Soon after the new semester, Fudan University and schools at all levels in Shanghai switched to online courses. Teachers and students are not unfamiliar with online classes, but for the static management of Shanghai and the strict sealing of the campus, the international students I teach are not very adaptable at first. But since the challenge has come, we must bravely face it and overcome it. After reaching consensus with foreign youth and completing various teaching tasks in a timely manner through the Internet, I felt that there should be a more active and proactive way of cultural communication to mobilize everyone's emotions in life; so I thought of poetry reading.
During the spring and autumn of the Department of Chinese of Fudan University, every traditional Chinese festival such as the Lantern Festival, the Dragon Boat Festival, and the Mid-Autumn Festival, students will choose the classic works of Chinese historical and cultural celebrities with the international students under the guidance of their teachers to recite, which is a magic weapon to understand Chinese culture and deepen friendship between China and foreign countries. In March, when the epidemic in Shanghai was raging and the city's anti-epidemic struggle was in a stalemate in April, I was inspired by the "Epidemic Reading Poetry" activity of the Wutong Literature Club, a student association of Jianxiang Primary School in Xuhui District. Qin Yiyun, a fourth-grade Jianxiang student, with the help of his parents, also set up a recitation platform.
In April 2022, Qin Yiyun live-streamed Pushkin's masterpiece "If Life Deceives You"
Among the international students I teach, several are in the second generation: their parents, who were also international students in the School of International Cultural Exchange of Fudan University, actively engaged in economic and trade work with China after completing their studies. Therefore, the second generation is often Shanghai Tong, and some Shanghai culture and school background are more clear than teachers. When I proposed that the international students and Qin Yiyun read the famous works of contemporary Chinese poets together, the second generation of Liu Quickly released the introduction of Jianxiang Primary School in the learning exchange group, including the activities of student clubs, the teaching philosophy of Principal Chen Jing, the school's moral and aesthetic work such as the annual exhibition of chinese paintings for students, and the deeds of the founding principal Wu Peifang. Wu Peifang, an educator who is now nearly 90 years old, started from scratch, and in 1958, when the country was in economic difficulties in the last century, she accumulated and donated funds, organized teachers to share worries for the country, and solved the problem of children's reading for the community residents of Tianping Street in Xuhui District, which is the prototype of the story of the film "Chicken Feathers Fly to the Sky".
Wang Cheng, the national labor model I am familiar with and vice chairman of the Xuhui District Federation of Trade Unions, is also an extracurricular counselor at Jianxiang Primary School. Wang Cheng introduced: President Chen Jing attaches great importance to the exchange of international cultural elements, and often emphasizes the international friendship between the people in cross-grade, interdisciplinary discussions and extracurricular activities on campus. Wang Cheng was invited to participate in Jianxiang Primary School's commemoration of Bethune, commemoration of Pushkin, greeting the Beijing Winter Olympics and Chinese medical teams to assist Morocco, and other international cultural exchanges with the theme of Jianxiang Campus, and he also admired Qin Yiyun's poetry recitation. Wang Cheng expressed positive appreciation for the interactive creativity of Fudan international students and Jianxiang students in poetry tasting. This time, Qin Yiyun named the recitation radio station "Sun Moon Gold and Silver Station", and the anchor name was "Smiley Face".
In October 2019, to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Russia, Principal Chen Jing and students from the Jianxiang Primary School Literary Club held a themed poetry appreciation activity in front of the Pushkin Statue on Yueyang Road in Shanghai
The recitation works of the anchor of Jianxiang Jinyintai "Smiley Face"
It is almost a condensed version of contemporary Chinese poetry
Guo Moruo, Bing Xin, Lin Huiyin, Shu Ting, Haizi, Yu Guangzhong and Pushkin... One by one, the shining names and poems made me relive the beautiful emotions in the depths of my memory; it was also the popularization of The Chinese contemporary poetry civilization of Fudan students, so that they could unmistakably understand that in China, a country with a long history of poetry, there are not only Li Bai, Du Fu, Su Dongpo and Xin Shuyi. Contemporary Chinese poetry is also a rainbow that connects the hearts of the people.
