Our Students Participate in the Sino-American Youth Drama Exchange Activity

On July 16, 2023, students from Grade 8 and Grade 10 of AP class from our school went to China Children's Art Theatre to participate in the launch ceremony of the "Sino-US Youth International Chinese Language and Drama Exchange" program. There they watched the educational performance of the American version of " Mermaid in the East China Sea” With the long-term support of the Sino-Foreign Language Exchange and Cooperation Center of the Ministry of Education of China, the program aims to integrate Chinese learning with drama through the innovative education model of "Chinese + Drama,” so as to help American students better learn Chinese and understand Chinese culture, and to promote Sino-American educational cooperation and strengthen people-to-people exchanges between Chinese and American youth.

At the beginning of the event, students from California and Montana in the United States gave a new and vivid performance of the play "Mermaid in the East China Sea" in Chinese and ballet form. This story showed a brave boy save the mermaid girl trapped in the sea by the dragon prince, and finally the two of them completed a great human love of mutual redemption. The impressive light and shadow effects of the stage, the fluent Chinese lines of the young American actors, the beautiful dance and song, and the emotional interpretation won a thunderous applause. The China Children's Art Theater also presented the 12th China Children's Theater Festival Award to the United Delegation of American students.

Next, Chinese students representing various schools exchanged questions with the American actors. Chen Xinyue from Class 20, Grade 8 of our school expressed her warm welcome to the American students coming to China in fluent English. She also asked the American actors why they chose to learn Chinese and how learning Chinese would affect their life planning. Maya Kinto, the American student who plays the grandmother of Golden Beads, said that as a student she loves learning Chinese because it can make her feel closer to Chinese culture, and said that she would like to study or work in China. AP class from Grade 10 in our school also interacted with the American students about their own experiences in English drama. The students learned about the challenges faced by actors in performing plays in foreign languages and the touching experience of practicing hard to produce the best results. Our student representatives took a group photo with the American students on stage.

Near the end of the activity, the Chinese and American students sang the Chinese song "Phoenix Blossom Intersection.”  This activity not only made the students feel the charm of drama, but also feel the love of American students for Chinese language and Chinese culture. This event promoted mutual understanding between the youth of the two countries and deepened the friendship between Chinese and American students. Just as the song goes, "In my mind, there is a intersection where phoenix flowers bloom, and my most cherished friend there.” Chinese and American students pray that the flower of friendship will always bloom.