Since May, the Middle School Chinese Department at Shanghai High School International Division has continuously provided students with platforms to showcase their talents and express their creativity. Following the eighth grade "Poetry Wings" event, sixth graders transformed the profound essence of a classic masterpiece into a delightful contemporary expression through the "Journey to the West Fun Carnival." Meanwhile, seventh graders wielded humor as their tool in the "Uniquely Different" Chinese Stand-Up Comedy Competition, offering sharp observations on everyday life and displaying remarkable critical thinking. These two distinctly styled, yet equally spectacular, cultural feasts not only ignited students' enthusiasm but also vividly demonstrated the boundless possibilities of Chinese learning and the unique charm of youthful expression.

Part 1: Sixth Grade "Journey to the West Fun Carnival"

Last week, the Auditorium transformed into a fantastical world for a unique "Journey to the West Fun Carnival."

The event commenced with the "Glory Ceremony." Ms. Chen Fan (Head of the Middle School Chinese Teaching & Research Group), Ms. Wu Wenyi (Head of Sixth Grade), and Ms. Gao Xiaoling (Deputy Head of Sixth Grade) presented awards to winning students and teams. Students earned distinctively themed accolades based on their solid knowledge and outstanding performances:

"Encyclopedic Scholar of the Three Realms" - Awarded to knowledge masters who excelled in class-based Journey to the West quizzes.

"Celestial Orator" - Bestowed upon students demonstrating exceptional eloquence in speech contests.

"Oscar Performance Award," "Best Brainstormer," "Most Dazzling Props Master," and "Best Divine Teammate" - Presented to teams for outstanding work in self-scripted, self-directed, and self-performed Journey to the West skits.

The "Storytelling" segment followed, featuring four students delivering refreshing themed speeches that cleverly bridged Journey to the West elements with modern thinking:

6-1 Angus explored the fantastical concept of the "Dream Monster."6-8 Alvin vividly recounted the witty tale of "Wukong Outwits Zhu Bajie."6-6 Harry transformed into a salesperson, humorously pitching the "Magic Vase of Pure Jade."6-8 Erin hosted a novel "New Product Launch," showcasing the modern versatility of the Golden Hoop Staff – a perfect fusion of text and creative thought.

The finale, the "Creative Theater," pushed imagination to new heights. Students performed their self-scripted skit, "Journey to the West: The 82nd Tribulation," featuring a bold and novel plot:

The pilgrim quartet, back from their quest, face new "employment" challenges.They embark on a new journey to find successors to continue the mission of universal salvation.They encounter strange happenings in a mysterious desert.Breaking temporal boundaries, the story leaps from classic settings like Lotus Cave and Flat-Top Mountain to a bizarre "Future World," before returning to the Tang Dynasty for a fantastical adventure spanning past and present.

The entire Carnival, encompassing knowledge mastery, linguistic expression, scriptwriting, and stage performance, fully showcased the sixth graders' deep cultural understanding, vibrant creativity, and excellent comprehensive skills. The students revitalized the ancient tale with their unique contemporary flair, demonstrating delightful reverence and innovation towards the classic.

Part 2: Seventh Grade "'Uniquely Different' Chinese Stand-Up Comedy Competition

In May, the seventh grade "'Uniquely Different' Chinese Stand-Up Comedy Competition" kicked off amidst laughter. Host Mr. Yu Xiwen ignited the audience's anticipation with the witty announcement: "Stow your tray tables, place your schoolbags in front of your legs, and prepare for takeoff into laughter!" – cleverly framing the comedy show as a joyful "flight."

The event was honored to welcome distinguished guests and judges: Ms. Liu Qiong (Teacher of SHSID Middle and Primary School Teaching Affairs Center), Ms. Chen Fan (Head of SHSID Middle School Chinese Department), and Ms. Shen Ying (Grade 7 Supervisor ).

