Tan Yan Kee Library hosts Summer Cultural Classes

Parents were in high spirits with the program saying that “Our children had improved their Chinese language proficiency and had a deeper understanding about the Chinese history, culture and values. Students had equal chances of performing on stage, may it be acting or singing, which they cannot experience during regular school.”

Summer is a much awaited season. All parents wanted to take the opportunity to help their kids in nurturing their skills and talents during summer. It’s also the best time to develop one’s personality so parents send kids to summer classes. 

The Tan Yan Kee Foundation, Inc. (TYKFI) combined learning and enjoyment by sponsoring the 2015 Tan Yan Kee Library Summer Class from March 29 to June 7 at San Fernando Tower, 514 Plaza del Conde cor. Muelle de Binondo St. in Binondo, Manila. The schedule of classes was as follows: Tuesdays to Fridays, Chinese History Class, Thursdays to Saturdays, St. Jude Special Class, Saturdays and Sundays, Chinese Literature Class.

The skills 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.

The Library personnel overseeing the classes were Ms. Florentina Go, Ms. Ellamae Valenzuela, and Ms. Lan Chen Chiu, while the teachers conducting the classes were Ms. Hau Lai Or, Ms. Yee Hoa Lee, Ms. Ester Go, Ms. Janet Santos, and Ms. Elisha Pauline Ko. Activities conducted: Learning, reading, storytelling and understanding Chinese History and Idioms, Learning understanding and appreciating Chinese Tang Poetries (additional), Singing Chinese inspirational and mother’s day songs, Art activities (coloring, origami, mother’s day greeting cards), Literature: Composition Writing, Acting short plays, story-telling, reporting, narrating poems and song interpretation, and Learning and improving Mandarin and Fookien.

The class also celebrated Mother’s Day last May 10 at the Penthouse of the San Francisco Tower by doing narration, singing and song interpretation. 

To close the summer class, Tan Yan Kee Library commenced 2015 Summer Class Graduation Rites last June 7, 2015. It was celebrated with short plays, storytelling, reporting, narration, singing, song interpretation. Some presentations were done in both Mandarin and Fookien.

Students also expressed their experience saying that “We earned new friends from different schools and we all enjoyed reading Chinese storybooks and comics, and learning new songs and crafts.” 

In turn, the teachers felt that the students left an impression of excitement and anticipation as they looked forward to another joyful set of activities next summer.