Arizona State University’s Confucius Institute has recently started a new outreach initiative to educate and promote Chinese culture within the valley. January 23, 2012 marked the first day of the Chinese New Year. Using this opportunity, Confucius Institute sent two presenters, a graduating ASU senior and an ASU Alumnus, to a total of six different schools in the valley. Those schools included Mohave Middle School, Mesa Academy for the Advanced, Westwood High School, Hamilton High School, ASU Preparatory Academy at the Polytechnic campus and ASU Preparatory Academy at the downtown campus

Group picture with the Jingsheng Yang’s students at Mesa Academy for the Advanced

Lantern craft with the Dongdong Thompson’s students at Westwood High School

As a way to support the Chinese programs within the valley, students at each school were given the opportunity to learn and understand the customs and traditions associated with Chinese New Year. In total, Confucius Institute went to eleven classrooms in the valley and visited close to 200 middle school and high school students.

Students at each of the schools learned about the traditional Chinese story of Nian, the story about a monster during ancient times that led to the origin as well as the traditions that later became associated to Chinese New Year. The students also learned about the cultural traditions that take place during this 15 day celebration, such as the giving of hong bao and the symbolism for eating fish during the Chinese New Year dinner. They learned the hand gestures associated with gong xi fa cai, as well as greetings said to each other during the celebrations, like xin nian kuai le, and other auspicious phrases ji xiang hua to welcome in the new year. Some classes had the opportunity to make red paper lanterns, similar to the ones hung for the celebration.

The presenters were well received at each of the schools and students were enthusiastic to welcome them back by suggesting topics relating to Chinese cultural for future presentations.