Correspondent: Long Zhenni Photographer: You Jingbo
"Crane's Sway, Storm's Play".On the afternoon of April 3rd, the first characteristic practical teaching class of the first Chinese training class for international students, jointly organized by the School of Foreign Languages and International Trade and the Office of International Cooperation and Exchange of Wuhan Polytechnic University, was held in full swing at the Gymnasium of the Optics Valley Campus. Ninety-one international students from 11 countries kicked off an immersive journey of exploring Chinese culture that combines cultural depth and life education through experiences of the traditional Tujia dance Roulianxiang, Chinese martial arts cudgel techniques, and a fire drill activity.
Dance Rhyme, Living Legacy: Tujia Heritage Etching Oriental Grace
Open your arms, pay attention to the rhythm, wear a smile on your face, and feel your body becoming lighter and brisker. Confidence and sunshine flow through every part of you. While demonstrating the classic movements of Roulianxiang, Fu Qin, a teacher from the Department of Physical Education and Aesthetics, patiently explained the key points of the dance.
As the music started playing, the girls, who were a bit shy at first, gradually relaxed. They slapped their legs and elbows with their palms and coordinated with jumps and movements. The lively rhythm and their graceful postures complemented each other perfectly, making the teachers and students watching couldn't help but praise repeatedly.
International students learn the traditional Tujia dance Roulianxiang
Jianing, a student from Mongolia, wiped the sweat from her forehead and smiled, saying, This way of 'playing the drum' with the body is so amazing! Teacher Fu said that the Tujia people used to dance to keep warm and drive away the cold. It reminds me of the rain-making dance of the African tribes. I didn't expect that the ways humans express emotions with their bodies are quite similar.
Students from Kazakhstan and Mongolia express their love for the Roulianxiang dance
The practical teaching has specially set up a bilingual environment of intangible cultural heritage for international students, enabling the unique local ethnic culture to be fully understood through immersive experiences. I think this dance is both gentle and full of rhythm. It's really special. When I started to enrich my facial expressions and eye contact, I could really feel myself becoming more confident, said Renat from Kazakhstan.
Staffs in Symphony, Bonds in Harmony — Where Chinese Kong FU Bridges Worlds
In the martial arts teaching area, before the class even started, the international students picked up the martial arts cudgels and were eager to have a try. In the blink of an eye, the gymnasium was filled with the swirling shadows of cudgels, and the sounds of Chinese and English intermingled one after another.
For cudgel techniques, it emphasizes 'the cudgel sweeps across an area', but when concluding the move, it must be as swift as a shooting star. This also embodies the principle of combining hardness and softness as described in Chinese philosophy. Niu Kai, a coach from the Department of Physical Education and Aesthetics, explained the unique skill of Black Dragon Twisting the Pillar while demonstrating.
The scene of the experience of Chinese martial arts cudgel techniques
Alex, a young man from Russia, waved his martial arts cudgel and said excitedly, I really like Bruce Lee! I fell in love with Chinese kung fu because of watching his movies. Today, I finally got to hold a real cudgel of the same height as my eyebrows. I'm so happy!
International students practice basic cudgel techniques in groups
When the students were practicing basic moves in groups, Andy, a student from Morocco, shouted in the Chinese he had just learned, Take this strike from my cudgel! However, he didn't hold it firmly and instead dropped the cudgel to the ground. All the teachers and students present burst into laughter.
This activity has helped us overcome the sense of strangeness, said a student from Vietnam. Although we don't speak the same language, Chinese martial arts is the best universal language.
Borderless Vigilance, United Resolve — Where Drills Forge Life defenses
In front of the East Gate No. 2, Jing Bijun, a fire control instructor from the Security Department, led the international students to start a fire escape drill.
The smoke protection mask is not a helmet. A wrong way of wearing it even for just one second can be fatal. Officer Jing demonstrated and explained the steps on the spot: tear open the vacuum packaging box, pull out the front and rear plugs, and put it on the head and fasten the strap, which can be completed within five seconds. The international students formed groups of four and immediately completed the standard operation within the specified time. You look so comical like this! The international students who came up to interact looked at each other and laughed, and the atmosphere on the scene was full of joy.
The scene of the fire protection training drill
"It's so beautiful when the fire hose is swung. It's like waving a silk ribbon, forming a circle when thrown and coiled." After watching the demonstration of how to use the fire hose, the international students applauded one after another and marveled at the officers' proficient skills. The simulated fire scene was filled with thick smoke. Officer Jing picked up the microphone and said, Everyone, observe the direction of the wind. Remember the four-character formula of 'lift, hold, pull, and press'. When spraying, you must aim at the root of the fire. Only in this way can you put out the fire correctly. During the practical session, the international students eagerly rushed forward to learn how to operate the fire extinguisher and successfully completed the fire emergency drill.
International students learn the operation skills of surviving in a fire scene
Jubair, a student from Bangladesh, exclaimed, The skills I learned today are extremely practical. Chinese universities have made safety education as systematic and complete as kung fu teaching. This is amazing.
Wuhan Polytechnic University has always attached great importance to the international development of vocational education. This characteristic teaching practice activity fully demonstrates the school's active exploration and practical achievements in the innovation of international Chinese education. As the organizer and implementer of this international student project, the School of Foreign Languages and International Trade has made efforts to optimize and integrate teaching resources, and actively explored the Chinese + scenario-based teaching mode, bringing a brand-new learning experience to international students and greatly broadening their horizons. Next, the school will arrange more colorful cultural experiences and characteristic activities to help international students, while improving their language skills, deeply experience the profound heritage and unique charm of Chinese culture, and further promote the school's international education quality and level to a new height.
