The Upper Hutt ESOL Intensive class at English Language Partners Hutt celebrated Lunar New Year 2026 this month with two special activities rooted in Chinese tradition: a calligraphy workshop and a dumpling-making session.

For some learners, it was a chance to share their culture. For others in the class, it was an opportunity to learn about different festive traditions.

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A calligraphy masterclass

The celebrations began with a hands‑on calligraphy workshop led by their teacher Alwyn, a native Chinese speaker from Malaysia. Learners were introduced to the basics of Chinese characters and taught how to write using a traditional brush and ink.

Together, the class wrote the character for “luck” on red square paper, which is a traditional decoration for Chinese New Year. These are usually displayed on doors to invite good fortune, and the vibrant red colour is believed to ward off evil spirits and negative energy.

Chinese-speaking learners were paired with classmates who speak other languages, so they could offer support and guidance. They helped translate their friends’ names into Chinese and guided them in writing the characters with brush and ink.

“It was a lot of fun,” says Alwyn. “It was wonderful to see learners taking on teaching roles and collaborating across cultures.”

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Delicious dumpling-making

The following week, the class gathered again and made dumplings together.

Chinese learners in the class demonstrated how to prepare dumpling wrappers, or “skins.” The rest of the class watched in fascination as the “masters” worked swiftly, transforming one large round piece of dough into more than 100 individual discs using rolling pins. Some learners joined in and tried making the wrappers themselves.

Once the skins were ready, the fillings were added. Each learner had their own unique way of sealing the dumplings. In the end, the class froze half of them and boiled the rest to enjoy together. Everyone was delighted to taste the fruit of their labour.

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A classroom of many cultures

At English Language Partners, learners come from many different backgrounds and have many different cultural traditions. Recognising and celebrating cultural traditions and events, such as Lunar New Year, is an important part of our kaupapa.

The Upper Hutt ESOL Intensive class brings together fourteen learners from different communities, including Chinese, Khmer, Samoan, Filipino, Lao, Latin American, Indian, and Thai. Over time, the class has grown into a fun and supportive space where mistakes are welcomed and small victories are celebrated.

Events like the Lunar New Year celebration help strengthen those bonds. They create opportunities for learners to share their heritage, practise English in meaningful ways and appreciate the richness of cultures represented in the classroom.