Yatchun heads to Parliament

Last week, Yatchun headed to Wellington for the opening ceremony of New Zealand Chinese Language Week (NZCLW) at Parliament. It was a privilege to be invited to a national event highlighting the importance of Chinese language learning.

She met Jo Coughlan, the Chair of the NZCLW, MP Nancy Lu, and Mark Mitchell, the Minister of Ethnic Communities.

The post What’s On at Pistachio first appeared on Pistachio Mandarin Language Centre.

Last week, our students at Kohia Terrace School (KTS) and Churchill Park School (CPS) celebrated Duānwǔ Jié (Dragon Boat Festival) through hands-on learning, creativity, and family involvement. For KTS, this was our biggest Dragon Boat Festival celebration in the past three years. For CPS, it was their very first.

Learning Through Culture

Students explored the story behind the festival and learned key Mandarin phrases such as duānwǔ jié (Dragon Boat Festival), zòngzi (sticky rice dumplings), nónglì (lunar calendar), and sài lóngzhōu (dragon boat racing). They also did a Dragon Boat Festival word search.

To bring the festival to life, they were given trays and paddle sticks to take home and transform into dragon boats. With support from their families, simple materials became extraordinary creations.

A Celebration of Creativity and Clever Thinking

The finished boats were incredible. Some students showed strong engineering thinking through structure, balance, and movable paddles, while others used shoe boxes, cardboard, fabric, blue crystals, and glitter to build imaginative scenes.

Each boat reflected creativity, problem-solving, and storytelling. More importantly, many became family projects — parents and children working side by side, building, discussing, and learning together.

This is something we value at Pistachio: creating an inclusive learning environment where parents can be part of the learning journey and see their child’s Mandarin come to life.

Learning Beyond the Classroom

A special highlight this year was welcoming guest speaker Shane Liu, founder of Sumthin Dumplin, who shared why learning Mandarin matters to his family. Shane spoke about wanting his daughter to learn Chinese in a fun and engaging way — very different from his own childhood learning which was centred on memorisation, and something he did not enjoy.

His story strongly reflected what we believe at Pistachio: language learning should be practical, fun and connected to real life experiences.

More Than Just Language

Parents joined us for the celebration. With drum rolls, winners were announced in Mandarin using guànjūn (first place), yàjūn (second place), and jìjūn (third place), adding to the excitement.

More than anything, this celebration showed that Mandarin learning is at its best when children can build it, celebrate it, and share it with their families.

We are proud of every student and grateful to the parents who helped make this celebration so special.

Watch the full Dragon Boat Festival video here.

Curious to See This Kind of Learning Up Close?

Hands-on, culture-rich lessons like these are how we teach. If you’d like your child to experience Mandarin that’s practical, fun and memorable, our Saturday group classes at Kohia Terrace School offer a free trial lesson. Come and see what a session feels like.

Enquire now to book your free trial!

If you’d like your child to experience Mandarin in a practical, fun, and culturally rich way, we invite you to join one of our classes and experience it for yourself.

The post Celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival at Our Mandarin Classes in Auckland first appeared on Pistachio Mandarin Language Centre.

It might look like a simple roll call. But for the child standing at the front of the room, paper in hand, it is so much more than that. 

How Diǎn Míng Works 

Each week, one student is chosen to be the Class Monitor for the class. Their job is to call out each classmate’s name and mark whether they are present.

When their names are  called, students respond in Mandarin with:

• Wǒ zài! — I’m here!
• Wǒ dào! — I have arrived!

And if a classmate is absent or hasn’t arrived, the whole class joins in to respond: 

• Tā bù zài — He/she is not here
• Tā hái méi dào — He/she hasn’t arrived yet

A Small Role That Means a Lot 

When a child is chosen as Class Monitor, something shifts. They stand a little taller, speak a little more clearly, and take real ownership of the moment. For many children, it is their first time they have been given that kind of responsibility in a learning environment, and you can see how much it means to them.

The role rotates every week, giving every student the opportunity to lead. Over a term, shy students often surprise themselves, while hesitant speakers begin delivering Mandarin phrases with clarity and pride.  

Children learn best when Mandarin is connected to real interaction, responsibility and participation 

Rather than repeating the words from a board, students are placed in meaningful situations where the language has a real purpose. Diǎn míng is a perfect example — the phrases are practised in a real situation, with real classmates listening. When a friend is calling your name, you pay attention. When it is your turn to lead, you want to get it right. That natural motivation helps children build confidence, responsibility and communication skills in Mandarin.

Want Your Child to Be the Next Class Monitor?

We offer free trial lessons for our Saturday group classes. Come and see how we use simple, meaningful routines to build Mandarin skills, confidence and a love of learning.