The creative Chinese activities group "Late Night Wednesdays" lent enthusiastic support. A unique opening video featuring interviews about amusing student life anecdotes set a lively tone, perfectly setting the stage for the performers.

Twelve finalists took turns on stage, transforming into "campus comedians." With sharp observation, unique perspectives, and humorous delivery, they turned snippets of school life, reflections on growth, and even social commentary into hilarious yet thought-provoking routines.

7-3 Henry Shared personal anecdotes and offered humorous reflections on his growth journey.

7-5 Boris、Ben("2B Chat Duo"): With great rapport, they hilariously explored the difficulties of human-AI communication, prompting knowing laughs about communication skills.

7-7Jayden dove into the "unknown world of competitive swimming," humorously discussing categories, relay quirks, and pool "lingo," revealing the bittersweet realities of training. 7-2 Chris Focused on the reputedly intense IMMC (International Mathematical Modeling Challenge), using self-deprecation and shared experience to laugh about the hardships and rewards of preparation, conveying "courage, guts, and transformation."7-10 Sean Explored the "generation gap" through poignant and funny depictions of daily life with her grandmother. 7-12 Jacob Shared the culture shock of moving from the US to Shanghai, from quarantine hotel antics to squat toilet crises and the "shock" of linguistic differences, eliciting roars of laughter.

The organizers presented creatively designed advertisements for the "YUEYUE Tea x Dawn Blossoms Dusk Blooms" collaboration, followed by a video of teachers offering fun commentary on these cultural products, energizing the crowd. A warm and whimsical "Teacher-Student Childhood Memories" short film followed, evoking nostalgia with shared recollections of "mandarin oranges," childhood fears/prides, and "white lies," mixing laughter with sentimentality.

The final six contestants tackled broader, more reflective topics:

7-12 Aimi Used calm self-deprecation to humorously navigate minor frustrations. 7-6 Carlos Drew from personal "nearsightedness," sharing hilarious mishaps to conclude that "though the world blurs, I see myself more clearly." 7-2 Sam turned to the contentious field of AI with "Artificial? Intelligence?", contrasting correct and incorrect ways to use AI and their consequences.7-2 Stephan Unleashed his imagination, placing the classic cartoon character "Nezha" into SHSID campus life for a side-splitting adventure.7-10 Oliver aimed his wit at "luxury goods," offering a middle schooler's perspective on baffling design choices.7-3 Souta brought the second half to a satisfying close with relatable campus humor about "strengths & weaknesses," "sleepy classes," and "hungry classes."

Ms. Shen Ying，Grade 7 Supervisor highly praised the students' performance, noting that she saw a different, humorous side of them. Ms.Chen Fan，Head of SHSID Middle School Chinese Department  lauded the depth of the contestants’ topics, the fluency of their delivery, and the sparks of insight in their thoughts. She exclaimed with heartfelt admiration that the students’ performance in this stand-up comedy session was even better than that of open mic performers—truly living up to the event’s name "Speech Startles"! She  also expressed gratitude to the creative "production team" teachers who worked tirelessly behind the scenes.

The awards ceremony reached a fever pitch. Student judge 7-4 Juno highly commended the performances, joking it made his "relaxed self want to strive again." Ms. Shen Ying, Ms. Liu Qiong, and Ms. Chen Fan then presented awards, including the "Stunning Words" 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prizes.

Amidst lasting applause and laughter, the seventh grade "'Uniquely Different' Chinese Stand-Up Comedy Competition" concluded triumphantly. This event was not just a celebration of language and talent, but a profound exercise in self-expression and intellectual exchange. It vividly illustrated that stand-up comedy is the art of observing life, the craft of humorous speech, and a unique blossoming of youthful spirit. We look forward to students continuing to discover life with keen eyes, paint the world with witty words, and illuminate wisdom with independent thought, shining ever more brilliantly!

Written by Zhangxinyi
Proofread by Judah Kuhn

Pictures by Xujing , LiuLisha

Proofread by ChenFan,Jinjing ,Yuxiwen