A pupil from Intercultural Montessori Language School learns Chinese calligraphy in Chicago, the United States, June 2, 2019. To promote mutual understanding and friendship between the United States and China, Sunshine School, a Chinese school for children of diplomatic personnel in the Chinese Consulate General in Chicago, invited dozens of American pupils to experience Chinese traditional music, food and sports Sunday afternoon in the city's north side. (Xinhua/Stringer)
CHICAGO, June 5 (Xinhua) -- To promote mutual understanding and friendship between the United States and China, a Chinese elementary school recently invited dozens of American pupils to experience Chinese traditional music, food and sports.
Sunshine School, a Chinese school for children of diplomatic personnel in the Chinese Consulate General in Chicago, organized the open-day event Sunday afternoon in the city's north side, Jin Lei, Education Consul of Chinese Consulate General in Chicago, told Xinhua on Wednesday.
The theme of the program was "We are the Children, We are the World." Dozens of pupils from Chicago's Intercultural Montessori Language School and Solomon Elementary School were in high spirits when experiencing traditional Chinese cultural activities such as Chinese painting, calligraphy, dumpling making, shuttlecock kicking and table tennis.
Students from Sunshine School read the Chinese traditional poem "Intone Willow", sang the song of "Rap about Peking Opera masks", while students from Intercultural Montessori Language School sang "Chinese Language", and students from Solomon Elementary School sang the song "Where is my friend". In the end, all students sang Chinese classic song "Jasmine Flower" together.
The wonderful activities and performances raised the U.S. children's enthusiasm of learning Chinese, understanding China and experiencing the Chinese culture.
Zhao Jian, Chinese Consul-General in Chicago, and Education Counselor Chen Yinghui attended the program. Zhao said in his speech that learning Chinese language and Chinese culture helps promoting mutual understanding and better cooperative relations between the two countries.
"I encourage the students here to continue to study hard with Chinese language. As for teachers, by working together, we can build even brighter future for our children, for our society," Zhao said.
