On May 25th, 2011, the Charlotte Museum of History held a large cultural event for Union Country Public Schools entitled Becoming American Union County Program. The program is in conjunction with a traveling Smithsonian Exhibit, Becoming American. The Confucius Institute at Pfeiffer University was invited to demonstrate and discuss Chinese cultures at the event.

The mission of the Confucius Institute at Pfeiffer University is to promote Chinese culture and offer the world’s leading Chinese language teaching.

After more than a year of development, the Confucius Institute at Pfeiffer University has built a deep connection with the local community. The Confucius Institute has coordinated several cultural events together with the Charlotte Museum of History. Ms. Angelica Docog, the President of the Charlotte Museum of History, is a huge advocate of Chinese culture. She has offered two Chinese cultural lectures at the Confucius Institute and provides great support to its promotion and development. Prof. Yan, the Director of the Confucius Institute at Pfeiffer University, is also one of the trustees of the Charlotte History of Museum. In addition, based on the long-term cooperation between the Confucius Institute at Pfeiffer University and Union County Public Schools, the Becoming American Union County Program was a huge success due to the collaboration of the three sides.

The Chinese cultural information slideshow presented by the Confucius Institute at Pfeiffer University was viewed in Great Hall, to the great interest of the American students.

The Confucius Institute at Pfeiffer University demonstrated fun and interesting aspects of Chinese traditional culture to the American high school students, such as Chinese tea, Chinese calligraphy, clay sculpture, paper cutting, and Chinese knotting. There were over 200 students from Union County High Schools who participated in the event. They showed great interests in the traditional Chinese clay sculpture. All of them were very happy to learn how to do the paper cutting, make a panda clay sculpture, or knit a Chinese knot. These kinds of experiences opened their Chinese cultural horizons and expand their perspectives on Chinese culture.

American students were learning how to do a Chinese knotting with Ms. Neal, the Secretary to the Director in the Confucius Institute at Pfeiffer University.  More Pics

Watching the Chinese knot made by herself, she smiles happily.

Ms. Silan Chen was demonstrating Chinese tea for American students.