Pasadena Senior Center Offers Chinese Language and Calligraphy Classes

Chinese calligraphy. -Photo courtesy

Two new classes offered by the Pasadena Senior Center, 85 E. Holly St., have been created for members interested in Chinese language and Chinese calligraphy.

Mandarin Chinese 101 for Beginners is scheduled Mondays and Wednesdays, Feb. 13 to April 19, from 11 a.m. to noon. The 10-week course will focus on the fundamentals of the spoken and written language, including pinyin phonetics (alphabet spelling system), tones, components of Chinese characters, basic calligraphy strokes, essential grammar, useful words and sentences, short essay composition, writing emails in Chinese, doing online research on Chinese sites and reading and listening to Chinese media.

The instructor is Dr. Yang Ho-chin, a retired university professor with more than 20 years of experience teaching Chinese language. Born in Jiangxi Province, Yang was raised in China and educated in Taiwan and the U.S. Pacific Northwest.

The cost of Mandarin Chinese 101 for Beginners is only $20 for 20 classes plus a required textbook. The class size is limited to 10 students.

Yang will also teach Chinese Calligraphy for Beginners; scheduled Mondays, Feb. 13 to April 17, from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. Students will learn how to use Chinese brush pens and black ink to create beautiful characters in the artistic form. Calligraphy emphasizes motion and is charged with dynamic life. It is widely practiced in China and revered in the Chinese cultural sphere.

The cost of Chinese Calligraphy for Beginners is only $20 for 10 classes plus a required textbook. The class size is limited to 10 students.

Stop by the Welcome Desk to sign up for one or both classes.

For more information visit www.pasadenaseniorcenter.org or call 626-795-4331.

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