Enquire now to book your free trial!

The post Giving young students a Chance to Lead: The Story Behind Our Roll Call Tradition first appeared on Pistachio Mandarin Language Centre.

Message from Yatchun Wong

Welcome everyone to our newsletter for 2026. I’m thrilled to see our existing students return, and to meet our new students and parents. We’re seeing all our students thrive in our classes — children have been telling parents what they’re learning and adult students are able to join in the conversation in their Mandarin-speaking family gatherings.

We have already achieved a lot this year, and we look forward to what the next term will bring. In the meantime, Happy Easter and enjoy the read.

Chinese New Year, Eid, and Easter

This term, we celebrated Chinese New Year, Eid and Easter across all our classes. As with all our festival celebrations, we learned new greetings, traditions behind each festival, and enjoyed a range of fun activities.

For Chinese New Year, we had word searches, shared fortune cookies, and made hóngbāo (red packets). A few lucky children even found a little surprise in their packets.

We also taught Eid and Ramadan for the first time. For many of our students, it was their first introduction to the festival, and they embraced it with curiosity and enthusiasm. At Pistachio, we value the diversity of all cultures, and we work hard to reflect this in our classes.

Our Easter celebrations in the children’s classes coincided with the end of term, so students received gifts and prizes as a reward for their participation and effort.

This first term has been full of fun, learning, and engagement, and we’re excited to carry this energy into next term.

Click the buttons below to see the videos of all our celebrations.

CNY Video

Eid Video

Easter Video

Photo Gallery

New After-School Program

We are delighted to have launched our after-school Mandarin program at Churchill Park School in Term 1. This class ranges from Year 1 to Year 8 students at the Beginners Foundation level. We’re learning about greetings, numbers, hobbies and daily expressions. We are so excited to continue growing our students’ confidence and conversation skills in Term 2!

Photo Gallery

MoreFM Interview

Yatchun was interviewed by radio station MoreFM, where she shared Chinese New Year Do’s and Dont’s and background around the traditions and cultural significance of the festival. It was an great experience to be featured — you can listen to the interview, link on the right!

Listen to the Interview!

Pistachio’s Other Courses

Alongside our children’s and adult classes, we offer a range of additional programs designed to support learners with specific goals.

1. Business Trips to China
This program is tailored for professional and corporate teams travelling to China. Participants gain essential Mandarin skills and cultural knowledge to help them navigate their time abroad with confidence.

2. Short Travel Program
Great for first‑time travellers to China — this program introduces basic Mandarin and practical phrases to help participants get around and feel prepared for their trip.

If you, or someone you know, might be interested, more information about both programs can be found on our website using the links below. You can also reach out to Yatchun directly.

Mandarin For Business

Short Travel Course

Full newsletter highlights are available via the link here: https://mailchi.mp/dff8ede7c83d/celebrate-explore-connect-with-us-this-season-1911

The post News from Pistachio: Term 1 2026 first appeared on Pistachio Mandarin Language Centre.

This year, we celebrated Easter (Fù huó jié) in our Saturday classes on 28 March at Kohia Terrace School, Auckland. Students took part in activities that brought together language, culture, and real-life experiences.

How We Celebrated at Pistachio?

Students learned to say  Easter greetings and key words such as Easter bunny chocolate (fù huó jié tùzi qiǎo kè lì) and Easter egg (fù huó jié cǎi dàn). They then watched a video. This was followed by doing activity sheets where students completed an Easter-themed word search, reinforcing their understanding through an engaging and interactive experience.

To mark the occasion, students received Easter bunny chocolates from Yatchun at the end of the class. These small touches brought happiness into the classroom and created positive experiences that students remembered, while adding excitement as they relate what they learned to real-life traditions.

Parents were invited to join us, allowing them to see their children’s learning in action and to be part of the experience.

Looking Ahead to Term 2

This Easter celebration marked the end of Term 1. It has been encouraging to see how students have grown in confidence and actively taken part in each lesson.

We look forward to welcoming everyone back for Term 2, starting Saturday, 2 May 2026, for more engaging sessions, cultural experiences, and continued progress.

Join Pistachio Mandarin Today!

We welcome new students throughout the year. Whether your child is just starting or continuing their learning journey, our programmes are designed to support confidence, communication, and cultural understanding.

At Pistachio, students learn Mandarin through real experiences that help them feel comfortable using the language in everyday situations. Enquire Now!

Fù huó jié kuài lè! Happy Easter!

The post Celebrating Easter 2026 at Pistachio!  first appeared on Pistachio Mandarin Language Centre.

