Loughborough College offered students the chance to give their international communication skills a boost when they came together for a code-breaking challenge recently – with the listening and speaking skills set to be vital not only for their careers but also in their daily lives.
“We set up a fun face to face challenge with our home Public Services students building a message by interviewing our visiting Chinese students, who had to get across key buzzwords.
“It offered the students the opportunity to pick up subtle signals and tone of voice as well as to learn peculiarly British gestures and phrases – providing everyone with an excellent opportunity to develop their language and communication,” said Loughborough College Public Services lead Tim Turner.
“Everyone had a great time, with the students visiting us from China further developing specialist knowledge they might not find in a text book and our home students who are looking at careers in public services picking up crucial non-language skills.”
“This was one of many highlights on our latest experience programme for Chinese students and it was brilliant to see everyone having so much fun,” added Della Armstrong, International Welfare Officer at Loughborough College.
“In addition to the code-breaking with our Public Services students, taking part in sports and sitting in our A-level classes at the College, our visiting students were also given the chance to be training clients for our hair and beauty students.
“All the lessons and activities gave both the Chinese and our home students really natural opportunities to mix and learn.
“We also took trips to the Botanical Gardens at the University of Leicester and to London, Cambridge and Oxford.”