By Angel Boose
Learning about another culture is both exciting and invigorating. By learning to speak another language you get to explore a world that is different from your own and engage in conversation to discover even more.
On Friday, February 9, 2024, students studying the Chinese language at eight high schools across the state of New Jersey were invited to take part in a Lunar New Year Celebration at Rutgers University in New Brunswick. It was a joint effort between the NJ Chinese Teachers Association (NJCTA) and The Language Center (TLC) at Rutgers University.
The Lunar New Year Celebration was emceed by two students and included many student performances. Many of the announcements and questions posed to the audience were made in both English and Chinese to allow the students to actively practice using their Chinese –language learning.
The International High School Dragon Troupe kicked off the celebration with a traditional dragon dance in recognition of the Year of the Dragon.
A five-student chorus from UC TEAMS sang the popular song “Gongxi,” which translates in English to “Congratulations.”
They were followed by an instrumental performance of “Jasmine” put on by students playing the clarinet, oboe, and trombone.
Then there was an electrifying action-packed kung fu show performed by two students from Union Catholic High School to the song “Changing Face.”
A rap group from Jose Marti STEM Academy put on a musical performance that incorporated various dance moves. That performance was followed by a K-pop dance performance by four students from Old Bridge High School. The celebration ended with a student from Paterson High School playing the Guzheng, which is a multi-stringed Chinese instrument that is plucked.
Once the performances concluded, students were invited to go into another room to enjoy several cultural stations designed by each school in attendance. Students could attempt ribbon dance with the dragon, lion, red silk, and other Year of the Dragon props.
There were a host of craft activities for students to enjoy including Chinese paper-cutting, Chinese knot as well as to ability to create pipe cleaner dragons, paper lanterns, or spring festival couplets.
Students played several games including the Chinese character game, guess the lantern riddles, or Chopsticks, where they competed against each other, racing the clock to move items from one location to another. They could also take part in a physical game of shuttlecock, which is a Chinese national sport.
For those interested in using their knowledge of Chinese characters, there was an opportunity to do Chinese calligraphy on beautiful red banners.
To conclude the event, everyone enjoyed a Chinese lunch including favorites like egg rolls, lo mein, orange chicken, fried rice and so much more.
This was the first time that the NJCTA and TLC at Rutgers University collaborated to bring a Lunar New Year event to the campus. It is everyone’s hope that they will continue to collaborate for future students to enjoy the celebration and to engage in activities centered around the Chinese culture.
