In 2019, Lucy Stapleton, then aged 9, came second in her age group with her coffee capsule outfit made for the Lake Taupo Hospice fundraiser Creative Catwalk.

Collecting the coffee capsules turned out to be time-consuming, and so straight after the 2019 event, the St Patrick's School Taupo student set about sourcing used wine corks in the lead-up to making her 2020 Creative Catwalk entry. Read more

"In China children in primary schools sit quietly and the teacher tells them everything but over here a teacher is just a facilitator of their learning so it is very different," she said.

Yu, who is originally from the Hunan Province in South-Central China, is spending the year in Taupo as a Mandarin language assistant teaching students at Saint Patrick's Catholic School, Wairakei Primary School and Taupo-nui-a-Tia College.

Saint Patrick's is hosting her thanks to the Confucius Institute at Auckland University which last year sent principal Danny Nicholls to China.

"When I was a child I was forced to learn English because it is a global language and China is getting stronger and stronger too.

"Although I don't think you necessarily need to learn Chinese I do think it is important to learn a second language because it can be be very helpful," Yu said.

"I am also planning to organise some cultural activities for kids who might be more interested in Chinese culture rather than the language such as how to celebrate Spring Festival, how to make dumplings, and shadow cork."

Source

• stuff.co.nz
• Image: stuff.co.nz