After an increase in student interest, students took inspiration from their Chinese classes and created their own club.
Chinese has been a popular class for many years, in both the Bellefonte Area Middle and High School. Last year, high school students wanted further understanding of Chinese language and culture. So, at the end of the 2022-2023 school year, students organized their own Chinese Club. The club was approved in March of 2023, and started its first full official year this year. The club has eight members, and is advised by Chinese teacher Ms. Katrina Chen.
The Chinese classes range from learning the traditional language to topics based around cultural aspects. In previous years, students participated in activities and games relating to holidays and other cultural events. This holiday season, both middle and high school students caroled songs in the Chinese language. One class also traveled to China Town in New York City. Currently, students are learning Chinese currency and are working on a project about students’ running their own “stores” while buying products from others. Students in the Chinese Club wanted more of those experiences. The club members are organizing a celebration of the Chinese New Year this February.
Sophomore Raven Harter enjoys the welcoming learning environment her class offers.
“There are seven total people in my Chinese III/IV class, so we have grown very comfortable with each other and even with Chen Laoshi. I also really enjoy what things we cover in the class. I have learned everything from everyday sentence structure to learning how to order food at a restaurant,” Raven said.
Ms. Chen, or as her students call her, Chen Laoshi, has been teaching Chinese at Bellefonte Area School District for five years. She teaches the introductory class and Chinese I in the middle school, as well as the advanced classes in the high school, up to Chinese IV. She reflects back on when students approached her asking to make this club.
“I was really impressed. They wanted to have a club, so I tried to help them get to know what kind of paperwork we needed to do. The students were very excited as well. I thought, ‘wow, that’s good’,” Chen Laoshi said.
Creating a Chinese Club was the students’ idea. It is student-led, attracting students who are eager to explore further into Asian studies. The club also accepts students who are unable to take a Chinese class, but still want to learn more.
Chen Laoshi saw the importance of the club for students who were in similar situations.
“I know some of the students who joined the club have never experienced learning Chinese. They are not currently taking Chinese classes. So, they are excited about having the club, and it has helped them to learn Chinese culture,” Chen Laoshi said.
Sophomore Elizabeth Stack, who is also the treasurer of the club, was thrilled when she found out that there was a new Chinese Club.
“I love getting to learn the language. Chen Laoshi is an amazing teacher, and getting to expand my Chinese vocabulary is great. Chinese has always been one of my favorite subjects, and I was grateful for the opportunity to learn more, even if I couldn’t take the class,” Elizabeth said.
Raven finds both the club and Chinese classes a joy to be a part of. She is excited to learn Chinese in new creative ways. This is an important reason why she joined the club.
“I chose to join the Chinese Club because I thought it would be an awesome opportunity to teach people who might not be able to fit Chinese in their schedule…. When Natalie Jolley and Taryn Chaplain approached me asking if I would be interested in the Chinese Club last year, I was immediately super excited,” Raven said.
Chen Laoshi also noted the importance of other Asian cultures that are touched upon in club activities.
“[The club’s] not only for the Chinese culture. It might be an Asian culture. For example, the Chinese New Year, it’s not just only Chinese people who celebrate it. Vietnamese, they do celebrate it, and Malaysia celebrates it,” Chen Laoshi said.
Because the Chinese Club and classes have gained popularity, it has created chances for new classes. Now there is a possibility for an AP Chinese or a Chinese V in the future. Overall, the Chinese Club has opened opportunities for students to continue exploring the language and cultures they have come to know.