Mandarin Learning in a Familiar School Environment

Our after-school programme at Churchill Park School gives students the opportunity to learn in a space where they already feel comfortable. This sense of familiarity helps them relax, participate more actively, and feel confident trying a new language. By offering Mandarin classes within the school environment, students can engage more naturally while developing their communication skills and growing in confidence as they learn.

Excited and Engaged Young Learners

From the very first session, students brought great energy and curiosity into the classroom. They were eager to participate and embraced each activity with enthusiasm.

Through interactive games, guided activities, and simple conversations, they explored Mandarin in a way that felt fun and rewarding. It was delightful to see them respond confidently and support one another throughout the lesson.

Learning Through Interaction

At Pistachio, we design our lessons to be interactive, practical and engaging. Rather than simply following the tutor or repeating words, students are guided to build from sounds they already recognise and develop them into meaningful words and phrases they can use in real-life situations.

This approach encourages active participation and helps students to gain confidence in using Mandarin. As a result they develop conversational skills as they learn through experience and not just something to memorise.

Looking for an after-school Mandarin programme at your child’s school?

Enquire now to bring Pistachio to your community!

The post After-School Mandarin Programme at Churchill Park School first appeared on Pistachio Mandarin Language Centre.

This year, we celebrated the Lunar New Year during our Saturday classes on 21 February and 28 February at Kohia Terrace School. Across both weekends, students experienced the traditions, language, and cultural meaning behind this important festival.

What is Chinese New Year?

Chinese New Year marks the beginning of the lunar calendar. It is the most important traditional festival in Chinese culture and symbolises renewal, reunion, and new beginnings. Each year is represented by one of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac. In 2026, we welcome the Year of the Horse, a symbol of energy, strength, and determination.

During this time, families gather together, exchange greetings such as Xīnnián kuàilè (Happy New Year) and Gōngxǐ fācái (wishing you prosperity), and give hóngbāo (red envelopes) to share blessings for the year ahead. Homes are often associated with the colour red, dēnglóng (lanterns), and biānpào (firecrackers), all symbolising protection, happiness, and good fortune.

Through learning these festive expressions, students began to understand how language and culture are closely connected during this celebration.

How We Celebrated at Pistachio?

Learning became practical through a hands-on activity where students made and decorated their own hóng bāo and expressing their creativity. This creative activity allowed them to connect with the tradition.

Parents were invited to join us in celebrating the culture together, giving them the opportunity to see firsthand how their children are immersed in the language and traditions during class. The children then received their red envelopes, each filled with gold chocolate coins symbolising wealth and blessings for the year ahead. 

To conclude the celebration, fortune cookies added a sweet surprise, as parents read the fun and light-hearted fortune messages inside to their children.

Join Pistachio Mandarin Today!

It was encouraging to see our students not only learning new vocabulary but also understanding the cultural meaning behind the words they were using.

At Pistachio, we believe language learning is most effective when it connects with culture and real-life experiences. Celebrating festivals like the Chinese New Year helps students build confidence, cultural awareness, and practical communication skills in Mandarin.

Xīnnián kuàilè! Gōngxǐ fācái!

The post Celebrating Chinese New Year 2026 at Pistachio! first appeared on Pistachio Mandarin Language Centre.

In the 3-minute segment, we discussed the cultural meanings behind common dos and don’ts observed during Lunar New Year,  traditions that focus on attracting good luck, harmony, and prosperity for the year ahead.

Listen to the full 3-minute interview here:

Chinese New Year Dos (To Attract Luck)

• Wear red – Red symbolizes vitality, protection, and prosperity.
• Give red envelopes (hóng bāo) – Traditionally, married elders give red envelopes to younger, unmarried individuals as a blessing of good luck.
• Eat auspicious foods – Fish (abundance), dumplings (wealth), and longevity noodles (long life).
• Clean Beforehand – Sweep away last year’s bad luck before New Year’s Eve.
• Visit Elders and Family – Strengthen bonds and welcome blessings.
• Open Doors and Windows – Symbolically let out the old year and welcome the new.

Chinese New Year Don’ts (To Avoid Misfortune)

• Avoid Washing or Cutting Hair – The word for hair sounds like “prosper,” so washing it is seen as washing away wealth.
• No Sweeping or Taking Out Trash on New Year’s Day  – This may sweep away good fortune.
• Avoid Sharp Objects – Avoid needles and scissors; they represent cutting off your fortune.
• No Negative Talk or Arguments  – Avoid mentioning death, ghosts, or the past, as it invites negative energy.
• Avoid Wearing Black or White – These colours are traditionally associated with mourning.
• Do Not Break Dishes – Breaking items implies loss of fortune for the year.
• Avoid Borrowing or Lending Money  – To prevent a year of financial strain.

