Students show Chinese smarts, teamwork on bus ride
02.22.10
An Albany morning drive radio show recently and inadvertently showed the Chinese knowledge of Tech Valley High School students.
Alysha Gagnon and Allen Mainville, a TVHS freshman and junior from Cohoes respectfully, were on their way to school recently and listening to B95.5 on Star and Strand Bus 93 when the morning drive hosts Ric Mitchell and Laura Daniels discussed the Chinese New Year, but didn't know how to pronounce the name for it - Gong Xi Fa Cai.
Thanks to Tech Valley High's Mandarin Chinese Class and their attention to teacher Diana Lim, Gagnon and Mainville knew the correct pronunciation of the new year. The students called the radio station and provided Rick and Laura with the correct pronunciation of Gong Xi Fa Cai, along with how a pair of high school students have such a unique knowledge. That, in turn, led to a discussion about the Mandarin Chinese class at TVHS and how TVHS is unique in providing such a class.
"We heard parts of the conversation on the air, and then they (Ric and Laura) talked about how Chinese is going to be the language of the business world and how Tech Valley teaches it. It was very cool," Gagnon said.
Principal Dan Liebert said the students showed an excellent use of 21st Century Skills: team work - Mainville remembered the station's phone number and Gagnon did the on-air talking, as well as a knowledge of the Mandarin Chinese language.
"This was an excellent use of their knowledge," added Lim.
