The winter curtain slowly opens, and in this golden season, we stepped hand-in-hand into the 3rd SUIS VOICE Songze Qingyin Intercontinental Carnival English-themed event.
As the 3rd SUIS VOICE approached, some children excitedly and proudly said, “Look! I already have three SUIS VOICE badges!” These badges were not only a commemoration of the children’s past participation and efforts, but also a motivation for them to continue exploring and improving.
In order to enable children to gain knowledge, broaden their horizons, and cultivate a sustained interest and habit for reading, Chinese and foreign teachers devoted a lot of effort and hard work preparing for this activity. During the one-month activity experience, teachers led students to explore Oceania together, appreciate the unique island style, unveil the magical animals of Oceania, listen to vivid and interesting legendary stories, and learn about distinctive primitive tribes. The beautiful and enthusiastic Oceania ship set sail slowly, carrying the expectations of the children.
During the process of reading Oceania books, students really enjoyed themselves. “Teacher, I found an Oceania book in the library today!” “I read the books on MyOn recommended by the teacher, and the animals in Oceania are so unique and cute!”
On the stage for the audition, the students displayed eighteen martial arts skills, using exquisite PPTs, interesting props, and unique costumes, bringing the audition atmosphere to a climax.
The final was held on-site, with a variety of highlights. Apart from the amazing speeches, the crossover activities were also creative. The little reading representatives from each class walked onto the stage one by one, with confident smiles on their faces. “In the past month, I have read twelve books related to Oceania!” “In less than three months since the beginning of the school year, I have read 610,714 words.” The children in the audience had a look of longing in their eyes, and the atmosphere of making progress together spread in the air. At that moment, reading was no longer a lonely journey, but a collective event full of encouragement and laughter, and every child set sail in the ocean of reading.
Next, let us take a look at the exciting finals in each grade!
一年级 Grade 1
“Exploring the animals of Oceania”
Oceania is a magical place with rich and diverse flora and fauna, especially in terms of its unique animal species. The first-grade students delved into the animal communities of Oceania in their Chinese and English classes, reading English books related to Oceania animals and discovering many amazing animal stories. Based on this, the children chose their favorite animal book and gave a SUIS VOICE speech. Although it was their first time participating in such a speech activity, the first graders’ confident, generous, and positive style left a deep impression on the teachers! Although they have only been in primary school for three months, the progress of their English-speaking skills amazed every parent and teacher, making them all incredibly proud!
二年级 Grade 2
“Celebrate amazing Oceania”
Students explored the theme of Oceania and its unique natural landscapes and cultural characteristics. Through classroom reading, the second graders fully appreciated the many amazing creatures that are nurtured throughout this magical region. Through interpretation and descriptions, the children vividly presented the unique appearance and different living habits of these creatures. At the same time, they put themselves into the characters and, in their breakfast conversations with their families, learned and shared stories and legends belonging to Oceania, experiencing mythological stories from different cultures and learning cultural similarities and differences.
Compared their speeches last year, they not only further explored reading topics, but also continuously broke through the content to form more mature speeches. Through this year’s SUIS VOICE activity, the second graders have higher enthusiasm for reading and sharing. More and more children are participating in the audition, showing their reading style, and sharing their reading insights. This event not only gave the students an opportunity to read and express themselves in English, but also gave them a stage to learn about other cultures. We look forward to the students continuing to maintain their enthusiasm for learning and developing their core literacy skills through this annual activity.
三年级 Grade 3
“Celebrate the Islands of Oceania”
The children read about the charm of Oceania in English Reading classes and explored Oceania’s culture in Inquiry lessons with their Chinese and foreign teachers. The brave contestants shared their knowledge in a graceful and confident manner, while others used lively performances to show us the traditional stories of Oceania. The third-grade students explored Oceania and ventured into unfamiliar lands, uncovering the ancient and mysterious veil of Oceania in this year’s SUIS VOICE activity. The English literacy skills demonstrated by the children at SUIS VOICE made every parent and teacher proud.
四年级 Grade 4
“Enjoy Amazing Oceania!”
In Inquiry classes, teachers acted as tour guides, leading young travelers to explore Oceania’s culture, geography, and humanities. In English Reading classes, the children enjoyed wonderful readings that showcased the characteristics of Oceania with their Chinese and foreign teachers. At the same time, teachers provided a wealth of themed books for the children to choose and read. Whether it was a storybook with ups and downs in the plot, or an informative book that broadened their horizons, the children presented what they read in their own way and shared their thoughts and feelings with the audience. Learning and experiencing different dimensions inside and outside the classroom will help children understand Oceania more deeply and experience its unique charm.
五年级 Grade 5
“Embrace the waves of Oceania”
The fifth-grade students delved into the magical animals in this region. Through rich classroom activities and independent discussions, they not only gained a deeper understanding of Oceania’s geography and biodiversity, but also conducted in-depth analyses and explorations of the reasons why these animals are endangered.
Through this activity, the students not only learned knowledge, but also cultivated their spirit of exploration and critical thinking. They no longer only relied on textbooks to understand Oceania, but truly integrated their learning through the exploration and thinking of the whole world, further strengthening their global citizenship literacy.
In addition, the fifth-grade students also wrote down their inner thoughts with pen and paper. They expressed their ideas through their writing skills and decorated them with colours. When knowledge is vividly presented on paper, words can have the same impact as sound.
Reading is an irresistible magic that can lead us into a completely different world, allowing us to explore countless stories and knowledge. Reading is a skill, and we can learn to understand the author’s intentions, feel their emotions, and imagine the scenes they describe through the pages. Reading is not only a pleasure but also a way to improve ourselves and enrich our lives. Although the 3rd SUIS VOICE competition has ended, the seed of love for reading has already taken root and sprouted in the hearts of the children. In the vast sea of books, may the children continue to set sail with their enthusiasm for reading!
