Tarmac Online

By Michael Cole ’27

Learning Through Tradition

Feeling the ink brush tremble, ink pouring and drying out as I laid my hand toward the rice paper—a paper I thought I could eat—black ink clumped and bled through one spot and faded elsewhere. A younger student leaned over, adjusted my grip, and the character yuè (月) appeared effortlessly, the way it was supposed to be written. In that moment, Chaminade’s Chinese Club was no longer just an after-school activity for club credit; it was about slowing down and practicing a vivid culture. For once, I learned the pressure within a brushstroke. My 0.5 mm lead pencil never supported me enough to draw a Chinese character properly.

A Living Language

I wasn’t the only one who felt a sense of connection to the actual culture behind a language. Chinese Club President Blake Weaver ’27 describes: “Chinese Club is an incredible opportunity for students to come together to learn more about the rich history and culture of China in engaging ways.” Throughout language class, no matter which one, a gap exists between the culture and history of the language and the material that is taught. Chinese Club, through shared learning experiences and participation, hopes to close the gap between learning a language and understanding the story and development behind it. Instead of historical lectures, the club centers on hands-on activities that engage students in practicing various cultural traditions. The club hopes to bring in alumni, guest speakers, and parents to actively support the students in various activities while facilitating cross-cultural connections more personally for students. Events like calligraphy sessions, cooking demonstrations, and seasonal festival celebrations show that the language is not just about learning grammar and vocabulary but rather a connection between character and meaning that brings the language alive.

Culture in Motion

Around a week ago, the room was filled with the clatter of chopsticks, desks arranged front and back, while laughter erupted throughout the room. Every few seconds, Chinese candy fell to the ground as students moved swiftly up and down, picking the candy up and then setting it down. A relay of transferring candy brought together students of all grades and backgrounds—some efficient and others learning throughout the game. Plates of varying mooncake fillings followed: red bean, lotus seed, taro, and egg yolk. Together, they represent the diversity of the members of the club, where anyone is welcome regardless of whether they speak Chinese or not. The theme of inclusion is what the Chinese Club achieves: everyone learns together. If any of the members were placed in China, they might not know every word, but they would understand how to blend into the culture.

Future Steps

Looking ahead, the Chinese Club plans to expand its reach through movie nights in Darby or Hearst Auditorium, weekend community trips to various hotspots of Chinese culture, and hands-on cooking experiences featuring various dishes: dumplings, buns, soups, and more. These events all strive to give students the chance to experience the culture beyond the textbooks, tasting the purpose of the words they use on a speaking assessment. The faculty moderator of this enriched community is Chaminade’s new faculty member, Ms. Annie Jin, one of 35 American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Chinese teachers for the Northeast. She expresses: “My hope is for the Chinese Club to grow into a welcoming space where students can share, learn, and celebrate cultures from around the world. It should be a place that encourages curiosity and connection beyond language and borders.” ACTFL notes, “In reality, then, the true content of the foreign language course is not the grammar and vocabulary of the language, but the cultures expressed through that language.” The Chinese Club intends not only to bridge the gap between a language and its past but to strengthen a sense of unity within the student body through learning experiences and hands-on activities—a community that truly helped me learn about my historical past and why certain traditions that I practice truly exist. Come join the Chinese Club bi-weekly (every other week) on Thursdays at 3 p.m. Please reach out to faculty advisor Ms. Jin with any questions: ajin@chaminade-hs.org