The Meeting of Ambassadors of Chinese Culture

In 2015, Wahaha International School Hangzhou was officially established, with the mission of cultivating ambassadors of Chinese culture embedded in its foundation.

At the same time, Ms. Bessie, who had just graduated from Xiamen University with a master’s degree in education, dreamed of sharing Chinese culture. She aspired to introduce Chinese culture to foreign children in China and help overseas Chinese children maintain a connection to their cultural heritage.

When Ms. Bessie saw WIS’ job posting, she felt a strong connection to its vision and immediately knew this was the place for her. 

In September 2016, she joined the founding team of WIS, beginning her journey to spread Chinese culture through education.

Blending Tradition and Innovation

As an international school in Hangzhou, WIS emphasizes the fusion of Chinese heritage with global perspectives. This approach ensures students develop a strong sense of identity while embracing the world.

In Ms. Bessie’s Chinese classes, students learn to share Chinese stories in ways that resonate globally. 

For example, they explored the theme of farewell in ancient poetry by analyzing imagery, translating poems, and creating newsletters. 

This deepened their understanding of traditional culture while fostering creative expression.

In her first year at WIS, Ms. Bessie launched a Chinese Culture Curriculum with other Chinese teachers. Inspired by her passion for tea culture, she designed a course for Grade 3 students that covered tea knowledge, brewing techniques, and flower arrangement. The course culminated in a school-wide tea culture sharing event. 

This initiative not only planted the seeds of tea appreciation in students but also marked the start of Ms. Bessie’s own journey in tea studies. She earned certifications as an intermediate tea evaluator and a Japanese Sencha instructor.

To meet growing student interest, Ms. Bessie introduced a Tea Culture ASA course, providing hands-on experiences. 

The program ended with a Midsummer Tea Party, where students shared their learning with teachers and peers.

Ms. Bessie also integrates traditional storytelling and performance into her classes to help students connect with Chinese literature. 

In one project, Grade 5 students used storytelling to depict characters from Extraordinary Characters of the Ordinary World, deepening their understanding through creative reenactment. 

Similarly, Grade 7 students created comic adaptations of A New Account of the Tales of the World for CAL classmates, tailoring language to their peers’ proficiency levels.

Building Critical Thinking Skills

Beyond teaching Chinese, Ms. Bessie focuses on fostering critical thinking. 

She founded the WIS Chinese Debate Club and led the Journey Afar project which aims to build a robust Chinese critical thinking framework.

Since 2020, WIS has participated in major competitions like the Asian Cup and Zongheng Cup, earning team and individual awards. In 2023, the Chinese Debate Club was officially established, reflecting the hard work of both Ms. Bessie and her students.

In 2024, WIS hosted its first Zhiyuan Cup International School Chinese Competition, creating a platform for students from different schools to exchange ideas and debate.

Additionally, WIS introduced Drama and Critical Thinking Classes to inspire logical reasoning and expression, serving as a stepping stone to the Debate Club.

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Under Ms. Bessie’s co-leadership, WIS’s Chinese curriculum has become both a source of knowledge and a bridge to cultural understanding. 
Her work continues to inspire students to embrace their heritage while engaging confidently with the world.