Year 9

Spring into Chinese at Monash University

Article by Jiaqi Li – Middle School Languages Leader

Overnewton students enrolled in Senior School Chinese for 2027 enjoyed Spring into Chinese, an event organised by Monash University that brought together more than 300 students from 16 schools across Victoria. Students had the opportunity to learn from Monash University professors and current students, who shared valuable insights into Chinese language and culture, as well as future study opportunities at the university.

Students participated in engaging workshops covering a range of topics, including current affairs, Chinese popular media, the Chinese writing system and VCE tips from former students. They also took part in hands-on cultural activities, including Peking Opera, Chinese calligraphy, traditional Chinese dance and conversational Chinese practice.

The Spring into Chinese at Monash was such an insightful experience, exploring new aspects to the Chinese culture and the overall learning at Monash. My favourite activity was the ‘Conversation Practice’, we got to work with other schools in talking about sentence structures and pronunciation. - Sophie 

During our Monash Chinese Languages Day, we learnt about traditional Chinese dancing and tried different dance moves using three fans, the folding fan, the round fan and the long silk fan. It was a fun and eye-opening experience. - Abby 

The setting, the atmosphere and the educators all came together to provide one of, if not the most, realistic and informative experiences in terms of mentorship, helping us navigate and prepare for our own futures. This was all the more impressive considering that the event only provided guidance towards one field of study. - Ethan 

The Springing into Chinese event at Monash was such a fun and amazing experience, filled with cultural activities, learning and laughter. It was a great opportunity to explore Chinese culture, connect with others, and one of the BEST excursions of the year. - Krista 

‘Spring into Chinese’ at Monash offered a wide range of exciting experiences including live performances, presentations and engaging workshops. The excursion was an incredible opportunity to practise our Mandarin skills, have fun with our friends, and speak with many professors and former VCE students.Following the excursion, I look forward to continuing my Mandarin studies, and learning about the culture that is so rich and unique. - Alana 

Today, my favourite activity was the Calligraphy workshop. I liked using ink and the fact that it was a hands-on craft. Learning about Chinese calligraphy made me think about the similarities and differences between Chinese and western calligraphy. In Chinese calligraphy, you have to hold the brush upright which is difficult to the western calligraphy in which the brush in held on a slant. I really enjoyed Chinese calligraphy and would do it again. - Rajvi 

The session regarding modern China was incredibly interesting. The teacher prompted the students to discuss what impact various trends, such as ‘Labubu’ and ‘Niu Lai’, have on China’s of international perception and how the various aspects of modern China gave rise to them. We also had a very interesting discussion about what problems face China today, such as rural inequity and population decline, and what we thought potential solutions to these problems might be. The advice for VCE Chinese study was very helpful, it was good to get realistic advice from someone who I could relate to. The most important piece of advice that they gave us is to start rehearsing for you oral assessments early, and you’ll be able to ace it with only 15 minutes of practice a day. - Dale 

My favourite workshop was the calligraphy workshop. I found it very relaxing, and the best part was that we got to take home a bookmark that we wrote on ourselves. - Talia 

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