Our Saturday class children immersed themselves in the spirit of the festival — learning festive greetings, discovering the story behind Duānwǔ Jié, and watching how zòngzi (sticky rice dumplings) are traditionally made.
They proudly brought along the dragon boats they had designed and decorated at home, ready for our boat judging, with parents joining in the fun.
A special highlight was welcoming our guest speaker, Shane Liu — founder of Sumthin Dumplin and one of the student's dad. Shane shared how meaningful it has been seeing his daughter learn Mandarin at Pistachio in an interactive and engaging environment, and how different this experience is from his own childhood learning journey.
Then came the exciting judging! Each winner shared the story and inspiration behind their boat design, while every child was recognised for their creativity and participation.
This is what we love at Pistachio — bringing Mandarin to life through culture, creativity, and celebrations 🧡
Pistachio Mandarin Language Centre
Pistachio Mandarin Learning Centre is committed to making learning Chinese fun and motivating for kiwi kids and young adults.
Courses are designed for heritage and second language learners with a focus on teaching students to communicate and engage
20/06/2026
How do you bring a festival that's over 2,000 years old to life for young learners? You let them build it 🐉
This Duānwǔ Jié (Dragon Boat Festival), our Churchill Park School Mandarin students designed and decorated their own dragon boats from scratch, turning simple trays and ice-block-stick oars into colourful creations.
Along the way, they discovered the story and traditions behind the festival, learned key words like zòngzi (sticky rice dumpling), and sài lóng zhōu (dragon boat racing), and put their creativity to the test in a fun boat-making competition.
At Pistachio, we believe language learning comes alive through hands-on, interactive experiences that connects students to culture, spark creativity, and make learning meaningful 🧡
Want to see it in action? Enquire now (link in bio)
ChineseLanguage AucklandFamilies LanguageLearning
18/06/2026
Happy Dragon Boat Festival! 🐉
Duān wǔ Jié is a traditional Chinese festival celebrated with dragon boat races and delicious rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves (zòng zi) 🌿
It’s a wonderful time to explore culture, traditions, and language together.
AucklandFamilies
12/06/2026
🌟 Meet our Class Monitor!
Every week, one student gets the special responsibility of being the class monitor and leading our “diǎn míng” which means roll call in Mandarin!
When their names are called, students say:
👉 “Wǒ zài!” — “I’m here!” or "wǒ dào - I've arrived!"
👉 “Tā bù zài” — “He/She isn’t here” or "Tā hái méi dào - he/she hasn't arrived!"
You should see how excited they get when it's their turn to be a monitor. It's one of our favourite parts of class! 😄
This is how we learn Mandarin at Pistachio — through real conversations, interactive activities, and moments that make kids build confidence and responsibility in using the language 💛
🎁 Free trial available for Saturday group classes
📩 Enquire at www.learnmandarin.co.nz (link in bio)
KidsAuckland ChineseLanguage AucklandMums SaturdayClasses
30/05/2026
✈️ Planning a trip to China?
Whether you're exploring famous landmarks, trying local food, or navigating city life — a little Mandarin goes a long way!
Our Short Travel Mandarin Course is designed for complete beginners. In just 3 lessons you'll learn:
🥢 Basic Mandarin for everyday use
🙏 Essential cultural etiquette
🗺️ How to prepare and travel with confidence
Available one-on-one or in a group — online via Zoom or in person in Auckland. Flexible scheduling arranged around you!
👨👩👧 Travelling with family? Ask us about our family discount!
📩 Enquire today at www.learnmandarin.co.nz
📧 [email protected]
AucklandClasses LearnChinese MandarinClasses TravelTips NewZealand
05/05/2026
Sports in Mandarin – Part 2! 🏊♂️🏓
Here are more sports that students often see and talk about in their everyday lives, helping them use Mandarin in real situations.
From wǎng qiú (tennis) to lán qiú (basketball), students build confidence by connecting Mandarin to activities they enjoy.
Learning becomes more natural when it’s linked to familiar interests and shared experiences 🏃♀️
26/04/2026
We really appreciate receiving this thoughtful review from one of our Pistachio’s families 💛
Hearing that a student feels confident and supported, especially when they come from a non-Mandarin background, means so much to us.
It reflects what we truly care about: creating a space where students learn with fun and encouragement in their learning journey.
At Pistachio, learning Mandarin is about building connections through the language, the culture, and the people around us. Seeing students grow in confidence and enjoy the journey is what makes it all worthwhile🗣️✨
24/04/2026
Sports in Mandarin Pt. 1 🏉🏏
Learning Mandarin isn’t just about words – it’s about using them in real-life situations!
Here are some popular sports students often see and talk about, from gǎn lǎn qiú (rugby) to zú qiú (football).
We connect Mandarin to familiar activities like sports so students can confidently use the language in everyday conversations and build connections through shared interests.
Which sport do you enjoy the most? ⚽🏒
23/04/2026
Finding the right Mandarin class shouldn’t be complicated 🌱
Whether you prefer learning one-on-one, studying with others online, or preparing for a trip to China, we offer flexible Mandarin courses designed to fit your goals and schedule.
✨ Online private lessons for complete beginners
✨ Group online classes for high school students & adults
✨ Short travel-focused courses for practical, everyday Mandarin
Swipe through to explore the different options and find what suits you best 👉
📩 Enquire now to find the right class for you (link in bio)
20/04/2026
Sometimes the most memorable moments in class come from the students themselves 💛
Recently, during class, some of our students asked,
“Where is Lao Ma today?” They were referring to Yatchun Wong!
After learning that “lǎo” means old and “mā” means mum, the students know Yatchun is older than their mums, and started calling her “lǎo mā” in class.
For them, it’s more than just a word. Yatchun feels like a “mum” in the classroom — someone who guides, supports, and makes them feel comfortable as they learn.
Moments like this show how students connect language to real experiences and relationships, making learning something they can remember and use.
At Pistachio, it’s not just about learning words, but about building connections that stay with them.
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Kohia Terrace School, 3 Kohia Terrace, Epsom
Auckland
1023