Introduction
Step into the enchanting world of Chinese poetry with this interactive 15-minute mini-course! Students will journey back over a thousand years to the Tang Dynasty. Through the timeless poem, "Thoughts on a Quiet Night," (Jìng yè sī) by the renowned poet Li Bai, young learners will explore how simple words can express deep feelings—like homesickness and wonder—that connect people from different times and cultures. Students will also learn an expert English translation of the poem, discover some key Chinese words from the original text, and deepen their understanding and appreciation of its meaning.
Knowledge Builder
Content
"Thoughts on a Quiet Night" (Jìng yè sī) by Li Bai, a celebrated poet from the Tang Dynasty. Designed to be accessible and educational, the course fosters an appreciation for poetry, cultural heritage, and emotional expression while aligning with the developmental stage of young learners.
1.1: Video: Background and Analysis
1.2: Quiz
Read along with the Chinese pinyin of “Thoughts on a Quiet Night” (Jìng yè sī) by following the words as you listen. Try to read out loud to practice your pronunciation and fluency. Reading along also helps you notice the rhythm and speech patterns in Chinese. This makes it easier to enjoy the poem and understand how the language sounds!
2.1: Video
2.2: Quiz: Chinese Sequence
Read along with the English translation of “Thoughts on a Quiet Night” (Jìng yè sī) by following the words as you listen. Try to read out loud to practice your pronunciation and fluency. Reading along also helps you notice the rhythm and speech patterns in English. This makes it easier to enjoy the poem and understand how the language sounds!
3.1: Video
3.2: Quiz: English Sequence
Patron
Patron of the Arts & Culture
Skyworth
Skyworth celebrates the preservation and passing down of Chinese culture around the world and across generations
Instructor
Michael Pratt PhD, JD
Michael Pratt has been an assiduous reader since childhood, ever since he bought a used copy of Oscar Williams’ anthology Immortal Poems of the English Language on a whim. That early curiosity sparked a lifelong love of literature and learning.
He earned his Ph.D. in Spanish literature at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and later a law degree from Temple University. He has worked in multiple professional capacities, including as a professor in the Department of Romance Languages at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and as a trial attorney in Philadelphia, bringing both intellectual rigor and practical insight to his work.
Michael’s passions are wide-ranging: from history and literature, ancient and modern, to science and natural history, with a particular fascination for the lives of birds. He has studied and lived abroad for extended periods in Spain, Mexico, Vietnam, and China, experiences that have deeply shaped his worldview and understanding of culture.
Through his English translations and recitations of Chinese classical poetry, Michael helps Ming Aretê users connect with the timeless beauty and emotional depth of Chinese poetry, allowing them to appreciate its cultural richness beyond language.
- Juris Doctor (JD) – Temple University Beasley School of Law, 2004
- Ph.D – Spanish – University of Wisconsin- Madison,1994
- Master of Arts – Spanish – University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1989