诗韵交融 跨越国界 ——房山中学师生参加“普希金日”活动 Blending Poetry and Rhythm Transcending National Boundaries ——Beijing Fangshan High School Participates in "Pushkin Day" Activity
In the brilliant galaxy of Russian culture, June 6th is undoubtedly a shining coordinate. When the chime of Russian Language Day coincides with the commemoration of the 226th birth anniversary of Alexander Pushkin, the great master of Russian literature, a cultural feast grandly kicked off at the College of Foreign Languages, Capital Normal University — the "Pushkin Day" Russian Poetry and Music Festival, with its poetry and rhythm, has built a bridge for cultural exchanges between China and Russia.
Natalia Stepkina, Minister-Counselor of the Russian Embassy in China, Maxim Chernyshev, Head of the Humanitarian Cooperation Group and Cultural Counselor, and Igor Pozdnyakov, Educational Counselor, attended the event in person. In their speeches, they expressed sincere gratitude to the school, Russian language teachers, translators, as well as the participating teachers and students. They highly praised all parties' active participation in the process of bilateral humanitarian cooperation and their outstanding practical contributions to promoting the Russian language and popularizing Russian culture in China.
At the event, the students from the Russian language classes of Beijing Fangshan HighSchool undoubtedly became the highlight attracting everyone's attention. As one of only two participating high schools, these teenagers, who have only been connected with Russian for three months, delivered a gripping rendition of Pushkin's classic If by Life You Were with their still-immature yet extremely firm voices. From the initial character-by-character pronunciation practice to the fluent and natural emotional expression on stage, under the careful guidance of their Russian teacher, they spent their spare time repeatedly polishing every syllable and every pause. Even to make the recitation more in line with the poetic mood, they took the initiative to consult a large amount of materials about Pushkin's life and creative background. In the end, they stood on the music festival stage with firm eyes and high spirits, interpreting the optimism and hope in the poem—"Do not grieve, do not anger"—incisively and vividly, earning prolonged applause from the audience.
Professor Ma Ligeng, Vice President of Capital Normal University, stated at the event: "On this poetic summer afternoon, we gather in front of Pushkin's statue to celebrate Russian Language Day together, cherish the memory of this great poet, and receive spiritual nourishment from Russian literature. This event is not only a carnival of poetry and music art but also a vivid portrayal of cultural exchanges between China and Russia."
As the service provider for the Russian Language Program at Beijing Fangshan High School, Beijing Broaden & Top-TransCommunication Center (BTC) has always adhered to the philosophy of "integrating learning with application and unifying knowledge with practice." In addition to creating professional and efficient Russian language classes for students on a daily basis, we have specifically designed a distinctive "culture + language" curriculum system tailored to the learning situation of Beijing Fangshan High School. For example, through practical activities such as learning to sing Russian songs and making traditional Russian handicrafts, students can deepen their understanding of the cultures of Russian-speaking countries through hands-on experience. The participation in this "Pushkin Day" Russian Poetry and Music Festival is precisely one of the important practical platforms built by our center for the students.
Beijing Fangshan High School also attaches great importance to the development of Russian education, regarding it as a key breakthrough for cultivating students' international perspectives and deepening quality-oriented education. The school has incorporated Russian language education into its medium- and long-term plans, establishing a trinity curriculum system of "basic language + cultural immersion + practical application." As the school leaders put it, learning Russian is not only about developing a language skill but also a key to opening the door to world cultures. It is hoped that through such cross-cultural exchange activities, students can broaden their international horizons while fostering cultural confidence and an inclusive and open mindset.
This "Pushkin Day" Russian Poetry and Music Festival is not only a lofty tribute to Pushkin's literary spirit but also a vivid epitome of innovation in Russian language education. The participation of teachers and students from Beijing Fangshan High School signifies that Russian language learning is steadily moving from the traditional exam-oriented approach to a new stage focused on cultivating core competencies. In this vast realm of cultural exchange, more young students are taking language as their boat, hoisting the sails of exploration, and forging ahead bravely toward the vast ocean of multiculturalism!