Northwest Normal University volunteers teach language, culture in Lanzhou schools

A nine-member volunteer team from Northwest Normal University recently visited two primary schools in Lanzhou, Gansu province, and the Gansu Jiandu Museum, where they delivered lessons on language use and traditional culture to more than 300 primary school students.

The team, organized by the university's National Language Promotion Base, focused on what it describes as the growing use of inappropriate internet slang among schoolchildren. Members conducted a questionnaire survey, which they used to build a lecture. Their sessions included a card game to help the students distinguish humorous expressions from vulgar and offensive language.

Each visit introduced pupils to ancient Chinese bamboo slips. Under the guidance of team members, the children practiced writing calligraphy on bamboo slips, and a trip to the museum brought them face-to-face with historical artifacts. The team incorporated the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Standard Spoken and Written Chinese Language into the activities, aiming to show the students why the national standard matters in everyday communication.

A teacher at Wangjiabu Primary School said the university students had made language standards and local culture engaging and accessible.

Li Li, dean of the School of International Cultural Exchange at the university, said the National Language Promotion Base would continue to play a leading role in language promotion and support further cooperation between the team and local schools, with the aim of establishing regular links between volunteer language promotion services and primary school education.