Literature class

In the past, literature classes were very simple, basic and boring with students reading the book, filling worksheets and sitting for tests. So for a long time, books meant nothing special for the students, but this year the literature class with Miss Lilia Musleh was something else altogether. When we had a look the Kite Rider for the first time the book seemed very boring with all the Chinese names, that were so hard to remember. But from the moment we got involved in various activities, we became aware of our hidden talents. For example, some girls discovered their drawing talent when they drew pictures of the characters, others realized what astonishing choreographers they are while choreographing a Chinese wedding dance inspired by the predicament of the beautiful Qing’an, the mother of Hoayou. The dance was marvellous. Another of our many activities was going Chinese, sampling Chinese food and learning more about Chinese traditions. On the 16/12/2009 we went to a Chinese resturant in Bethlehem, and after having lunch, the girls started preparing for the Chinese Fashion show. A lot of girls wore amazing costumes and make-up and some of them looked stunnigly Chinese. We even had a quiz which was prepared by each section for the other one, and then it was time for presentations. One was about colours in China and Miss Suzy, who was wearing white was amused to learn that it is the colour of funerals. Miss Lilia was wearing a bit funny but nice costume and Mr Oliver was wearing a costume which he and Miss Suzy thought was Mongol, but to many of us he looked like Laurence of Arabia. There were other presentations about manners, superstitions and food in China. It was truly a trip-to-remember. Currently we’re working on making a replica of the city of Dagu as it was seen by Hoayou when he rode the kite for Namchi. Thanks to all the activities we’ve done until now, and for the first time, a book has become so much more appealing to students, and if the literature classes were all like this, no student would ever hate a book and think it boring.

Nada Qarra’in

8A (Tawjihi Class)

Trip to the Chinese restaurant

Our story in our literature class is called “The Kite rider” and it deals with the Chinese culture.

Therefore to that, we went to Bethlehem to a Chinese restaurant, not just for eating but also for studying as well as having fun by doing amazing activities.
From this short trip we learned about a lot of things like Chinese food and our classmates talked about some aspects of Chinese culture.

They told us that they eat lots of noodles, rice and chicken in China. We also learned about the meaning of Chinese colours; the most popular colours are white which means death and is used at funerals and red which is used at weddings for the bride’s dress. In addition to that we learned some Chinese proverbs:

窮则变，变则通 (qiong ze bian, bian ze tong)
Literally: If you’re poor, change and you’ll succeed.
Meaning: When out of means, seek change. Then opportunities will come.

We also had a quiz about our story that the students had prepared. One of the most interesting activities was the play that our classmates acted about the story and it included a Chinese dance that we really enjoyed. Our friend made fortune “cookies” that contained really surprising predictions:

For example “It is time to try something new”, or “your dad will kill you, because you talked to boys by phone” and by the way this was Philipp’s.

Finally, we made a wonderful fashion show and there were incredible costumes and the girls were so creative. Even the teachers wore Chinese costumes, Mrs. Lilia and Mrs. Suzy wore Chinese dresses and Mr. Oliver dressed as the Great Miao, we enjoyed it a lot and we wished that we could go another time but without quizes !!!
Miral Abdeen
Lorin Shabani
Nimati Dmeiry

8b (Abitur class)

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