Teaching Chinese the Easy Way

I have just been interviewing KS1 teachers at RJ Mitchell Primary School in Essex. They are teaching Mandarin, using resources from a company called Dragons in Europe. These include books, an online portal and activities packs.

Some schools may just want to dip into the culture of the world’s most populous country so the company has come up with a resource pack for the Chinese New Year. Scheduled to start on Friday 31^st January 2014, Chinese New Year is the most important celebration in the Chinese calendar. This year will be the Year of the Horse

The Chinese New Year Pack from Dragons in Europe includes activity resources for every pupil in the class – 35 red envelopes, 35 large Chinese New Year stickers, 35 Chinese character sheets, 35 mini lanterns, 35 Chinese New Year badges, 35 chopsticks, 35 Chinese knots, 35 Zodiac sheets and 35 ‘My first Chinese words’ language sheets.

Also included is support material for teachers including a DVD guide to Mandarin and the culture (in English), a large New Year lantern for the classroom and free access to www.primaryschoolchinese.com

Below shows how the games centre of the Dragons in Europe site is laid out:

This pack will be good for work in MFL, PSHE, citizenship, R.E., geography and history and with stories from around the world it could also be a useful addition to literacy work.

Dragons in Europe will also be running workshops throughout the London area for schools wishing to celebrate in style and they will also be manning a stall in Trafalgar Square – //www.visitlondon.com/things-to-do/event/4733685-chinese-new-year-in-london. All are welcome.

Chinese New Year packs are priced at just £49.99 plus vat + £10 postage. Further information can be obtained from Dragons in Europe, Earlsfield Business Centre, 9 Lydden Road, Earlsfield, SW18 4LT  www.dragonsineurope.com  T: 020 7228 8501.