As golden autumn meets the Chongyang Festival, honoring elders is especially timely. Recently, students from China (Hong Kong) English School (CHES) conducted a volunteer initiative, titled "Childhood Hearts Accompanying the Twilight Years: Delivering Warmth via Bilingual Interaction", at a local senior center. By bringing English classrooms into the community, they brought youth and companionship to enrich the lives of seniors.

English tutoring provided by CHES students to the elderly

During the fruit arrangement activity, children paired up with grandparents, sharing creative ideas and arranging fruit platters in English while chatting about family life — fresh fruits and joyful chatter blending harmoniously. 

Preparation of fruit displays

During the event, students transformed into little English teachers, communicating warmly with elders entirely in English. They patiently guided seniors through learning Chongyang-related vocabulary and everyday conversational phrases. The innovative bilingual interaction sparked continuous laughter throughout. 

Later, confident and graceful cultural performances earned enthusiastic applause. At the closing, young and old sang English songs together, their melodious tunes lifting the atmosphere to its peak.

Musical performance of English songs for senior citizens

A supportive atmosphere promoting well-being and joy among the elderly

This event exemplifies the school's commitment to holistic education and interdisciplinary integration. Students stepped beyond textbooks, applying knowledge in real-life settings, honing their spoken English skills through volunteering, and deeply understanding the values of respecting and caring for elders through hands-on companionship. This meaningful connection between generations breathed new literary charm and warmth into this traditional festival.