Chutian Metropolis Daily News on August 12 (Reporter Chen Lingmo, Correspondent Chen Na) At 9:55 a.m. on August 12, local time, as flight CZ382 took off from Brisbane Airport, Australia, nine Hubei middle school students completed a two-week period. A study tour in Queensland and returned with full harvest.
These nine middle school students are the first prize winners of the 2018 Queensland Cup "Charming Hubei" Youth English Style Competition. Since 2001, the Queensland Government of Australia has held 10 "Queensland Cup" English-themed activities in Shanghai, Chongqing, Tianjin, Chengdu and other places. A total of nearly a hundred award-winning students have received full funding to go to Queensland for cultural exchanges. In 2015, Hubei and Queensland signed a letter of intent for friendly cooperation and exchange. This year is the first time that the competition is held in Hubei. It is co-sponsored by the Australian Queensland Department of Trade and Investment, the Foreign Affairs and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the Hubei Provincial People's Government and the Hubei Provincial Department of Education, and hosted by the Queensland Trade and Investment Department and the Hubei Provincial Foreign Friendship Service Center.
"Study Queensland" issued study tour certificates to 9 Hubei students
Experience the collision and integration of multiculturalism
From July 27 to August 11 this year, these 9 students from Wuhan, Xiangyang, Xianning, and Huangshi Hubei middle school students went to Brisbane and Cairns in Queensland to have in-depth exchanges and studies with local middle schools and language training institutions. Hubei students and local Queensland students studied and lived together. In just two weeks, they gained knowledge, gained friendships, and aroused their interest in exploring Australia and the world.
"On the first day I went to Cairns School, almost every teacher and student who saw me greeted me with a smile. Later, I also 'do as the Romans do' and greet classmates I didn't know. In this simple Every time I ask and answer, there will be a warm current in my heart, as if people's hearts suddenly become very close." Li Suge from Wuhan Fruit Lake No. 2 Middle School is the first winner of this competition. She said that Australia is a multicultural country, and students here come from all over the world, giving her the opportunity to experience the collision and integration of various cultures.
Liu Haoyu and Zeng Huiqin in the Australian classroom
The teaching methods of Australian schools also touched Hubei students a lot. Feng Lingxue from , Xiangyang No. 5 Middle School, said that most of the classes here start with imaginative topics or games, progressing from the shallower to the deeper. The teacher is good at inducing students to express their opinions. The class is mainly about discussion and debate. The teacher will not judge whether your ideas are right or wrong. They are all personal opinions. "Of course, sometimes when I really can't speak in English, she will wait patiently so that I won't be anxious or embarrassed."
Seeing "Learning is Endless" from a 60-year-old uncle's classmate
17-year-old Zeng Huiqin is A sophomore student from Jiangxia Experimental Middle School in Wuhan writes a diary every day to record his study tour life in Australia. When she went to meet koalas and kangaroos with her Australian classmates, she saw the respect the Australian people have for animal life; in her first boxing class, she saw the country's enthusiasm for life.
The IES where Zeng Huiqin studied was a well-known language training institution in Queensland. Among the many students of different skin colors and ages, the one who impressed her most was a 60-year-old uncle named Waho. Waho enjoys the language learning subsidy for over-age students provided by the local government, but to benefit from this policy, he has to repair bicycles twice a week. These repaired bicycles will be donated by the Australian government to poorer countries. "There is no end to learning. I am very moved by this classmate who is over 60 years old." Zeng Huiqin said. Yang Wei, who studied at SITE, another language training institution, also felt deeply: "Many of the classmates look older. I can appreciate the cultural differences and feel the spirit of endless life and endless learning."
17 years old Yang Wei and 16-year-old Liu Haoyu are both from Enan High School. Yang Wei has received the admission notice from University of Science and Technology Beijing, and Liu Haoyu is about to become a senior. Both of them are full of yearning for university. During their free time while studying in Australia, they visited the campuses of prestigious universities such as the University of Queensland, Queensland University of Technology, and Griffith University."The classrooms in the university are transparent, which shows the tolerance and openness here. I believe everyone can find their own learning rhythm and learning methods here, and learn something." Liu Haoyu said that this is his first study abroad trip. I also have new plans for my life, hoping to go to Australia to study at university.
Feelings in a host family: I am a "returner" rather than a "passer-by"
During this study tour and exchange activity, several students experienced life in an Australian host family.