International students are reciting poems one after another
Get a wonderful treat
At the same time, he also talked about the experience of "reading poetry from the beginning of the epidemic"
The work that Indonesian student Rao Cailu appreciates is "Believe in the Future", in which the sonorous verse is - "Friends, firmly believe in the future, believe in indomitable efforts, believe in the youth who overcome death, believe in the future, love life". She was encouraged! She told her classmates: "'Believe in the Future' is a hazy poem written by the Chinese Shandong poet Index Finger in 1968. The poem is dominated by the inner spiritual world, and the overall image symbol is used, so that the poetry is full of infinite momentum and power. The poems are brisk and inspiring. The index finger was once full of loss, confusion and sadness, but still maintained an attitude of not giving up his ideals and hopes easily. When hope and despair clashed, the index finger wrote this poem from my encouragement to overcome adversity. ”
Poet's index finger recitation of the masterpiece "Believe in the Future"
Rao Cailu said: When Shanghai faced a serious epidemic, Qin Yiyun, a student at Jianxiang Primary School, recited the poem "Believe in the Future" for netizens at the "Sun Moon Gold and Silver Platform", which was indeed very appropriate. This work gives people a "hearth" – a place of hope. In the face of current difficulties and setbacks, people need to adhere to a warm and objective attitude, believing that all efforts and diligence will bear fruit and have a better future. Poetry teaches us how to live well in the face of adversity, to encourage ourselves, and to maintain a positive mindset. There are often some "spider webs" in life that lead to "late autumn dew", but how to have faith in the future, just like the sun on the sea gushing out is the most critical.
She stressed: "As we all know, difficult times are inevitable in our lives, and human beings must face special difficulties, but how we look at it and how we treat it is our choice." Back off or stick to it? I believe that as long as we can find a 'furnace' like the poem to maintain the 'flowers' (beautiful emotions), opportunities, honors, and successes are waiting for us. I have also experienced some disappointment and pain, but every time I bravely face it, I am not afraid of hurt, I am not afraid of failure, I can always get out of the predicament and improve my ability! She also called on the students: "I hope that everyone can learn like the children of Jianxiang Primary School's 'Sun Moon Jinyintai', use their voice and strength to encourage all the people of Shanghai, spread their positive energy and enthusiasm, and make people believe that everything will be fine - believe in the future!" ”
Haizi, a poet who studied at my contemporaries
The work received great acclaim
Lu Yanni, a Nigerian international student, gave a speech on Qin Yiyun and her own recitation experience. She said: "The poem 'Facing the Sea in Spring' embodies the poet's rich emotions. The sea is the core intention in the author's poems, vast and boundless, full of vitality, is the author's mind of the 'ideal hometown', is the author's spiritual destination as the 'son of the sea', is where he can find a real sense of happiness. ”
Haizi, a famous young poet of Peking University, and his handwriting
Lu Yanni analyzed the students specifically: "This is a classic lyric poem, divided into three sections, although the whole poem is relatively short, but the content and emotion are very layered. The first verse begins with "From tomorrow onwards, be a happy person", and the whole section is filled with the author's yearning and vision for the future and the simple and free world of happiness. In the second verse, the author mentions that 'what the lightning of happiness tells me, I will tell everyone', expressing the joy of the poet after finding happiness, an emotion that cannot be suppressed. Then to the third verse, one of the sentences, 'Stranger, I also bless you, may you have a bright future', expressing the poet's good wishes for the world. ”
She stressed: "At present, in the face of the epidemic in Shanghai, a war without smoke and smoke, each of us can work together and listen to the arrangements in order to return to normal as soon as possible." I think that everyone at home or at school, we should be as the author wrote, from tomorrow onwards, to be a happy person, to face the current situation positively and optimistically, and not to put complaints on our lips. At the same time, as the author wrote, happiness should be told to everyone. May everyone have a brilliant future, let us work together, waiting for the spring to blossom! ”
