Pupils from Traethmelyn Primary School in Sandfields, Port Talbot have been preparing for the Chinese New Year with a roar.
They are welcoming in the Year of the Tiger (February 14th) with the help of Mr Mo Yanfen from Zhongshen City in the Guangdong province in China, who will be teaching Mandarin and Chinese culture to children at the school until June.
The placement is part of a British Council initiative which has brought 86 teachers from all over China to the UK.
The aim of the education programme is to strengthen existing links between schools in the UK and China.
Pupils will have the opportunity to experience a much wider curriculum which will include paper-cutting, Chinese calligraphy, Chinese cooking and Geography.
Mo is enjoying his time at Traethmelyn and says, “Practical lessons and activities in schools is particularly good in providing hands on opportunities for children to learn about Chinese culture and language.”
Teacher Avril Flanagan, who visited China on an exchange visit last year, said: “Mo will be an asset to the school and will play a major part in developing pupils into global citizens.”
Council Leader, Ali Thomas, added, “Neath Port Talbot is pleased to be taking part in this initiative.
“Promoting schools links between our two countries is an excellent way for young people to learn about life in other countries.
“They learn to respect other cultures and other ways of life bringing enormous benefits to their life skills.”
