KS4 CHINESE EXCHANGE

15 students

• To understand and appreciate the similarities and differences between their own daily experience and that of their Chinese counterparts.
• To appreciate aspects of Chinese culture, such as tea, food, dress and art.
• To appreciate the importance of education in Chinese culture.

Fifteen students and two teachers travelled to our partner school, Xuejun High School, in Leeds’ friendship city of Hangzhou, for a nine-day exchange. Students stayed in their partner’s home and attended lessons and a Calligraphy workshop in school, and experienced the daily “morning exercise” and the “raising of the flag ceremony”. The programme of excursions included visits to the Six Harmonies Pagoda, Linying Temple, West Lake, the local Tea Museum and the water town of Wuzheng.

In April twelve Chinese students returned to Prince Henry’s to stay with their English partners for an eight-day visit, accompanied by 5 teachers. As well as visits to York, the National Coal Mining Museum, Royal Armouries and a traditional Fish and Chip restaurant, the programme included an inter-cultural excursion to Scarborough, and a joint bowling trip. Students also attended lessons with their partners, including special Metalwork and Food Technology workshops.

For both British and Chinese students (and their teachers!) the exchange was a unique experience that they will never forget. Upon their return our group delivered assemblies to over 1200 students in Years 7-11, sharing what they had learned, and what had particularly made an impression on them. This was also an opportunity to show part of the video of the trip which they filmed in China.