We have Heritage Night at my school every other year and this is the year for it. It is only a few weeks away and I am very anxious about it. I like to do it but it is a tremendous amount of extra work outside the regular school day and puts my nerves through the ringer. The students love it though and I learn so much every year.
This year I decided to have only third through fifth graders sing in the hope that we could squeeze in more songs for each grade level. The third graders are doing the continent of Africa and our songs include one from Ghana, one from Morroco and one in the Swahili language. Fourth graders are covering Europe with two French songs, one German and one Spanish. Perhaps the biggest challenge, however, goes to fifth grade. They are hitting Asia with one Taiwaan, one Cambodian and one Vietnamese. I am really excited about the fifth grader's songs. We have a family from Taiwaan so the mom is helping me with the song and will accompany us on the Pipa. The Cambodian song I have done before but this time I am adding more instruments to accompany it. My favorite this year by far is the song from Vietnam. I just happen to pick a really cool folk song. I didn't know at the time that it is traditionally sung at Autumn festivals (perfect for us!) and is often acted out. I have been lucky enough to have a native speaker in each of the four sections of fifth grade save one. They have helped us with pronounciation so I think it is going to come out real nice. We will have actors, recorder acc and lots of props including scarves in the colors of the Vietnamese flag (red and gold). My Vietnamese students have really enjoyed their role in helping us and have made new connections with me. One of my girls brought it a small gift for me. It looks like a little handmade ocarina painted red with a cobra on the top. It is really cool. It was such a sweet gift. I was left kind of speechless and reminded why I do what I do. Here is our Vietnamese song:Qua Cầu Gió Bay
Yêu nhau cởi áo ối à trao nhau
Về nhà dối rằng cha dối mẹ ớ ơ
Rằng a ối a qua cầu
Rằng a ối a qua cầu
tình tình tình gió bay
tình tình tình gió bay
Yêu nhau cởi nhẫn ối à trao nhau
Về nhà dối rằng cha dối mẹ a à a á a
Rằng a ối a qua cầu
Rằng a ối a qua cầu
tình tình tình đánh rơi
tình tình tình đánh rơi
Yêu nhau cởi nón ối à cho nhau
Về nhà dối rằng là cha dối mẹ ...
Rằng a ối a qua cầu
Rằng a ối a qua cầu
tình tình tình gió bay
tình tình tình gió bay
We have all learned so much about the language and culture without ever setting foot in Vietnam. I feel very fortunate to be in a buiding with so much diversity and a Newcomers program. I am still nervous as heck though!
Posted by Michelle at November 9, 2008 10:25 AM