From Language to Art: Confucius Institute’s Creative Workshop with 1st Menai Bridge Beaver Scouts!

We were delighted to be invited to the 1st Menai Bridge Beaver Scouts’ hut on 7th November to lead a special workshop introducing the young Scouts to the Chinese language and culture. Our team thoroughly enjoyed the warm and lively atmosphere as we shared foundational Mandarin phrases and a creative paper-cutting session with the Beavers.

The workshop began with an interactive Mandarin session, where the Scouts eagerly learned simple greetings and practised writing their names in Chinese characters. Their enthusiasm was truly infectious, and it was fantastic to see how quickly they picked up these new language skills.

Following this, the Scouts dived into a Panda paper-cutting activity, exploring the traditional Chinese art of paper-cutting. Armed with scissors and colourful paper, they enthusiastically created beautiful Panda designs. This hands-on activity not only offered a creative way to engage fine motor skills but also deepened their appreciation for Chinese culture.

We extend our thanks to the 1st Menai Bridge Beaver Scouts for inviting us and for their wonderful participation. We look forward to more opportunities to bring Chinese language and cultural experiences to community groups, fostering curiosity and intercultural understanding among young learners.

Sara Jones, a parent volunteer, shared her feedback on the session:

"A quick email to say a HUGE thank you to the team who came over to work with the Beavers last night. It was a brilliant evening with so much engagement from each and every Beaver. The team were so friendly, kind, and professional, and fantastic with the children. We all enjoyed learning some new words, the singing, and of course making our own paper-cut Panda designs (even the leaders joined in!). The Beavers loved having their names written in Mandarin on their pictures too and learning how to pronounce them. It was such an excellent session."