Live the Language Mandarin School offers a variety of Chinese Culture Classes for beginners and fluent speakers alike. These are a fun way to improve your Mandarin skills and learn more about Chinese history and society. All Chinese Culture Classes are taught in Mandarin,giving you the opportunity to build upon your classroom study and practice speaking.
Tai Qi 太极拳: Founded in the 12th century by Taoist monk Zhang Sanfeng, Tai Qi has been used to treat stress and high blood pressure for centuries. Join the legions of Chinese who practice Tai Qi in parks all over the Middle Kingdom. LtL offers courses from beginner to advanced level teaching all five major styles from Yang to Sun.
Kung Fu功夫: From Hong Kong action heroes to the PLA, Kung Fu refers to a variety of Chinese martial arts. Physically more challenging than Tai Qi, courses are available for all levels and different styles, with or without weapons.
Chinese Cooking 做饭: Always wanted to know how the gong bao gets into the ji ding? Learn to prepare food Chinese family-style as LtL takes you on a culinary journey through different Chinese cooking traditions. Your teacher will not only provide the kitchen and ingredients, but also join you for dinner and conversation afterwards.
Chinese Music: Er Hu 二胡: Learn how to master China’s quintessential classical instrument. A two-stringed bowed musical instrument played since the 10thcentury, Er Hu is today taught at all of China’s major musical schools. Offering classes from 
beginner to advanced level LtL will provide you with an Er Hu until you decide it is time to buy your own. A beginner can expect to play his/her first songs after the second lesson.
Mahjong 麻将: Lose a fortune and win it back in the same night. LtL Mahjong classes will teach you the tricks for peanuts before you try your hand at your local Mahjong parlor. A four-person game, three students learn and play together with one teacher.
Calligraphy 书法: Called Shodo in Japan and Seoye in Korea, Chinese calligraphy is one of the world’s oldest art forms. Learn how Chinese characters developed from tortoise shell carvings to today’s word processing. Your instructor will teach you about stylistic evolution from Jinwen to Kaishu and how to write Chinese worthy of an emperor.
Beijing Opera Mask Painting 脸谱: Beijing Opera is an art in many ways, but the parts that fascinate most viewers first are the elaborate costumes and painted masks. Learn why a hero’s masks are always red and what the color of a beard says about a character. You will learn the techniques and soon paint your own masks.
Paper Cutting 剪纸: While the days when a potential bride’s attractiveness depended on her paper cutting skills are gone, this ancient Chinese art form continues to be passed on from generation to generation. Our teacher will show you the patterns and skills she was taught by her mother, who learned it from her mother, with traditions reaching all the way back to the days of Empresses and forbidden romances in the Middle Kingdom.
Chinese Culture classes are available as part of a group or 1-on-1 program, and you may take different classes each week that you study. This gives you the opportunity to experience all aspects of Chinese culture from art to music to cooking and more!
Please see the Pricing information section to find out about cost and registration.
