Students in VASJ's Mandarin class recently participated in a field trip to AsiaTown, where they visited an authentic Chinese supermarket and enjoyed lunch at a local restaurant. Throughout the trip, students were encouraged to use Mandarin in real-life situations by greeting staff, asking simple questions, and ordering their meals in Chinese. Students were excited to wish others “Happy New Year” in Mandarin during the visit.
At the supermarket, students explored cultural products and ingredients that aren't commonly found in typical American grocery stores, observing differences in food, packaging and culinary traditions. The experience will continue in the classroom as students discuss and reflect on what they observed.
The trip provided a valuable opportunity to connect classroom learning with authentic language use and cultural immersion.