STUDENTS from the Far East have travelled from Tian to Teesside for a cultural exchange of learning, education and friendship.
Thirty five students and three teachers from Xinhua High School in the Tian Province, which lies 200 km from the Chinese capital of Beijing, spent two weeks learning and living with families of students at St Michael’s Catholic Academy, Billingham.
Part of a cultural immersion programme run by Most Education, the visit was arranged by St Michael’s teacher Michael Briton, who also co-ordinated a visit by Russian students to the school in 2014.
“The Xinhua High School has had close links with Carmel College, Darlington, which is part of the Carmel Education Trust alongside St Michael’s Academy, for the past four years,” said Mr Briton.
“I thought that it would be really beneficial for the students here at St Michael’s to take advantage of the learning opportunities that a cultural exchange such as this can bring.
“All the students have been learning so much from each other with the Chinese pupils experiencing daily living with English families and improving their language skills and our English students discovering the differences between the two cultures.”
Accompanied by English speaking teacher Liu Jin, the Chinese students, aged from 15-16, spent six days with their host families, attending lessons at St Michael’s Academy, before moving to St Hilds College, Durham University, for an international youth gathering with pupils from England, Germany, Finland, Bulgaria and Russia.
They also got the opportunity to take in local North East attractions as well as visiting London, Edinburgh and Cambridge.
“I am hoping that my students will gain a better understanding of the British way of life and way of thinking while they are here,” said Mr Liu.
“This is the first time that they have all been outside of China and they have already noticed some differences in that we drink warm water and English families drink cold water, you like your food salty and we like it sweet, but both nationalities are very polite and have very good manners.
“It is very exciting for them all to be able to experience a different way of living and immerse themselves in real British culture.”
Mr Briton is now hoping that a return visit to Xinhua High School can be arranged for 2017.
St Michael’s pupil Katie Ditchburn, 15, of Billingham, who is playing host to Chinese student Liu Meitong, said: “I helped out when the Russian students came to visit last year so I really wanted to be involved in hosting this year.
“It’s been great – we’ve been to a museum and a bird of prey sanctuary and bowling.
“We both like a lot of same things, including Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock, and I’m more surprised at how similar we are rather than different.”
Liu Meitong, 16, added: “I want to travel around the world and England is great.
“I like British TV, music, food, culture and buildings – the air is much fresher in fact there is nothing I don’t like.”
