SOUTHWICK – The Southwick Council on Aging will offer a Chinese Language and Culture series at the Senior Center this fall.
Council on Aging Director Cindy Sullivan said French and Spanish were offered several years ago and the series was well received so she thought it was time to revive it.
Sandy Organowski selects a bingo ball Feb. 19, 2020 at the Southwick Senior Center as Anjum Alves looks on. Soon after, the center shut down due to COVID but is beginning to offer in person programming. (HOPE E. TREMBLAY/THE WESTFIELD NEWS)
“I put a call out for anyone who wanted to teach a language and I had a woman respond,” said Sullivan. “This class will encompass the Chinese language as well as the culture and food. It will be in person and we would like a minimum of five to 15 participants.”
The course will be offered either on Mondays or Thursdays Sept. 13-Oct. 18 or Sept. 16-Oct. 28 from 12:30-1:30 p.m., depending on what the majority of participants decide.
Cost will be $2 for materials.
Sullivan said it’s not too late to learn Chinese. The series includes learning conversational Chinese, numbers, colors, a Chinese New Year craft, cooking lessons and more.
“We are excited to offer this great opportunity,” Sullivan said, noting that the center is opening up. “We have started to open inside slowly. BINGO was in person and remote last week with 15 people in person and three remote.”
Sullivan said exercise classes are outside until the end of July and cards, scrabble, and cribbage will begin in person in a few weeks.
“Aug. 2 we will have congregate dining and ‘take and go’ meals will continue as well,” she said. “Currently people can come into the Senior Center if they have a purpose to be inside, like BINGO or another scheduled activity. On Aug. 2 we will have morning coffee etc. and our first trip will be on July 27 to the Starfires game and the Good Table for lunch. Other trips are being planned for August.”
Sullivan and her staff are excited to see their seniors again.
“We are currently planning a welcome back celebration/meet and greet new instructors the first week in September,” said Sullivan. “We will also honor those we have lost in the past 16 months and our regular program begins Sept. 13. We are excited to be back and we can’t wait to see everyone.”
To register for the Chinese Culture Series, call the Senior Center at 413-569-5498 and state your preferred day for the course.
