A slice of Mandarin

Ni Hao! We have just got back from our sister school in Machong with 12 Grade Five Mandarin students who participated in a one-week Language Immersion Program. Our students studied Mandarin twice a day and attended Science, P.E., Martial Arts, Music, Arts, Cantonese Opera and Fencing classes with their Chinese classmates for a week. Here are some snapshots from our trip to share with you.

As you can see from the pictures, they had a lot of fun learning with their Chinese classmates! Our students have not only improved their Mandarin language skills, but also developed a deeper understanding of Chinese culture. This has been a memorable journey for the students and we can’t wait to share this amazing experience with our next generation of Mandarin students in 2019!

New bilingual children’s book launch

Found in Melbourne is appearing in both English and Mandarin, and introduces readers to Melbourne’s attractions and wonders. Let’s hear from its author, CHPS parent Joanne O’Callaghan:

Found in Melbourne - A new children’s book in English and Chinese - Translated by Kevin Yang

Found in Melbourne is a story of friendship and multicultural community celebrating Melbourne’s landmarks and attractions. Written by CHPS parent, Joanne O’Callaghan, and illustrated by award-winning Hong Kong artist Kori Song, their story will be published by Allen & Unwin in both English and Simplified Chinese at the end of March.

We hope that the Simplified Chinese edition, translated by Kevin Yang, will be enjoyed by students learning Mandarin in schools throughout Australia and also by Chinese visitors and tourists.

From September 2016 to September 2017, Victoria had almost 600,000 Chinese visitors and Melbourne’s Chinese population is increasing every year. At present, over 75,000 children are learning Mandarin in Victoria alone. Additionally, three Chinese cities – Beijing, Chengdu, and Shanghai – are now among the top five places of departure for travellers landing in Melbourne.

Found in Melbourne is the first children’s book to be published in English and Chinese simultaneously by an Australian publisher. The book is supported by the City of Melbourne Arts Grant Program. Both editions are now available at the school library, at all good bookstores throughout Melbourne from the end of March, and online.

For more information contact Kevin Yang or Joanne O’Callaghan (jo.ocallaghan@me.com)