Seren Network Schools visit UWTSD Campuses for Chinese Taster Days

One hundred and twenty Year 8 and Year 9 students from schools across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire had the chance to visit UWTSD campuses on 1 and 4 April and experience a jam-packed day of Chinese culture activities organised by the Confucius Institute in collaboration with SEREN foundation.

Students and staff from Penweddig school with Confucius Institute Chinese Co-Director, Lisa Liu

The UWTSD Carmarthen campus hosted Coedcae and Glan y Mor Secondary schools from Llanelli and Bury Port, Haverfordwest High and Caer Elen from Pembrokeshire and Bro Myrddin School from Carmarthen, while Bro Pedr and Penweddig Schools visited the Lampeter campus.

The past two years of Covid restrictions have meant that these students have had few opportunities to experience extracurricular activities and for most this was their first opportunity to learn some Chinese and explore Chinese studies topics. The day offered a mix of academic topics such as the evolution of Chinese characters and an exploration of Chinese and Welsh mythology as well as practical workshops in calligraphy, Chinese tea ceremony and Baduanjin wellbeing exercise.  By the end of the day students had mastered language skills as well such as greetings and numbers.

Bethan Jones-Hughes, Regional Hub coordinator said ‘Watching the students engage and extend themselves beyond classroom experiences is at the heart of the Seren foundation.  The skills they have started to develop today will be bolstered as they challenge themselves to complete this extensive research project. We look forward to celebrating their achievements later in the year and continuing to foster these positive relationships with UWTSD.  A huge ‘Diolch’ to the Confucius teaching team.’

Students practicing Baduanjin exercise

The Chinese taster days marked the launch of the Chinese Culture and Language six-week self-study course for schools, a programme developed by the UWTSD Confucius Institute for CCP Seren in 2021. The course explores the history, mythology and rich cultural heritage of China while at the same time drawing on comparative examples from their Welsh cultural heritage. With one hour’s study per week, students will acquire the basic language tools to introduce themselves and their families in Chinese. At the end of the course students who complete their assignments will be awarded certificates at a special ceremony on the Carmarthen and Lampeter campuses.

For more information please contact k.krajewska@uwtsd.ac.uk 

Further Information

For more information please contact Arwel Lloyd, Principal PR and Communications Officer, on 01267 676663 / arwel.lloyd@uwtsd.ac.uk