Mandarin Workshop

St Martin’s was delighted to welcome a team of Mandarin teachers from the Confucius Institute for a very special workshop rewarding Year 7 students who had excelled in Mandarin in the past academic year and to encourage them to keep doing well as they continue to study Mandarin in Year 8.  Our budding Mandarin speakers learned the Chinese version of the song ‘If You're Happy And You Know It Clap Your Hands’ and played games such as the Chinese traditional ‘Shuttlecock Kicking’ and ‘Passing Flower’. The workshop ended with some challenges: Mandarin pronunciation, Mandarin spelling and Chinese Whispers.  The girls demonstrated their considerable Chinese language skills and understanding of a very different culture.

The students were very engaged throughout as they put what they had learnt in Year 7 to very practical use.  Our Mandarin guest teachers commented, ‘St. Martin’s girls are definitely one of the best Mandarin learners in London. We were surprised by their efforts and attitude to Mandarin learning, we can’t wait to see these girls again!’