The students at Eastside Charter School did not previously visit Philadelphia’s Chinatown. For most of the students, this year represented their first-time taking Mandarin. Although they studied Mandarin and Chinese food culture, they previously did not have the chance to use Mandarin and eat in a Chinese restaurant. The “Field trip to Chinatown” project had them use Mandarin to talk to native speakers and apply their knowledge in real-life scenarios of ordering food in Mandarin. They thus had an opportunity to experience Chinese culture without having to leave the U.S. Additionally, the field trip day took place during Chinese Dragon Boat Festival, so they had a chance to observe the decorations and experience this important Chinese traditional festival.