All Chinese classes at our school took part in a dumpling-making activity to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival, which was on Friday 19 June, and to celebrate the great progress we have made in our Chinese learning this semester. Thanks to our teachers – Mrs Kuang and Doctor Fu, we were able to learn more about Chinese food culture through this hands-on experience.
Dumplings are an important traditional food in Chinese culture. They are often eaten during holidays and family celebrations, and they symbolise happiness, good luck and family unity. This activity gave us the opportunity not only to learn about traditional Chinese food, but also to experience an important part of everyday Chinese culture firsthand.
During the activity, we worked together in groups to make our dumplings. Mrs Kuang and Doctor Fu first demonstrated how to place the filling in the dumpling wrapper, fold the edges and pinch the wrapper tightly. We then had the chance to try making dumplings ourselves. For some students, it was their first time making dumplings, and the shapes we created were wonderfully varied — some looked like small boats, while others looked like crescent moons. This brought lots of laughter and joy to the classroom.
Although the process was not always easy, we supported one another, learned from each other and showed excellent teamwork. When the dumplings were finally cooked and served, we all felt a great sense of achievement and were proud to enjoy the food we had made ourselves.
The dumpling-making activity was a meaningful and enjoyable cultural learning experience. It helped us deepen our understanding of Chinese traditions while also developing practical skills, cooperation and confidence. We look forward to more opportunities to learn and grow through cultural experiences like this in the future.
~ Yinian Lin 13B1