The Chinese program at Fridley High School invited professional teachers of traditional Chinese instruments to speak to students on February 16. Students taking Chinese 3 are currently learning about daily routine and school life, including classes, after school activities and hobbies. A cultural project included in this level is to learn about Chinese traditional instruments and compare and contrast them with Western instruments.

Students were excited to engage and actively participate with these instruments that they had read about in a book. A variety of students in Chinese 3 are musicians and some are in the school band, so they were easily able to start the comparison of instruments. One student who is learning the violin wanted to try playing the Chinese violin (Erhu) and another student who is learning the guitar wanted to try playing the Chinese guitar (YueQin).

This cultural project has inspired students to do more self-exploration and regulate their study and leisure time. This opportunity to learn about traditional Chinese instruments has helped broaden their horizons.