Fudan international students online class
We also communicated together
The immortal name of the Russian poet Pushkin
"If Life Deceives You"
Zhao Li, a Serbian student at Fudan University
Zhao Li, a Serbian student with the same Slavic cultural background, said: "The famous poem "If Life Deceives You", selected from the "Collected Poems of Pushkin", is a poem written by the Russian poet Pushkin in 1825 after his exile to Odessa in southern Russia and clashed with the local governor, and was escorted to his father's territory of Mikhailovskaya during a period of confinement. Poetry expresses a positive, optimistic and strong attitude towards life, and has become a motto that inspires us to go forward and never give up. ”
The historical buildings of Pushkin and Odessa during the period of "If Life Deceives You"
Pushkin's work is an immortal chapter in the history of Odessa literature
She believes that Qin Yiyun's recitation of this poem is a wonderful choice, "because the work has a rich human touch and philosophical meaning, and this is exactly what everyone needs." Only human feelings can make people feel comforted, and only philosophy can help people get rid of the difficulties in front of them, leading him to change his perspective and look at the world and the difficulties he suffers from a macroscopic perspective. I believe that by reading this poem full of encouragement, immense power can be exuded to help people who have lost faith face the virus."
She added: "When there was an epidemic in Shanghai, fortunately some people thought of art. Facing the empty Nanjing Road, Wukang Road, Nanpu Bridge and the Bund... But we have the anchor of Sun Moon Gold and Silver Station, using poetry to cheer for everyone's beloved Shanghai! ”
The Pushkin House Museum in Moscow is a cultural exchange hub popular with Chinese travelers
Zhao Li was unable to come to Fudan University due to the epidemic
Stay at home with us for online lessons
She told her frankly: "As the poem says, many people may feel that life has deceived him." We who choose to go abroad sit in our own homes, and our classmates in Shanghai sit in their dormitories, all far away from the life they yearn for, unable to realize their dreams, and there is inevitably a feeling of being deceived by life across the computer. Qin Yiyun's sincere voice inspires us, like poets, not to be depressed, evasive and melancholy about the difficulties we have suffered, and to believe that happy days will come sooner or later. ”
Regarding Qin Yiyun's artistic talent, Zhao Li commented: "Primary school students put forward a truth that adults can easily forget in the chaos caused by the epidemic - it is impossible to live without pain and sadness. Some are big, some are small, and they can't be avoided. But joy is not forever overshadowed by sorrow. When Qin Yiyun read this part, he could see that his knowledge of dialectical thinking was very good. When joy arises again, we too will be grateful for this sorrow. Grateful that it has passed, grateful that it has made us stronger people. Regarding the choice of poetry, it is estimated that his father helped him and taught him how to choose the right poetry. His expression and language are very appropriate, and his gestures show sincerity. Warm, melodious voices are powerful, loving, and encouraging. When he lowers his voice, it is like telling a beautiful ending to a frightened child, detaching the listener from reality and spending a carefree moment... When he raised his voice, all the emotions overflowed, merging with the poetry, mixing sincerity and skill, touching the soul of the listener. His emotions are very strong, and he has a certain grasp of the speed of the rhythm, and even the music he matches is very thoughtful! ”
Zhao Li finally emphasized: "I believe that if there are a few more students like Qin Yiyun in the world, the light of the earth will not be extinguished." In the dark hours, the purest things can drive away the fears in people's hearts and light the torch of hope. What in the world is purer than art and the sincerity of children? ”
Gold Coast Studio
Author | Yao Ying (Tutor for International Students, School of International Cultural Exchange, Fudan University)
Image | Courtesy of interviewees
Edited | Small five