Canada: Toronto Minghui Summer School Successfully Concludes

The Toronto Minghui School concluded its six-week summer session on Saturday, August 14th, 2009. Forty students and teachers from Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, and other cities have enjoyed their meaningful time together.

Teachers and students of the Toronto Minghui Summer School.

Falun Dafa young practitioners do the exercises

Young practitioners study the teachings of Falun Dafa at the Summer School

Painting and craft class

The Summer School curriculum included learning Falun Gong exercises, Three Character Classic, Chinese dances, Chinese chess, and painting. Students also read 15 pages of Fa and watched Teacher's lecture for half an hour.

Students Benefit

Thirteen-year-old Li Zheng came from Ottawa. He said that his Chinese had improved a lot after six weeks of studying. He got to study the teachings of Falun Gong and do the exercises every day. Now he has learned to endure when having conflicts with others.

Ren Jiesi, 13, is from Ottawa as well. He learned a lot of Chinese and can read Zhuan Falun and Hong Yin now. He can also meditate in the full lotus position. "I learned how to endure," said Ren.

Wang Li, 12, is from Toronto. He said that he had learned how to improve his character and how to forbear. "When I just got here, I argued with those who got on my nerves. Now I have learned how not to care," said Wang. He was also glad to make so many new friends. Now he can recite poems from Hong Yin and read every word in Zhuan Falun.

Ye Kaiwen, 12, from Toronto, said with excitement, "Now I can recite almost all the poems in Hong Yin and Hong Yin II." He also learned many Chinese characters and painting. He can do several classical dance movements. The teachers at the Summer School read them many classic Chinese stories. Ye learned many things about ancient China from the stories.

Eight-year-old Baoyu Yan'en said that he had done a lot more studying and exercising in School than at home. He could recite poems in Hong Yin and read Zhuan Falun. "It teaches me how to be a good child and to be obedient to my parents. I also learned how to care about others and be polite," said Baoyu. He also said that he could meditate and endure the pain without crying.

Jin Ziqi, 12, is from Montreal. He did not know any Chinese except his name at first. "Now I have learned over 70 characters. The teachers taught me one by one. In Montreal, I speak French and Cantonese. Here I learned Mandarin and English. I am most excited that I can memorize poems in Hong Yin," said Jin.

Wei Mingwei, 12, only attended the last two weeks of classes. The first day he came to class, he saw the students meditating in the full lotus position. He was determined to learn it. "I tried and four days later I could do the half lotus position for five minutes. In a week I was able to do the full lotus," said Wei. He said that it hurt a lot but he really liked it.

Joys of the Teachers

There were two classes this summer, one for five- to eight-year-olds and the other for eight- to 13-year-olds. Ms. Li at the senior class said that the children all improved greatly in studying the teachings and doing the exercises. "They had many bad habits before they came but they have corrected them," said Ms. Li.

In the beginning, some students refused to do homework and some were rowdy in class. Ms. Li treated every child with kindness and patience. "There was a child that everyone believed to be hard to discipline. I paid extra attention to him and encouraged him a lot. He became very responsible and cooperative. I rewarded him at the end of the school," said Li.

Ms. Yu Liping taught the junior class. She said that the children were like blank sheets of paper and they became what they were taught. "We teach the children the right things and good habits here. They learned how to be considerate of others any time, anywhere. The teaching materials set the norms for children's ideology and behaviour. They are taught how to respect others and be obedient to their parents. These are part of traditional Chinese culture. I am so happy to see how they have changed and improved during the summer," said Ms. Yu.

Parents Are Grateful

Li Meizhen's child was in the senior class. She would love to have her child attend a Minghui School year round. She believes there is no place like a Minghui School that allows children to study in a pure environment. She was glad that her child got to learn traditional Chinese culture and understand what cultivation was. The children naturally learned to like and agree with the good traditions. "The teaching materials let the children understand how they need to behave in front of their parents and seniors. I am very grateful for what the teachers have done for the children," said Ms. Li.