The Longview School District started its Chinese program in two elementary schools and one high school this year with two guest teachers from China. The distance kept the guest teachers from being able to travel often to Seattle, but CIWA Directors Tang Changping and Deng Bo paid them a visit just two days before Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival.

They visited teachers Wei Wen at Northlake Elementary school and Yang Zhiyue at R.A. Long High School in their classes and greeted the students. The directors and teachers celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival together with the students in class sharing traditional moon cakes. Tasting the traditional cakes let students experience the important Chinese holiday in a more tangible way.

“Hopefully this will increase their interest and motivation in learning Chinese language and culture,” Tang said. Teacher Wei Wen demonstrated to the elementary students the different ways that Chinese people celebrate the festival, while the high school students in Yang Zhiyue’s class proudly presented their own projects on the origin and legends related to Mid-autumn Festival.

The elementary school students are excited to get moon cakes from CIWA.

From left to right: Tang Changping, Wei Wen (guest Chinese Teacher), Scott Moultine, principal of Northlake Elementary School, and Deng Bo.

Students at R.A. Long High School hold a lively presentation on Mid-Autumn Festival.