NEWCASTLE – One’s mother tongue links you to more than just your family and friends.

It intertwines culture, value and history.

For the past 10 years, Jessica Wu has been instrumental in helping the Chinese and Taiwanese children of Newcastle keep true to their roots by teaching them the Chinese language.

“I started teaching Chinese at the Chinese school in 2007, and I love the children to bits.”

Her love for children is not the only reason that motivates her.

“It is important for them as the language is a big part of their culture, and they should know how to communicate with their parents and grandparents,” she emphasised.

As a lot of the children were born in South Africa, it is important they knew their heritage.

“Things such as the atmosphere surrounding the Chinese and Taiwanese New Year are lost, as there is not such a big vibe in South Africa, whereas in China and Taiwan New Year celebrations are huge and the atmosphere is vibrant.”

Mrs Wu said learning the Chinese language was no easy feat.

“It is a difficult language and the children often say how much easier it is to learn English. The word ‘I’ for example is seven lines in Chinese.”

As there are almost countless characters in Chinese, and 37 phonetic symbols, the language often leaves students tongue-tied.

“Children are taught from Grade 1 how to pronounce words and how to write each word. Children will often complain how tired their hands are.”

The end result is worth its value in salt, as it gives children a sense of belonging and allows them to communicate when they travel to Chiuna.

“Chinese is a popular language at the moment, so learning it is worthwhile,” Mrs Wu concluded.

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