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Grade 8 Non-Native New Year's Calligraphy Activity

January 6, 2025

As the Year of the Dragon draws to an end , the eighth-grade non-native speakers' were given A themed activity titled "Writing the Dragon in the Year of the Dragon" to celebrate the New Year and successfully completion of this semester. Continuing the tradition of "Talking about the Dragon in the Year of the Dragon," the teachers hope that through this special year-end activity, we can bid farewell to the old and welcome the new, while allowing the cultural spirit of the "Dragon" to shine in the art of calligraphy. This activity, through both hard pen and brush pen calligraphy forms, allowed teachers and students to deeply experience the unique charm of traditional Chinese culture.

In mid-December, the hard pen calligraphy competition was conducted, among non-native students. Students first wrote paragraphs about the myths and legends of the dragon, with neat handwriting on the paper, with each stroke revealing seriousness and focus. Following this, in the bookmark creation segment, students selected their favorite lines from carefully from either five-character or seven-character poems. Each student incorporated their beautiful wishes for the New Year into each bookmark with brush and ink. Within the confines of the grid, students expressed their hopes and blessings with thick and thin strokes.





Later, in late December, an art lecture provided students with a deeper understanding of calligraphy. Teacher Gao Xiaoling began by discussing "Calligraphy in Our Lives," explaining "the origin and evolution of Chinese characters," introducing the characteristics of different periods' scripts, and discussing the "Four Treasures of the Study" in calligraphy culture. Teacher Gao Xiaoling also delved into the cultural significance of the dragon and how to write the character "dragon" in various scripts.





The next day, an activity combining tracing couplets and calligraphy culture was held. The teacher first introduced the cultural background of the character "Fu" (福) and the method of tracing it. They then explained the origins of tracing couplets and the techniques for writing them, while finally encouraging students to creatively write the character "dragon" or other zodiac signs.






The final activity involved writing characters on ceramic plates. Students prepared the Chinese characters they wanted to write in advance and carefully inscribed their New Year blessings on the ceramics. Writing on ceramics requires precise brush strokes and accurate control of ink, combining both visual and artistic enjoyment.



At the same time, the eighth-grade non-native teachers in the Chinese group also participated in the "Writing the Dragon in the Year of the Dragon" calligraphy activity. Teachers and students jointly wrote blessings for the Year of the Dragon, and these beautiful, well-organized, and uniquely characterized calligraphy works have been displayed in the hallway of the grade.



This "Writing the Dragon in the Year of the Dragon" calligraphy activity allowed students to experience the richness of traditional Chinese culture, igniting their interest and love for calligraphy art. It also broadened their cultural horizons and increased their understanding and respect for diverse cultures.

The "Dragon" symbolizes strength, wisdom, and good fortune. "Writing the Dragon in the Year of the Dragon" represents the beautiful hopes and blessings of teachers and students for the new year.

Written by Zhang Xinyi

Pictures by Xu Jing,Chinese Department Teachers

Reviewed by Chen Fan,Tian Lijiao, Chenli Shen, Cong Luo, Emma Hackett