孔子课堂 – Confucius Classroom

St Peter’s College was the first high school to launch a Confucius Classroom in Auckland.  Since March 2014, 500+ boys have studied Chinese from Year 7 to Year 13. St Peter’s has an established Chinese curriculum, with students entering speech and essay competitions and taking part in Chinese language camps. It has a “brother” relationship with a school in China, with student exchanges and camps planned.

Confucius Classrooms (CCs) are school-based hubs for Chinese teaching and learning. CCs, managed by Confucius Institute (CI) in Auckland, are eligible to receive annual funding from Hanban (CI headquarters), as well as books and teaching materials directly from Hanban. They have additional entitlements to teacher training in China, scholarships for pupils and support for summer camp. Every year, we organise trip to China for 20 boys who are learning Mandarin.

Language learning in Mandarin equips our students in understanding the culture of our largest trading partner in New Zealand. So in many ways, learning Mandarin will be an essential add-on to the degree a person studies at university.  Engineering plus Mandarin, Medicine plus Mandarin etc. Furthermore, the main advantage for a student studying Mandarin is about gaining a foothold in any future job market and about understanding a culture that is not their own. Coincidentally, it is also about the more one looks outwardly the more one appreciates what is present. The more one understands another culture, the more one appreciates his own. To explore Chinese culture, SPC has established a martial arts team and weekly training occurs every week and is one of the co-curricular sports (see Martial Arts). We also teach students to make dumplings, paper cuts, Chinese calligraphy and painting, and so on and our students thoroughly enjoy participating.

 

martial arts and drum team at spc 2022

 Martial arts and drumming is one of SPC’s co-curricular activities. In 2022, the SPC Martial Arts and Drum team is made up mainly of Year 7 and Year 8 students. After Term 1 and 2 training, they contributed a wonderful performance at the Middle School’s Eisteddfod Performance Nights on 5th and 6th of July.

 A big thank-you to Kumo Taiko coach Jeff’s hard work!

 We have recorded performances for you on YouTube. Please find the links below. We also welcome students to join our team! Please contact Ms Zhang (bzhang@st-peters.school.nz) if you are interested.

 Katano: https://youtu.be/tlXUUvkZV0w

 

Taiko Song: https://youtu.be/WqN__k4qLmE

 

makaleb ualesi (Year 11) 2021 nz national chinese speech competition

Makeleb’s Chinese name is Wei Kai Li (魏凯利). He just started learning Chinese last year and won the Top Prize at Auckland’s regional “Han Yu Qiao” Chinese speech competition (Senior Category: Yr 11-13) in May, 2021. This is his speech for the national competition. After this speech, he qualified to represent NZ at the international Chinese competition. He has also been selected as a New Zealand Chinese Language Week Youth Ambassador for 2021.

By Ms B. Zhang

2021 Auckland Regional Chinese Speech Competition Results

 The Auckland Regional Chinese Speech Competition was held on 12th June and nearly 90 participants attended. After two months training and practice, Makaleb Ualesi (11BOD) won the Top Excellence prize in the Senior Category (Year 11-13). Year 9 Aaron Dlima (9RIC) won First Prize in the Junior Category (Year 7-10).  

They will both participate in the National Chinese Speech Competition on 8th Aug. 

12 SPC students (Year 9-11) participated in this competition, and all performed well. Please find below a link to the winners’ list. Congratulations!

https://ci.ac.nz/winners-2021/

 

1.      Harper Darling (9TRE)

2.      Aaron Dlima (9RIC)

3.      Christian Domilies (9TRE)

4.      Thomas Howcroft (9BOD)

5.      Frederick Klitscher (9TRE)

6.      Harry Bentley (10TRE)

7.      Justin Gao (10RIC)

8.      Daniel Hyde (10 TRE)

9.      Robert Peeters Junior (10TRE)

10.  Fintan Quayle (9ODR)

11.  Joseph Robinson (10BOD)

12.  Makaleb Ualesi (11BOD)

12th & 13th NZ Chinese Essay Competition 2019

More than 100 students across the country participate in the NZ Chinese essay competition every year. After SPC old boy Daniel Neville won the top prize, the Ambassador’s Trophy, for the first time in 2017, Xavier Christensen (Year 11) won this trophy again in 2018 and this year, 2019, our Year 12 student Joey Dempsey won the first prize!

See photo: L-R: Joey Dempsey, Xavier Christensen

Congrats to all of them!

By Ms B. Zhang

AUCKLAND REGIONAL CHINESE SPEECH COMPETITION 2019

On 19th May, more than 100 Auckland secondary school’s students participated in the 12th Chinese Speech Competition at Auckland University. Our school Year 12 student Andre Carvalho (12TRE) won the Special Prize for the senior groups. Special Prize is the top prize for this competition. Andre is qualified to attend the National Chinese Speech Competition on 4th of August in Christchurch. We wish him all the best!

St Peter’s College China Trip 2019

During the Term 1 school break, 25 students (from Year 10 to Year 12) and 3 teachers (Ms Zhang, Mr Bridges and Mr Ngatipa) went to China to visit 3 cities and a sister school for 2 weeks. Students and teachers enjoyed this opportunity for authentic language and cultural learning and this amazing trip provided them with lifetime memories.

