Societies
Learning a language is only truly complete if the culture behind the language is appreciated as well. At Chopsticks, the Australian Chinese Cultural Appreciation Society, our aim is to cater for that aspect during your study of Chinese.
Formed only in May of 2005, Chopsticks is the new and growing official student society of the department of Chinese Studies. Our goals are to promote Chinese culture in its most traditional forms within the University as well as foster social interaction between people of similar interests through a variety of social activities.
If you’re interested in learning more about Chinese culture, having fun trying out new activities or just meeting new people, Chopsticks is the club to join.
How Chopsticks would add value to your Chinese studies:
- The Chopsticks Chinese Corner: At Chopsticks, we understand that the practical application of Mandarin is important. In conjunction with student representatives already enrolled in Chinese, we offer interested members the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the basics of daily conversational Mandarin by creating an environment where members can just sit down and apply what they’ve learned in class.
- Chopsticks Mahjong Gatherings:Take a break from the hustle and bustle of Uni, and come to our Mahjong Gatherings and show off your skills on the table! You’ll also get the opportunity to learn from other players.
- Chopsticks Chinese Calligraphy: Apply your skills writing Chinese characters with the brush or learn from professionals as Chopsticks gives you insights into the most traditional methods that the Ancient Chinese used to write their characters. In the past, we have had Calligraphy presentations in affiliation with the Australian Correspondence College of Chinese Painting and Calligraphy, ensuring that quality will not be compromised.
- Verge Arts Festival: Chopsticks has also screened historical and cultural movies, for example "Hero" by Jet Li in the Verge Arts Festival, giving members a grasp of the foundation and unity of China.
- And many more to come as we grow and expand! We are also open to your suggestions.
How Chopsticks provides avenues for social interaction:
Apart from the above activities, we have also organised the following;
- Dance parties: Chopsticks was the co-organiser of Mystikal 3, a dance party involving student societies in the University of New South Wales, University of Technology Sydney, and University of Sydney, with a total attendance of 1,500 people.
- Harbour Cruise: Chopsticks has also been the co-organiser of a Harbour cruise with other student societies within University of Sydney, and is expected to continue to do so annually.
Interested?
General Membership
E-mail:
Want to join our subcommittee? Know more about the club? Receive our newsletter?
Subcommittee: Anita Wong, Social Director
General questions: Chris Fung, President
Subscribe to our newsletter: Susan Zheng, Vice-President
This is a weekly hour when students get together informally to practice speaking Chinese in a social environment. It was introduced in Second Semester 2006, when its success owed everything to the hard work and initiatives of its convenor, Ms N. Li, the willing help of the volunteers whom she recruited, and the behind-the-scenes contributions of Dr E. U.
Listen for further announcements in class!
C/o Department of Chinese Studies, School of Languages and Cultures (A18), University of Sydney, NSW 2006.
About the Association
The association consists of all alumni of the department of Chinese Studies who wish to be members, plus the current staff of the department. It holds a number of functions every year to maintain links between old friends and provide a friendly environment in which people at different stages of careers that may involve use of Chinese can network with each other. Highlights have included Moon Festival gatherings, Chinese poetry reading sessions, a “Double Ninth” outing to the Blue Mountains, unforgettable Anzac Day picnics at Fern Valley Ranch, a highly successful alumni reunion to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the 1956 resumption of the teaching of Chinese at the University of Sydney, and distinguished guest lectures at Annual General Meetings.
Friends of the department who are not alumni are welcome to participate in all activities, although they are ineligible to vote at Annual General Meetings.
There is no annual subscription. However, donations to the The Chinese Studies Alumni Bursary fund are always welcome.
For the Association’s website, please click here:
http://www.usyd.edu.au/alumni/networks/csaa/index.shtml
The Chinese Studies Alumni Bursary
Thanks to the generosity of alumni and other friends, the Chinese Studies Alumni Bursary fund has passed the critical $20,000 mark. This means that it is now possible to launch the award.
The preferred use of the Alumni Bursary will be to help students from Chinese universities with which the University of Sydney has exchange agreements to meet the high costs of living in Sydney for a year or a semester. This will indirectly benefit students of the department of Chinese Studies, who will have opportunities of going to China on exchange only if we can maintain functioning exchange agreements. However, the conditions also allow awards to be made directly to University of Sydney students to help them meet the cost of studying Chinese in China, or staying on at the University of Sydney for an Honours year in Chinese Studies.
We should be able to make the first award of $1,000 in 2007. However, we badly need to increase our capital in order to fund more generous awards in the future. Any contributions to this effort will be warmly appreciated. Donations to the fund are tax- deductible in Australia and will be acknowledged appropriately.
If you would like more information about the bursary, please contact the Chair of department.
