New Year in Ping Wei

As a Spanish Teacher, one of my objectives is to teach about culture. I strive to stretch students' minds to imagine every day life from a new perspective. This is a paradigm shift for young students, who may not recognize that other cultures do not celebrate Thanksgiving: do not call french fries "normal" food; or do not define "house" as a one family dwelling. I am always looking for examples to broaden students' definition of culture. The DVD "New Year in Ping Wei" is narrated by a young girl. It is in English and Chinese, so viewers have an opportunity to hear the Chinese language. The film documents preparations for Chinese New Year in a very rural town. The DVD includes information about the holiday, food, housing, family, and more. It is well done, and easy to follow, and includes information that both boys and girls will find interesting including the history of fireworks, and decorating for the holiday. Although the film is not about Hispanic culture, Chinese culture can be compared to both traditions in the US and Hispanic traditions. Students can apply their knowledge and experience of cultural comparisons previously learned in Spanish class to the information in the DVD to further expand their understanding of culture.