Zachary
McNulty, who is studying Mandarin Chinese
through a distance learning class at Schalmont
High School, recently traveled to China. He is
pictured displaying the country's currency. |
Cultural immersion is a great way to
learn, according to Zachary McNulty. The Schalmont High
School junior recently spent a week in China after almost
two years of studying Mandarin Chinese through the school’s
distance learning program.
“[The trip] helped me speak the
language and helped me understand the culture. If you don’t
really understand the culture, you can’t get very far,” said
McNulty.
His trip was part of a program
sponsored by the Albany Chamber of Commerce. It took him
through some of China’s ancient cities, such as Beijing,
Shanghai, Suzhou, and Hangzhou. It also included a visit to
the Great Wall of China, the Forbidden City and Tian An Men
Square.
Some of McNulty’s favorite excursions
were side-trips with his distance learning teacher and other
students to night markets and a variety of restaurants. He
was surprised to discover that traditional Chinese food
seemed to have few vegetables and mostly consist of meat and
rice or noodles.
“Each province has its own style of
cooking. It was all really good,” he said.
McNulty hopes to
teach Chinese after attending college. He said the trip
helped expand what he has already picked up in the Mandarin
Chinese distance learning class. “You don’t really
understand how their minds work until you go over and speak
to someone [from the country].”
Click on the pictures below for more images from his trip to
China.
[ 
Junior
Studies Mandarin Chinese and Travels to China