These traditions are centred around starting the new year with a clean slate, harmony, and positive energy.

At Pistachio Mandarin, we believe language and culture go hand in hand. We are grateful to More FM for the opportunity to share these traditions with the wider community.

Happy Chinese New Year 2026 — Xīnnián kuàilè! 

Want to learn Mandarin while gaining a deeper understanding of Chinese culture?

Join our classes today and experience the joy of learning Mandarin through culture, connection, and hands-on activities. Come along  for a trial lesson. 

The post Pistachio Mandarin Featured on More FM – Chinese New Year Dos & Don’ts first appeared on Pistachio Mandarin Language Centre.

This term has been filled with cultural celebrations, festive learning, and meaningful connections within our Pistachio community. From Diwali and Halloween to our Christmas celebrations and new China programs, our students experienced Mandarin beyond the classroom.

Festival Highlights: Diwali

Festival Highlights: Halloween

We celebrated Diwali at Kohia Terrace School, with the honour of welcoming the Consul General of India in New Zealand, Dr. Madan Mohan Sethi. The event was filled with colour, music, and cultural sharing.

Watch the Diwali Celebration

Our Halloween activities included making pumpkin origami and dressing up, which were fun ways for students to embrace the spooky spirit!

See our Halloween Highlights

We also celebrated in our online classes, where students learned Diwali and Halloween greetings, vocabulary, and sentences.

Christmas Celebrations

In-Class Celebrations

Our children’s classes were filled with Christmas cheer during a morning tea celebration! Children enjoyed receiving their Christmas presents and certificates, creating crafts, and learning Christmas greetings, vocabulary, and sentences. It was a wonderful way for students and parents to celebrate the season together.

Watch the Diwali Celebration

Dinner Celebration

For our online students, Yatchun organised a special Christmas Dinner. This year, our team of staff was invited so they could meet students in person, along with their partners. To add to the excitement, we played a fun Kahoot, which engaged everyone. It was a happy evening of connection, laughter, and festive fun, which was a fantastic way to celebrate the year’s achievements together!

See our Halloween Highlights

Christmas Staff Lunch 2025

We wrapped up the year with a warm Christmas Staff Lunch, enjoying home-cooked food, exchanging ideas, and laughter. Yatchun gave everyone a Christmas present and a speech to acknowledge everyone’s effort, fresh perspective and contribution.

Discover China with Us!

Planning a trip to China for business or leisure? We’ve got exciting, tailored programs just for you:

Business Trips to China

This program is designed for professionals and corporate teams. It equips participants with essential Mandarin skills and cultural knowledge to help them navigate business events, social settings, and time in China with confidence and respect.

Participants will learn:

• Basic key greetings and daily expressions

• Pronunciation and Chinese names

• Cultural norms and business etiquette

• Practical communication skills for professional interactions

Short Travel Program

We’re also running a Short Travel Program for travellers planning a holiday to China. The program is designed to help participants feel more prepared and travel with confidence.

Participants will learn:

• Basic Mandarin for everyday use

• Essential cultural etiquette

• How to prepare for the trip

Whether discovering famous landmarks, trying local cuisines, or enjoying city life, this program will support participants to travel with confidence and discover more of China.

Want to know more or know anyone who may be interested? Share these programs with them and contact us to find out more!

Contact Us!

Enrolment

Our Children’s classes start on Saturday, 31 January 2026. We are taking enrolment now!

Register Now!

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. See you all in 2026!

Full newsletter highlights are available via the link here: https://mailchi.mp/0bb9ff2f29b3/celebrate-explore-connect-with-us-this-season-1345

The post 2025 Highlights: Cultural Festivals, Christmas Celebrations, & Exciting Mandarin Programs! first appeared on Pistachio Mandarin Language Centre.

The delicious lunch lovingly prepared by Yatchun and Andrea set the tone for an afternoon filled with warm conversations and plenty of laughter. It was a simple yet special reminder of the heart that defines our Pistachio family, only in our classrooms, but also in moments like this when we come together as a team.

As we wrapped up the year, Yatchun shared a heartfelt speech reflecting on our achievements and acknowledging the dedication each team member brings to Pistachio. She also sent a personal appreciation email to every team member, recognising individual contributions and the effort shown both in teaching and behind the scenes. 

To round out the celebration,  Each team member received a gift as a token of  appreciation. The atmosphere throughout the afternoon was warm, fun, and full of shared purpose. What a lovely way to close the year together. We look forward to another year of learning, connection, and collaboration.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Shèngdàn kuàilè, jiérì kuàilè!

The post Pistachio Christmas Staff Lunch 2025 first appeared on Pistachio Mandarin Language Centre.