Tregaron Mandarin Students Celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival by Making Mooncakes

From Tregaron Mandarin teacher Christy Nong: On Wednesday, October 1, Tregaron Mandarin teachers organized a festive Mid-Autumn Festival celebration, inviting all Mandarin program students and members of the community to spend a day immersed in culture, language, and hands-on activities.

The day combined language learning with cultural immersion. Students explored the story and traditions of the Mid-Autumn Festival and learned festival-related Mandarin vocabulary. Phrases such as “月饼” (yuè bǐng) meaning mooncake, “团圆” (tuán yuán) meaning reunion, and “中秋节” (Zhōng qiū jié) meaning Mid-Autumn Festival, were introduced to help students use the terms confidently in real-life conversations. A bingo session offered an engaging way to reinforce these words, blending learning with fun and collaboration.

The centerpiece was a hands-on mooncake making workshop. Attendees crafted mooncake skins in several flavors, such as purple sweet potato, matcha, strawberry, and mango. Fillings featured traditional options such as red bean and green bean. The dough was rolled into balls, dusted with glutinous rice flour, and pressed into molds bearing Chinese blessings, producing round, festive mooncakes. After crafting, students sampled the mooncakes alongside Chinese snacks and tea, then took their handmade mooncakes home to share with family and friends.

By weaving together storytelling, vocabulary practice, and tactile cooking activities, students strengthened their Mandarin language skills while gaining a deeper understanding of festival customs.