Students Enjoy Fun Summer Classes at the Tan Yan Kee Library

Every student looks forward to summer vacation. At the same time, parents also want to take this opportunity to enroll their kids in summer classes. The Tan Yan Kee Foundation, Inc. (TYKFI) combined learning and enjoyment by sponsoring the 2014 Tan Yan Kee Library Summer Class from March 26 to June 8, at the 16th flr., San Fernando Tower, 514 Muelle de Binondo St., Binondo Manila. The schedule are as follows, Tuesdays to Fridays: Chinese History Class, Thursdays to Saturdays: St. Jude Special Class, Saturdays and Sundays: Chinese Literature Class. 

The skill level also varied per class:

• History Class—Age: Between 10 to 16 years old. Grade Level: From Grade 4 to High School. 
  
• St. Jude Special Class—Age: Between 13 to 16 years old. Grade Level: From 1st year High School to 4th year High School. 
  
• Literature Class—Age: Between 5 to 12 years old. Grade Level: From Kinder to Grade 6 
  

Special thanks to the library personnel and teachers who made the summer classes possible. The library personnel overseeing the classes were Ms. Florentina Go, Ellamae Valenzuela and Lan Chen Chiu, while the teachers conducting the classes were Mr. Aniceto Cham, Ms. Leslie Cham, Ms. Merlyline Ham, Ms. Hau Lai Or, Ms. Yee Hoa Lee and Ms. Ester Go.

Activities included: learning, reading, storytelling and understanding Chinese History and Idioms, understanding and appreciating Chinese Tang Poetries (additional), singing Chinese inspirational and mother’s day songs, art activities (drawing, coloring, origami, mother’s day greeting cards), literature: composition writing, acting short plays, reporting, narrating poems and song interpretation, learning and improving Mandarin and Fookien.

The class celebrated Mother’s Day last May 11 at the Penthouse by doing narration, singing with flute accompaniment, and song Interpretation. Of course a class is not complete without graduation ceremonies, that’s why last June 8 the summer class graduation rites commenced. It was celebrated with short plays, story-telling, reporting, narration, singing, song interpretation-while some presentations were done in both Mandarin and Fookien. 

Parents were very satisfied with the program saying that “their children had improved their Chinese language proficiency and had a deeper understanding about the Chinese history, culture and values.” They added, “students had equal chances of performing on stage, may it be acting or singing, which they cannot experience during regular schools.”

Students also expressed their positive experience saying they earned new friends studying from different schools, and that they enjoyed reading Chinese storybooks, and learning new songs and crafts. 

In turn, the teachers felt that students left an impression of excitement and anticipation. Both the students and the teachers gained valuable experience and knowledge from the summer classes.