First Week of Yada Academy 2020 Autumn Semester

On October 12th 2020, Yada Academy Autumn Semester began as plan. In this semester, there are six courses, namely calligraphy, yoga, fitness dance, Tai Ji, photography and tea art, once a week for each course till the winter vacation. At the end of the semester, there will be a report-back performance to show the learning outcomes.

In the first week of this semester, each course had its opening ceremony, simple but serious. The Executive Dean of Yada Academy Pro. Ms. Luo Xuhua made the opening address to each course and issued invitation certificates to teachers. She also gave well-prepared school bags to the First Course students. She said, Yada Academy was the academy of Yada residents, also their home of study and spirit. Yada Academy would integrate culture & art, life aesthetics, wellness & fitness and self-cultivation into daily life and create a learning environment with high vision, care and joy. She expected every student to enjoy beautiful life here.

1. Static Lessons: Calligraphy, Photography and Tea Art

In the first calligraphy lesson, students were excited and expected to return the class. They were all attention in the teacher’s explanation on the origin of Chinese characters, types of calligraphy and tips on selecting the four stationery treasures of the Chinese study. Students said the lesson made them to know how to select Chinese writing brush, mix ink and choose paper. The homework was to draw incense coil. Students posted their practice in class Wechat group. The teacher would comment on these homework and offer guidance accordingly.

Main participants of photography and tea art lessons in this semester were Yada staff. They equipped themselves in spare time. The scenery was so inspiring.

Photography was regarded hard to understand in public opinion. Photography teacher introduced the shooting theory and function setting through lively activities. During the second half of the class, students were learning while practicing. The recorded happy moment in the class. In future lessons, the teacher would explain how to use the camera and basic shooting skills, and led students to shoot on the site and improved their skills by analysis and guidance.

As one of top three drinks in the world, tea had nearly 5 thousand years’ history. The tea art teacher displayed tea art and told the origin and transformation history of tea in the first class, tea-making and drinking methods in all ages and some cold knowledge about tea. Students were surprised by extensive and profound knowledge of Chinese tea and expressed their expectation to the following lessons.

2. Dynamic Lessons: Yoga, Fitness Dance and Tai Ji

In the autumn course, dynamic lessons were attractive, including yoga, fitness dance and Tai Ji.

Leg pressing, warmup, tapping points, joint stretch were the must. In Yoga class, students felt the change of body through breathing, and learned the breathing methods and body conditioning. Some Yogasanas helped students to relieve pains in neck and shoulder. Then, the teacher with students did meditation to relax the brain and feel themselves.

The Fitness Dance was designed for fitness. During the 15 minute before class, the teacher and students tap and stretch the body activating the body. Then, the teacher taught Mongolia dance, including lifting the wrist, pressing the wrist, smiling shoulder, massaging shoulder and some basic steps. Through dancing, students exercised their bodies and learned different types of dance.

Tai Ji was one of the most favorite lessons in the middle-aged people. In the first lesson, the teacher introduced the key points of 24-type Tai Ji and offered detailed guidance on steps from beginning to landing foot. Students learned each movement carefully. Between lessons the teacher showed the whole set of 24-type Tai Ji. His wonderful performance won warm applause.

Due to the current residents, the autumn curriculum did not contain too many courses. As the construction of the Park, Yada Academy would offer more courses to residents.