China is not only interesting in terms of language. This ‘Negeri Tirai Bambu’ has a diverse and captivating culture to learn. Especially if you can make a variety of Chinese hands-on art. It is really fun.
As what had been done by approximately 50 students of Vita School Surabaya, on Wednesday, October 3, 2012. They came to the Widya Kartika University (Uwika) to explore Chinese culture. The event was packaged in UWIKA’s Chinese Culture Day.
The Campus located at Jalan Sutorejo Prima Utara II / 1 had prepared all needs, starting from the materials, tools, until the instructor came from China. Thus, when the guests came, they did not have to wait long to start the event.
Peter Ong Leonardo, BA, M.Ed., lecturer of Uwika’s Chinese program said that such activities could give a picture that it was not only language that could be learned from the Chinese Nation. “The other side which can be explored more is the culture,” he said.
In Chinese Culture Day, the students were shown a selection of artwork from Negeri Tirai Bambu, such as the art of paper cutting, Chinese calligraphy, rigging, and etiquette in tea. Not only watched, they were invited to make direct practice work.
Dozens of students were divided into three groups. Each group visited three booths that had been set in turn. They were given 10 minutes before it finished their turn. The students seemed very enthusiastic in listening the explanation from the instructor.
Not only that, in each booth, they were also taught how to make a work of art, for example, Chinese calligraphy techniques. The students were shown how to hold brush properly. Then, they began to follow what was shown by the instructor. One by one, students of class IX began to write using brush which had been put into ink to the paper surface.
The same thing was also done on the art of paper cutting and rigging booths. Although almost all of the students did not complete their works properly, they claimed that they loved it. They got new knowledge which was gained from these activities. Fonny Soputra, Vita School guardian teacher of the group said that the event did provide benefits beyond formal lessons. “From this activity, the students come to know the other side of the China,” he said.