On Wednesday 29th March, the Mandarin department took our talented Year 10 students to Birmingham for a whole-day conference. This was organised by the prestigious, government-funded Mandarin Excellence Programme (MEP), in which all Mandarin students at Central Foundation take part in.
The event, titled “Journey to the East: a Voyage of Discovery” featured fascinating talks about China’s history, politics, and cultural heritage, including brilliant sessions about Chinese animation, internet fiction, and music.
The students got the chance to try their hand at playing traditional Chinese instruments, wearing traditional Chinese dress, and even calligraphy.
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In addition to sessions on further Chinese study at university and using Chinese in the workplace, the students were addressed by Nick Gibb, the Rt. Hon. Minister of State for Schools. He encouraged the MEP cohort in their studies, and praised them for their efforts in a challenging, yet infinitely rewarding subject.