During the month of January, Whitman Hanson was granted with the privilege of hosting Chinese foreign exchange students, while they were on a trip to Massachusetts. The students were assigned to some of our own classmates, and got to follow them throughout the day, participating in our classes and activities, while getting to learn some of our American culture.
Junior Georgia MacDonald spent her day with 17 year old Christine Zhou. Christine was amazed at the size of our classes, and that we change classrooms throughout the day. According to Christine, in her school class room sizes are very limited, and students spend their entire school day in one room. Christine also explained to Georgia, that in China high school is not as easy to get into, as it is for us by progressing in age and changing schools. In China, students must take a test, and the 50% of the top scoring students will be granted the acceptance to a regular high school, while the lower scoring population must go to a vocational school.
Scott Byron (junior) was also paired with a Chinese student, Nick, a 15 year old sophomore. Throughout the day, Nick was amazed that we are able to socialize and speak while the teacher is in class. Scott was also amazed, because Nick was very advanced in his learning. For example, Nick learned precalculus, all the content Scott has been learning in APES, and all the details about WWII, in which Scott is just beginning to learn in class during his junior year.
This experience was beneficial to both the Chinese students, and the students and staff of Whitman Hanson, because many elements of the differentiating cultures were learned, and bonds were created. -Kaylee Genest '18
No comments:
Post a Comment