Loughborough College has been delighted by the warm welcome they received on their first ever student trip to China.
It was also the first time Sichuan Vocational and Technical College of Communications, Jin Tang High School and Jianyang High School had played host to students from the UK and they shared an exciting range of activities with the College group.
Fourteen students studying A-levels in English Language and in Business at Loughborough College were joined by English tutor Zsofia Stevens and Head of International Mark Henebury for the visit to the schools in Chengdu and Jianyang and they experienced everything from marine engineering training on one school’s purpose built ship to a football match in another’s sport stadium, while one school introduced them to one of China’s top online retailers.
“We received a very warm welcome at Sichuan Vocational and Technical College of Communications and toured their amazing campus, including their ship on a lake which they use to teach marine engineering as well as to train their students in the skills you might need when working on a cruise ship, for example as bar staff or in housekeeping,” said Mark Henebury.
“We met so many students and were taken for a Chinese Tea Ceremony, which included dancing and a mixture of martial arts and tea pouring.
“In Chengdu at the panda centre our students gained an insight into the amazing work being done to protect these animals and at JinTang High School’s campus we were given a Chinese writing lesson and received beautiful calligraphy sets.
“We also got the chance to play football on the school’s outstanding sports pitch and to take part in the half hour of morning synchronised exercises they do each day – all 4,000 students.
“Our students were given a real insight into the Chinese students’ work ethic – school starts for them at 8.00am and finishes at 10.00pm, the pupils live on campus and after they return to their rooms they continue with homework – they also have school on Saturdays.
“Jianyang High School, our partner school, gave us a fabulous welcome including dancing, games and the opportunity for our English Language students to teach their own classes. Meanwhile, our Business students go the chance to talk to VIP.com, one of China’s top three online retailers, with more than 52 million customers.”
“The Chinese students loved the lessons. They were much more interactive than what they’re used to,” added Zsofia Stevens. “They particularly enjoyed playing bingo and improving their English as they learnt all about British culture.
“Our students really did Loughborough College proud and all the students got on so well. They exchanged numbers with their Chinese counterparts and were laden with gifts by the time it was time to go home. The closing ceremony we had before we left was very emotional.”
“Everywhere we went people were so excited to see our students – taxi drivers stopped their cars to take pictures, even a monk in a Buddhist temple pulled a camera from his robes to capture our group,” said Mark.
“We were treated so well. The whole experience really broadened our students’ horizons, giving them a sense of ‘the real China’. They are already asking when we can go back.”
Loughborough College had signed an MOU with Jianyang High School and signed a new MOU with JinTang High School and are looking to work closely with them in the future.
Pictured: Loughborough College students on a recent trip to China at Sichuan Vocational and Technical College of Communications on the school’s purpose-built ship