As the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, Wellington College China campuses become even more vibrant and colourful than usual. Pupils don traditional Chinese attire and celebrate with singing, dancing, games, calligraphy, handicrafts and more. Celebrating traditional Chinese festivals is integral to our curriculum. The Mid-Autumn, Spring and Dragon Boat Festivals all present invaluable opportunities for enrichment. They broaden the horizons of our international pupils and reinforce our Chinese pupils’ understanding of their cultural heritage. 

Embracing diversity, building cultural confidence

Education in traditional Chinese culture is an integral part of daily teaching and activities at all Wellington College China schools. In programmes for non-native language pupils, we teach traditional cultural themes such as food, the Chinese zodiac, etiquette, geography and poetry. We want our pupils to relish in cultural diversity as they acquire basic Chinese language skills. Meanwhile, they learn to integrate the language into daily life. In our first-language curriculum, pupils explore China’s rich literary tradition. Studying poetry, for example, opens deeper vistas on Chinese history and the development of the language. At all schools, teaching follows a diversity of formats from project-based learning to exploratory research, further reinforcing learning.

Through our co-curricular activity programmes, pupils can supplement what they learn through pursuits like Chinese painting, Peking Opera, Kunqu Opera, Chinese chess, Weiqi and more. Additionally, pupil societies like Chinese Magazine Club, Drama Club, Chinese Costume Club and Debate Club are all driving forces in promoting Chinese culture in our schools.

Learning beyond the classroom and campus

Exploring Chinese culture extends far beyond the confines of the classroom and campus. It can be a social experience, admiring woodblock prints, paper cuttings, stone carvings or appreciating simple folk art. It can also involve exploring theatres, pagodas, pavilions and other ancient structures that have stood the test of time. Last year, for instance, our pupils embarked on study tours to destinations like Shanxi and Guizhou.

Our community of parents has long been a great source of encouragement for our pupils in their Chinese studies. Throughout the year, we hold events in which parents, pupils and teachers can learn together, like our Song Dynasty Exhibition, in which they savoured tea, read poems, played Chinese chess and listened to guqin performances.

The impact and reach of such thinking and practice are continuously expanding. For instance, at Huili School Shanghai, Junior High pupils have undertaken projects aimed at safeguarding China's intangible cultural heritage. To share their valuable discoveries and knowledge, these students curated an insightful exhibition held within the school premises.

Likewise, the Wellington Community regularly partners with cultural and educational organisations, scholars and artists. They host public lectures and performances that not only enhance the cultural experience on campus but also bridge the gap between the school and the wider community.

By integrating traditional Chinese culture into daily teaching and activities, we instil cultural confidence in our pupils. This approach not only enhances pupils' lives but also contributes to the preservation and promotion of Chinese cultural heritage.

At Wellington College Schools, we want our pupils to become global citizens of the world with the confidence and curiosity to interact with any culture. By exposing them to traditional Chinese cultures, we expand their horizons and build stronger connections with the past. This ultimately propels them forward with fresh perspectives as they engage with the world.