Studying in the UK: Visiting campus life on the spot

On August 22nd, 20 13, the article Field Visit to Campus Life was published by wWw. Liuxue86.cOm )。

China students in Milfield School Summer Camp, He Siran from the second left and Lin Yongjun from the first right.

At present, it is summer vacation, and many young people from China come to Britain to participate in summer camp activities here. Why is Britain so favored? What can China children experience and learn in Britain? What problems may arise? BBC UK reporter Zichuan went to several schools to report live.

BBC British correspondent came to Milfield School in Somerset, England. Every summer, many students from all over the world come here to attend summer camps.

This is a private middle school with a long history, which has trained world swimming champion marc forster, BBC political journalist John Sage, female singer lily allen and other celebrities. Fok Chen-ting, the son of the late Hong Kong famous entrepreneur Fok Ying-tung and now a member of the Hong Kong Legislative Council, is also an alumnus of the school.

The reporter and his party watched the students take swimming, basketball, equestrian, cooking and other courses in the vast campus of Milfield School.

It is easy to find that the children are in a good mental state along the way, and they will also take the initiative to say hello between classes. We chatted with two China girls from Guangzhou, both of whom are key middle school students who are about to enter the second grade of junior high school.

Swimming class in the summer camp of Milfield School (Photo: European Times Giorgio)

14-year-old He Siran came to the UK by himself and did not report to any organization. She has been to England with her mother before, and also participated in summer camp activities in Canada.

Lin Yongjun, 13 years old, is coming to Britain for the first time and has never participated in other summer camps before. She told reporters that when she first came, she felt a little lonely because there was only one China student.

Like all students, Kobayashi took an English test after coming and decided what level class to enter.

? The English class here is very relaxed and there is no pressure. The students come from many different countries, which is quite different from the classroom atmosphere in China. They are not so active, as if they might gain a lot by playing? She said.

He Siran said that her mother hoped that she would enter a senior high school in Britain in the future and prepare for her future promotion to the university here.

Mark Greenough, head of the summer camp program at Millfield School, told reporters that students in China have adapted well and may be shy when they first come here. For example, some children seldom talk in the first two weeks, and then gradually integrate into students all over the world.

Overall atmosphere

Ms. Xue Xiaomin started taking students to Milfield School last year. She told the BBC that China students will be shy and nervous when they first arrive, just like outsiders.

? For our organizers, an important task is to guide domestic children-they think they are foreigners, but in fact the whole school is foreigners. During the short two-week summer camp, we should make this place our home and try to see what our peers around the world are doing and thinking, which will inspire them. She said.

Xue said that the overall atmosphere created by the school is very happy, comfortable and open, and students and faculty are very happy, which has an impact on the students' union.

? Under the influence of the environment, China students usually relax from the third grade, and they will like it on the first weekend, but they will be reluctant to leave when they go out to play on Wednesday the next week? , she explained.

Last year, captain Xue accompanied the students wherever they went, but this year he didn't.

She thinks that it is not good for teachers to lead too many teams, which will affect the children's experience and feel that someone can rely on everything. To say the least, it is better to observe them and promote them to participate in various activities.

Summer camp life

Churchill House Summer Camp students (from left) Henrik and He Lin.

The reporter and his party also went to the summer camp of Churchill House English School near Bath, a famous British tourist city.

Germany/KLOC-Henrike Gande, a 0/6-year-old girl, has traveled to Britain, but this is the first time to attend a summer camp. Henrik came alone and is the only German student here. She thinks it's interesting to meet people from so many different countries.

? There are three students from China in our class. They are all very friendly. When they do their homework in groups, they discuss it together, but there is not much extracurricular communication? She said.

Chen Rong, 10 years old, and his cousin came to England to attend a summer camp. His companion and Lin, 15 years old, both come from the same group of about 30 people, and they are both coming abroad for the first time to participate in the summer camp.

Lin feels that since he came here, his spoken English has improved a lot because of communication with foreign students and chatting with the landlord of the host family.

? The teaching content is relatively easy for me. I have studied grammar and so on. The school arranged sports, drama and other activities. I like sports best? He said.

