Love for son prompts convert to bring China to Clifton Park

One of the reasons Ying Burkitt teaches Chinese language and culture can be seen playing with Spiderman figures.

"I want R.J. to understand his culture, because I love him so much," said Mrs. Burkitt of her son.

A native of China who lives in Clifton Park, she teaches Chinese at St. Edward the Confessor Church in Clifton Park, where she, her husband Ray and two-year-old R.J. are parishioners.

Each week, about ten young pupils sing Chinese songs, learn traditional dances and master pinyin, a phonetic depiction of Chinese ideograms. Some students are Caucasian; others have been adopted from China.

Chinese background

Mrs. Burkitt grew up in the tourist town of Chengde, in Hebei Province, a few hours away from Beijing. After she earned a degree in international business, she worked for a tourist agency and studied German in anticipation of moving to Germany to pursue a master's degree.

In China, she met Ray, who was on vacation with members of his Albany tai-chi studio. He grew up in Clifton Park and was an altar server at St. Edward's. He played guitar for the contemporary ensemble there, graduated from Christian Brothers Academy in Albany and said that his Catholic faith gives him direction.

When Ying moved to Germany, Mr. Burkitt followed. Then the two made the decision to move back to Clifton Park and get married.

Teaching

Mrs. Burkitt taught Chinese language and culture to adoptees and their parents through a local community center for a few years. She had never been in front of a class before, but she loved it.

"When I first started, I didn't know much," she noted, "but kids won't listen if you just write it on the board. So we play games, and learn songs, so they can show off. I learned from the kids themselves" how they learned best. "You have to have them participate and be active."

The same philosophy is in effect at St. Edward's. One of the best ways to teach pinyin to young children is through song, she believes; so she takes traditional Chinese tunes -- as well as American songs she learns from her three American nieces -- translates them, and hands out song-sheets with pinyin and English on them.

Sign language

Learning pinyin can be the basis for many English speakers to make the jump into learning how Chinese ideograms are constructed, Mrs. Burkitt said.

More conventional vocabulary lessons are incorporated, too, as are dancing and fun events, such as parties for the Chinese New Year.

China is "such a different world, and the children enjoy hearing about it," she said, "but we're the same at heart. That's how I feel."

Convert

Mrs. Burkitt explored the possibility of a Chinese class at St. Edward's after becoming a Catholic in 2001.

"I wanted to give back," she said. "Gene [Deacon Eugene Kelenski] volunteered his time to teach us about the Church. I felt he was my model in sharing what you have and what you know with other people."

She grew up without much exposure to religion and first became interested in the Catholic Church after she began to accompany her husband to Mass every week.

"Every time you go, you always hear something so inspirational about how to deal with everyday life, how to be a better person," she said. "We wanted to have a family, and I wanted the family values, the teachings, to be a part of that."

Understanding

Mrs. Burkitt hopes the class will help to build a "bridge of friendship" between the two cultures in the community and in the parish. It's necessary for people of different cultures to understand the places each comes from, she believes.

"If you don't, you put a wall between you," she continued. "People have ideas as to what China is supposed to be, just like Chinese have ideas as to what Americans think. Reaching out and talking will destroy stereotypes."

Mrs. Burkitt hopes that the new pope will continue an effort to reach out to China, whose government does not recognize the Vatican. China stood firm on that stance despite numerous overtures from Pope John Paul II to visit.

"People are really desperate for religion. People need it," she noted. "I hope [the new pope] can be a bridge, break the wall and make a good relationship with the Chinese government, because when Chinese people believe something, they believe it with their whole heart."

(5/05/05)