat bright and early and arrived in the city just in time for brunch at a popular Dim Sum restaurant located in Chinatown. BBQ pork buns, spring rolls, shrimp dumplings, Siu Mai, chicken feet, chicken sticky rice lotus leaf wraps, turnip cake, and rice noodle rolls are just a few of the delectable dishes we indulged in. “I would say the Dim Sum experience was the best part of the trip. Eating with the whole class and conversing with a whole spread of amazing food in front of you truly brings people together, not to mention the food and tea were so delicious” depicts Lilja P, Alex ‘25.

After eating their body weight in Dim Sum, the big event on the agenda was to watch the Dragon Dance Parade and Tai Chi Demonstration. The moment one stepped outside of the Dim Sum restaurant the students were greeted with the sounds of traditional drums and cymbals while watching the performers weave their way through the crowd and down the busy street mesmerizing everyone around them. “Being able to witness the Lunar New Year celebrations with an admiring audience was an amazing experience for those of Chinese heritage and those who are willing to learn more about the culture. I personally really enjoyed the atmosphere that was created” Dara M, Alex ‘25 describes.  

“Language and culture are inseparable. It is a unique opportunity for Mandarin students to experience the authentic way to dine in Chinese restaurants and celebrate the Lunar New Year” Ms Yang, Mandarin Teacher, shares.

The trip soon ended with explosive firecrackers and bubble tea purchases. The students had an unforgettable day filled with culturally rich experiences and it is all thanks to Ms Yang and her dedication to her students. On behalf of the Asian community here at Brentwood, let the Year of the Rabbit bring lots of good fortune, health, and prosperity to all!

Deborah Z, Alex ‘23

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