The content of the class is very difficult for Chen Rong, who is only 10 years old. Because there are some things I haven't touched and can't understand, I like painting and have drama classes in activities; I hope the activities in the summer camp will be more colorful, show us more scenery and have more free time? .

In the first week, Lin and two China companions lived in a black English family, a mother and daughter. ? We have a good communication with the landlord and the diet is quite suitable, but she will stipulate that everyone should take a bath within 15 minutes, but it is still relatively loose. Sometimes when I work overtime or accidentally spill water on the floor, what will the landlord say and I will say I'm sorry? He told reporters.

They visited Oxford University with the school organization and found that the environment was very good. In the future, if there is an opportunity, they are all willing to come to the UK to participate in summer camps, and they also want to go to universities in the UK.

market conditions

Art class in Churchill's former residence summer camp

Wang Yurou, head of the British English International Department, the organizer of the delegation, said that the association has been working closely with the Cultural and Education Section of the British Embassy to take more than 20 English language schools to participate in roadshows in several major cities in China for five consecutive years.

Schools can directly contact intermediaries in China and other countries through such activities. Statistics show that the number of intermediaries participating in similar activities in China is also increasing, which is about 15% higher than last year.

There is a dispute over the relevant intermediaries in the study abroad market. Although the situation has improved due to the continuous introduction of official policies, what about the intermediary in the summer camp market?

Wang Yasai said:? Contact with a group of very professional intermediaries in China. From pre-preparation to follow-up, it is very mature and of very high quality; This kind of intermediary can fully show the best characteristics of Britain, and it is also a good experience for students? .

? Of course, due to the rapid growth, some inexperienced intermediaries entered the market, which caused some confusion, such as ignorance of British culture, insufficient training for tour guides, and even poor language skills, which caused some misunderstandings and even disputes. This requires careful identification by parents? , she stressed.

Su Si, an education promotion officer of the British Council of the British Consulate General, said: We have been keeping in touch with England. What have we done? British summer camp agent study tour? Such activities will also take part in educational exhibitions and other activities to learn from students and parents about their needs and expectations for summer camps and help promote British summer camps in China? .

Susie hopes that more intermediaries can participate, learn about the first-hand cultural and educational resources in Britain, and convey this information to students and parents in China.

? We are responsible for the visa invitation letter of the intermediary, arranging the itinerary, details of activities, communication and coordination. We only cooperate with intermediaries audited by the Ministry of Education of China. If there are visa-related problems or student complaints, we will also actively participate to help find out the reasons and try to solve them? She said.

According to the new regulations, all intermediaries who need to apply for a summer camp student visa must register with the Cultural and Education Section of the British Consulate General. At present, there are thousands of China intermediaries participating in this project, and the British Council will regularly supervise the quality of these intermediaries.

Attach importance to sports

Equestrian class in the summer camp of Milfield School (Photo: European Times Giorgio)

Kim, a member of the British summer camp agency delegation, said in an interview with BBC UK that he joined the delegation to inspect the summer camps organized by different British institutions. ? I have seen 10 many British schools this time, and I feel that each school has its own characteristics. I feel that British education started at an early age, and this industry deserves its reputation? He said.

Kim said that parents in China are very worried about whether it is safe for their children to go abroad to attend summer camps. After coming here to see it on the spot, they feel really safe, because no matter which school puts safety first, on this basis, they organize all kinds of study and extracurricular activities, tourism and so on.

? I found that British schools attach great importance to sports. Some schools have various sports facilities, so children can take part in many kinds of sports during school. It's very difficult in China. Many children don't even want to go to physical education class? Speaking of this, he is not without regret.

Gold analysis:? I think China students who come to Britain for summer camp find that they are not good at swimming and all kinds of ball games, and may feel inferior psychologically than students from other countries. Physical education in some middle schools in Britain has even reached the level of professional sports schools, which is worth learning? .

Have you ever been to a summer camp in England? BBC UK welcomes students, parents and professionals to express their views and share their experiences through the following forms:

Thank you for reading the field trip to campus life, which is from BBC and collected, sorted and reprinted by. For more information, please visit: /k_bbc/