Students who have selected Mandarin as an enrichment this year have recently had the opportunity to put their language skills to the test and deepen their understanding of Chinese culture with a special visit to Home, a popular Chinese restaurant in Leeds.

As part of their Wednesday afternoon enrichment, students have been learning Mandarin and exploring both the language and the rich traditions of Chinese culture. The visit to Home restaurant provided a unique, immersive experience where students could practice their Mandarin in a real-world setting while enjoying authentic Chinese cuisine.

“Today, students in the Chinese beginner enrichment class had an exciting and adventurous field trip to a Chinese restaurant, where they had the opportunity to explore authentic dishes like grilled fish, braised pork and spicy chicken,” said Lianwei Zhao, Mandarin Enrichment Club Coordinator. “They embraced the chance to experience a rich food culture, savouring flavours that were new and unique. Students also enjoyed learning about traditional Chinese table manners, which were different from what they are used to, making the experience even more immersive and enjoyable.

“I chose Mandarin as an enrichment because I was interested in how the culture works, how people live in China, and different parts of China,” said Illia Boiko. “I liked the trip and the food was delicious and I’ve learnt a lot about the different cuisine and dishes that come from different regions in China.”

“I wanted to learn Mandarin, because I want to go traveling after college, and it will be really good to have a basic knowledge of it.” Alexa Cummings

The trip was part of Elliott Hudson College’s commitment to providing enriching, real-world learning experiences that prepare students for a globally connected world. As the popularity of Mandarin continues to grow, opportunities like this help equip students with valuable language skills and cultural awareness that can benefit their future studies and careers.

“Going on trips like this has really helped me broaden my understanding of Chinese culture,” said Julia Ciecka, with another student Amelia Hudson, adding: “I started Mandarin to improve my skills, so that I can one day go to Shanghai and it’s really helped me with my proficiency.”