Third and Fourth Year Mandarin students visited Chinatown and the British Museum to deepen their understanding of Chinese language and culture.
The day began at Charing Cross Library, the largest Chinese library in the UK, where students learned about its history and took part in a word hunt using Chinese book titles. They then explored Chinatown through a scavenger hunt, identifying Chinese characters on signs, visiting shops, and practising real-life Mandarin through simple shopping interactions. Students also learned about the history of the area.
After a delicious lunch, where they practised food and drink vocabulary, the group visited the British Museum’s Chinese collection. Highlights included the Ming Dynasty Glazed Ceramic Dragon Tiles, Tang sancai ceramics, Northern Song dynasty monochromes, Jade and bronze collections.
The trip gave students valuable opportunities to apply their Mandarin in authentic contexts while engaging with Chinese culture and history.