The youngest Lu Hui is 14 years old and comes from Huangshi No.16 Middle School. As this was her first study abroad trip, she was excited but also uneasy. As soon as she got off the plane, she was greeted by the smiling face of her live-in mother. "Suddenly she was full of confidence in this trip."
Liang Chenyu and Jiang Haozhan are both Wuhan Foreign Languages School Junior high school students are "transferring" to two Queensland middle schools this time. Liang Chenyu stayed at the home of classmate Luc. "Luc's family is a 'United Nations'. His mother is French and his father is South African. He was born in New Zealand and their family moved to Brisbane two years ago." Liang Chenyu said, Luc's father drives more than an hour to take them to school every day. There are a lot of activities on weekends, including golf, fishing, and even going to the zoo to see koalas.
The John Paul College where Liang Chenyu and his Australian classmate
Jiang Haozhan "transfer" is about 40 minutes' drive from the center of Brisbane. Wild kangaroos often appear in the school. Jiang Haozhan stayed at the home of his classmate Lachlan. Lachlan's grandmother had worked as a foreign teacher in China for many years. The whole family had a strong Chinese connection, giving Jiang Haozhan the warmth of home. The two teenagers also formed a friendship and agreed to meet again in Wuhan.
Jiang Haozhan is with his host family classmates
Tian Hailun from Wuhan Huiquan No. 1 Middle School, during her home experience in Cairns, she felt the Australian family education, "Every time before cooking, the children at home will be very active Every child stepped forward to help, whether it was cutting vegetables, mixing salads, cooking noodles, boiling water... After meals, each child would wash his or her own dishes, forks and spoons. "
The homestay where Li Suge lives. There is only one homestay mother named Lucy. "Lucy directly regards us boarding students as her own children. She said that she does not need to go to all parts of the world, because all parts of the world come to her." Li Suge said that Lucy carefully prepared every meal, and even took her and other children with her. A boarding student joins her life. "We went shopping together for her garden, took us to the local supermarket, took us to her brother's birthday party etc. It made me feel like a 'home' rather than a 'passer-by' .”
Chinese has become the most popular foreign language in Queensland
In the past two weeks, Hubei students who went to Australia to study also felt the enthusiasm of Australian friends for learning Chinese. According to the "Study in Queensland" agency of the Queensland Government's Department of Trade and Investment, Chinese (Mandarin) has become one of the most popular languages in Queensland.
html On August 7, Livingstone School, where Liang Chenyu is located, held a grand welcome ceremony in the school auditorium to welcome guests from Hubei. A group of kindergarten children aged 3-5 sang "Where Are My Friends" in Mandarin in unison. Chinese teacher Jiang Liping is an overseas Chinese in Malaysia. She told a reporter from Chutian Metropolis Daily that the school has made Chinese a compulsory course in kindergarten and primary school, and an elective course for ages 7 to 9.Australian kindergarten students perform Chinese songs
Local girl Hayley also teaches Chinese at the school. Hayley speaks fluent Chinese. She was an exchange student at the University of Queensland and Tsinghua University , where she studied for two years. It turns out that Hayley is the principal's daughter. She said that her father studied Asian culture for his master's degree and deeply loves Chinese culture. Hayley plans to go to Beijing for an internship at the end of this year, and then go to work at the Australian Consulate in Chengdu, "staying in China for at least 10 years before coming back."
The Mayor of Brisbane issued friendship certificates to Hubei students
Before returning to China, Hubei students were invited to visit Brisbane City Hall to participate in the annual Lord Mayer's International Student Friendship Ceremony.Hubei middle school students, like thousands of international students at the scene, took photos with the mayor one by one and were awarded friendship certificates signed by the mayor.
The scene that moved Zeng Huiqin was when the mayor of Brisbane took a photo with a disabled international student in a wheelchair. He bent his knees and squatted down without hesitation. "He is very cute and worthy of respect, which shows that Brisbane attaches great importance to international students." .”
The Mayor of Brisbane issues friendship certificates to international students
Brisbane’s emphasis on international students stems from Queensland’s excellent educational resources and its attractiveness. According to Scott Ashton, acting executive director of the Queensland Government's Trade and Investment Department's "Study in Queensland" agency, Queensland has a world-class education and training system, including 280 schools and education providers. In 2017, of the 130,000 foreign students studying in Queensland, 26,700 were from China. He said that Hubei is rich in scientific and educational resources. In the next step, Queensland will continue to strengthen cultural and educational cooperation with Hubei.
