Preserving the Past: Chinese Class Captures Oral Histories

This semester, students in Amanda Lin's Advanced Topics in Chinese class worked on a special oral history project. The students had the opportunity to interview residents at Sunset Towers, a senior housing community in downtown Denver, to learn about their immigration journeys from China to the United States.

“I thought this was a very unique and interesting experience in which we got to use our language skills to engage in meaningful conversations,” said Jakoby ’27, one of the five students who participated in the oral history project. “ I found it very interesting how many of the seniors moved to give their kids new opportunities in American colleges, which I thought was very selfless. A lot of them left behind friends, communities, and cultures that they were comfortable in. In their new life, it was challenging for them to communicate and adapt, but they were still grateful for the amazing opportunities they had in the U.S.”

The visit was a collaborative effort with Volunteers of America and was inspired by the Colorado Asian Pacific United's oral history project. After reflecting on their interviews, the students worked in the Impact Studio to create memory boxes that honored the seniors' stories. These projects will be displayed in the halls of Upper School North when students return from winter break.