Students studied Chinese language and cultural knowledge at Fudan University in Shanghai, which is one of the top universities in China. They also visited a number of famous sights such as the Oriental Pearl TV Tower and had a night cruise on the Huangpu River in Shanghai. They also visited the historic town of Lanting, the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven in Beijing.  Students also enjoyed practicing their language skills with local people. One of the highlights was practising their bargaining skills in local markets.  Daniel Vujcich (10 LYN) got the best deal bargaining down a leather wallet from $230 to $15.

It was the first time for us to visit our sister school in Shaoxing. Students learned about tea ceremonies and stone carved seals and lived in Chinese families with their buddies for two days. The boys were amazed by their home-stay parents’ hospitality and generosity.

Another highlight was the students’ Kapa Haka performance. Thanks to Mr Ngatipa’s training and Joey Dempsey’s (12ODR) leadership, the group gave amazing performances in Beijing, Shanghai Fudan University and Shaoxing High School.

 

By Ms Bingmei Zhang

2018 National Chinese Speech Competition Results

On August 4th, Jamie Laing (12 TRE) and Kyle Sterne (12 ODR) attended the National Chinese Speech Competition. Jamie won First Prize and will travel to China, along with other three students, to represent NZ at an international competition in October. Ms Zhang won the “Best Coach” award and will accompany the students as coach of the NZ team for this competition.
Jamie and Kyle’s cultural performance (Xiang sheng – a reenactment of a traditional Chinese talk show) was awarded the “Best Talent” prize. They won $500 in prize money and were awarded a scholarship of a 2-week trip to China in December. Congratulations on their great achievement!

The link to NZ China Council for “Best Talent”

Council Congratulates Chinese Language Students

 FINAL RESULT

 

 

AUCKLAND REGIONAL CHINESE SPEECH COMPETITION 2018

On 12th May, more than 100 Auckland students participated in the Chinese Speech Competition at Auckland University. Our school Year 12 student Kyle Sterne (ODR) and Jamie Laing (TRE) won the Special Prize for the senior groups. Special Prize is the top prize for this competition. Kyle and Jamie are qualified to attend the National Chinese Speech Competition in August. We wish them all the best!

Also, Yr 11 Andre Carvalho (TRE) won the First Prize, Samuel Bickerton (TRE) and Joey Dempsey (ODR) won the Second Prize.

Congratulations to these students!

The photos are Special Prize winners Kyle Sterne, Jamie Laing and other winners with Chinese teacher Ms Bingmei Zhang and MLA Zuo Li.

Auckland Regional Chinese Bridge Speech Competition Secondary Senior Category

2018 AUT Chinese Online Course Achievements

At the beginning of the year, St Peter’s established a partnership with AUT to provide an online Chinese scholarship course for Year 12 and 13 students. It is an optional course that will run every year at SPC.

Eight Year 12 and 13 boys have just completed their Chinese course at AUT (in Term 1 and 2) with excellent results (all with an “A” grade). These eight students have received 15 credits from AUT, which can be transferred to a bachelor’s degree in the future (either in NZ or overseas). Jamie Laing (12 TRE) and Daniel Neville (12BOD) achieved an “A+“, which were the top results in their class including adult students of AUT. On 30th July, Jamie and Daniel were awarded the “Headmaster’s Shield” for their academic achievements.

CHINA TRIP 2017

CHINA TRIP 2017 – click for Trip Review by Jett Gannaway including photographs and video from Mr Zhang

The 11th NZ Chinese Essay Competition 2017 Prize-giving

On 16th Oct, during the Confucius Institute 10th anniversary at the Auckland Museum, the NZ national Chinese essay competition prize was awarded. More than 100 students across the country participated in this competition. Our Year 11 student Daniel Neville won the top prize, the Ambassador’s Trophy. Congratulations!

Yr 10 student Joey Dempsey won First Prize in the Junior category, and Andre Carvalho, Jarrod Peeters won second prize in the Junior and Senior categories respectively.

The following students were awarded Third prize:

  • Anthony Thompson
  • Callum Dever
  • Ryan ‘Ofamo’oni
  • Jamie Laing
  • Tom Grayson

Congrats to all of them!

Picture 1: Daniel Neville (middle) with Mr Bill Cashmore, the Deputy Mayor of Auckland (right) and Qu Guangzhou, the Political Counsellor for Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in NZ

Picture 2: Mr Mike Mullin and Chinese teachers Ms Zhang and Mr Zhang with some awarded students

AUCKLAND REGIONAL CHINESE SPEECH COMPETITION 2017

On 13th May, more than 100 Auckland students participated in the Chinese Speech Competition at Auckland University. Our school Year 11 student Jamie Laing and Year 10 student Andre Carvalho won the Special Prize for the Senior and Junior groups respectively. Special Prize is the top prize for this competition. Next month Jamie and Andre will go to Wellington for the National Chinese Speech Competition. We wish them all the best!

Also, Yr 10 Anthony Thompson won the First Prize, Yr 11 Kyle Sterne and Jarrod Peeters won the Second Prize, Ryan O’famo’oni won the Third Prize, Cullum Dever won the Merit prize. Congratulations to these students!

CALLIGRAPHY PHOTOS
2017 NZ National Chinese Speech Competition Results

On the 10th of June, Auckland Chinese Speech winners Jamie Laing (Year 11 – TRE) and Andre Carvalho (Year 10-TRE) participated in the NZ National Chinese Speech Competition in Wellington. After intense competition among 40 students from across the country, Year 11 student Jamie Laing qualified to represent NZ at the International Chinese Speech Competition in China in October. Andre Carvalho won a Merit prize. Congratulations to both of them!

Photos provided by Ms Zhang