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Foreign students learn about Chinese culture
外国学生了解中国文化
One of China's most traditional art forms, Peking Opera, was performed last Sunday by around 30 foreign students who are doing exchange programs at the Beijing Foreign Studies University.
CCTV News reporter Fei Ye talked to the students backstage about how important is it for them to study the art.
The best way for a foreigner to understand Chinese culture is to participate, learn and experience it first hand. And that is exactly what foreign exchange students are doing by participating in the first ever Peking Opera program. Hosted by the Beijing Foreign Studies University, the purpose of the event is to help and encourage more international students to study the art form.
"With this program, we want to give foreign students an enriching and rewarding multi-faceted understanding of Chinese culture, and if they learn this art form once, it will be part of their whole experience in China and will be unforgettable. Every year, we have so many exchange students coming to China to study. And since they are very keen to learn Peking Opera, why not provide this opportunity for them," said Sun Ping, Dean of Art School, BSFU.
Students from 14 countries, including Spain, Italy, Japan and the US, are participating in the program. And variety of characters and arias were represented and performed on Sunday, from Peking Opera classics such as ‘Farewell My Concubine,’ ‘Drunken Beauty,’ and ‘Fa Men Temple’. Students trained with professional performers from the National China Peking Opera Company. Some began the journey three weeks ago, others only a week ago.
"Very tough, very exhausting but its very, very interesting. I really enjoyed it, because the movements are very different from what I've learned in Europe before, and I really enjoyed it. Before, I didn't really like Peking Opera, it was something I did not understand, but now I feel like maybe I don't really understand, but I have, like, a connection to it, so now I'm more willing to go to performances and see it and willing to understand more," said German student Sara Kredel.
American student John Rech has always wanted to try something traditional, so being able to walk in a Peking Opera performer's shoes for just three weeks gave him a great appreciation for the art form.
"It's just a very Beijing flavor, there's nothing like this in the world. It's just an opportunity to do something so Beijing...You don't have a lot of opportunities to do something like this. Look at what am I wearing; I will never have a beard this great in my life. So it's an unbelievable opportunity for me," he said.
Besides Peking Opera, foreign students also immerse themselves in other traditional activities such as calligraphy, painting and martial arts.
More than 350,000 exchange students come to China every year to study and Beijing Foreign Studies University is keen to attract more to study this traditional art, while expanding the program nationwide.
