CNEC Christian College Student Council 2014-2015 Foreign Student Exchange Programme Proposal (Academic Year 2014-2015) Last modified: 20141120 01:33 AFS intercultural exchange program seeks to provide a unique learning experience beyond textbooks, and a local secondary school with positive learning environment is critical. Our long term partnership with local schools allows AFS participants, as well as local students, to live this exchange experience that will surely bring about life-long impact. AFS Intercultural Exchanges (Hong Kong)
- Introduction - In recent years, numerous schoolmates from our school have participated in foreign student exchange programmes organized by various non-governmental organizations in Hong Kong. Schoolmates who are qualified by these organizations can step forward to the path of being an official exchange student. After selecting their destinations, host family will be offered. Through these programmes, our schoolmates can go abroad and experience different cultures in person by being an exchange student. The benefits of being the participants are said to be far outweighed the cost of being one of the exchangers. AFS Intercultural Exchanges, one of the most popular NGOs in HK responsible for organizing exchange schemes This year, there are all together 149 secondary schools in Hong Kong which collaborate with AFS Intercultural Exchanges (AFS). For Kwai Ching District, there are several EMI schools which have joint the school scheme offered by this NGO, including Buddhist Sin Tak College, S.K.H. Lam Woo Memorial Secondary School and Daughters of Mary Help of Christians Siu Ming Catholic Secondary School. By joining the scheme, these schools will become hosting schools for foreign exchange students who come from overseas to Hong Kong. Foreign exchange students will be treated as an ordinary local students and study in their own host schools for an academic year. However, some special arrangements may be needed. Knowing that this scheme may bring innovation to our school which is beneficial to all teachers, staff and schoolmates, the Student Council (2014-2015) is now proposing the project Foreign Student Exchange Programme. If approval is granted, application should be made by school in the academic year 2014-2015, while the programme will be carried out in the next academic year, i.e. 2015-2016. Meanwhile, the Student Council will be responsible for the internal promotional works of foreign student exchange programme and the introduction of foreign cultures to all schoolmates in the college. 2014-2015/SC/ForeignExchange/Proposal/Page2
- Comments from Educators - (Extracted from the official website of AFS Intercultural Exchanges Hong Kong, www.cn.afs.hk) EMI of Kwai Ching District 1. Mr. Ho Moon-tim (The Principal of Buddhist Sin Tak College) Intercultural learning activities expose our students to the culture, lifestyle and languages of different countries, which can enhance their language proficiency and promote cultural exchange. The overseas students we hosted have helped create a vibrant learning atmosphere and enhance teaching effectiveness, not to mention that they are hugely popular among our teachers and students. 2. Mrs. Chan Yeung Mei-hay (The Principal of Siu Ming Catholic Secondary School) Our school s hosting of an AFS student has become an annual attraction. Students of the host classes not only feel excited about the AFS student s arrival but also welcome her as a fully integrated member of their classes. She usually takes lessons with host classes across two form levels. English is the common language that the AFS student and local students use to speak to each other. Because of the absence of an alternative common language, our students do not feel the embarrassment that sometimes exists among local students when they communicate in English instead of the Cantonese dialect. The AFS scheme hence helps build an English-speaking environment among our students. Such an environment has sometimes been transferable to other groups of our students, though to a lesser extent. Such cross-cultural interaction inevitably brings along with it new insights into other value systems and ways of life. Students will be afforded the opportunity to feel for themselves these cultural differences. The mere exposure to, or more often than not, the fine appreciation of these differences, be it spontaneous or guided by teachers, serves as a breeding ground for more open-mindedness and self-confidence, a more socially-oriented and reflective outlook on different customs and beliefs, and better communication and social skills. In short the AFS exchange program helps to generate valuable exposure to other cultures for both local and overseas students. They will not only have fond memories of the 10-month program but such experience in their formative years will contribute to their all-round personal development in the days to come. 2014-2015/SC/ForeignExchange/Proposal/Page3
EMI of Other Districts 3. Ms. Kuby Chan (The Principal of Munsang College) "Every year, we have students pursuing study overseas through the AFS One-year Sending Programme..It is true that we have been receiving and welcoming students from other countries to study for a year in our campus. And we are more than willing to encourage students to join the One-year Sending Programme which guarantees them exposure, experience, and most important of all, learning." 4. Mrs. Lau Li Kwok-kin (The Principal of Heep Yunn School) Through interaction and communication with AFS exchange students, not only can local students expand their international perspective and scope of knowledge, but also develop a more thorough understanding on the characteristics of local culture and community. In this regard, the programs have made significant contribution to the development of local schools and community. 2014-2015/SC/ForeignExchange/Proposal/Page4
- More about AFS- (Extracted from the official website of AFS Intercultural Exchanges Hong Kong, www.cn.afs.hk) 1. About AFS Based in New York, the AFS Intercultural Exchanges (AFS) is an international non-profit voluntary organization which has been dedicated to promoting international exchange activities for decades. Its aim is to establish mutual respect and understanding among participants worldwide through various exchange programs, with a view to achieving the vision of racial harmony and world peace. Since its inception in 1947, over 325,000 youth have participated in various cultural exchange programs. As a result of globalization, the AFS Hong Kong Office was set up in 1982 to provide local youth with complete and in-depth international cultural exchange opportunities, and to promote exchanges and learning regarding language, academic study, daily life and culture, to enhance their quality as global citizens. The major targets for AFS overseas exchange programs are local secondary school students aged 15 to 18, and those selected will participate in a 10-month or short-term overseas exchange program. As AFS exchange programs value international exchange and cultural experiences, participants will be organized to study in schools and live with the receiving families of the exchange country. They will also be encouraged to enjoy their overseas life and participate in community activities, thus enabling them to learn about international cultural exchanges through the most authentic life experiences. 2. International Recognition Being a cultural organization with such an illustrious history, AFS has been working hard in promoting education through cultural exchanges, and has won international recognition for its effort and contributions. In 1989, it became the first and only student exchange organization to receive a commendation from the United Nations, evidence of the excellent results of our cultural exchange program. In addition, AFS is also an advisory body for the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. AFS has set up branches in nearly 60 countries around the world. Over 325,000 students have been organized to take part in overseas exchange programs throughout the years, and more than 10,000 youths participate in various exchange programs each year. As a result, it has become one of the longest-standing and biggest student exchange organizations in the world. By maintaining close contacts with other international branches, AFS Hong Kong has been providing local participants with various exchange options, including exchange programs in English or non-english speaking countries in different parts of the world. Its goal is to widen teenagers' global perspective, and to develop a thorough understanding of the world. 2014-2015/SC/ForeignExchange/Proposal/Page5
- Objectives - Through participating in foreign student exchange programme, we hope that we can:- Create a chance for our schoolmates to be familiar with different foreign cultures By interacting with foreigners in person and observing their unique behaviors, our schoolmates can understand more about foreign cultures, which can broaden their horizons and promote cultural exchange. This will also bring new insights to our schoolmates or even teachers and staff by different ways, for example, roll-call message sharing, assembly sharing and presentation in class. Enhance schoolmates global awareness Through having chances to get to know different new cultures and customs, schoolmates may have a greater interest in knowing more and may also start to dig deeper on global issues and current world affairs. Hence, schoolmates are more eager to engage in world matters. Develop schoolmates interpersonal skills It is said that schoolmates will become more open-minded and self-confident by communicating with foreign exchange students and introducing our daily lives to them. Schoolmates may also develop better communication and social skills. Increase schoolmates sense of belongings to the college By introducing our school culture and presenting everything to the foreign exchange students so as to help them familiarize with the new environment, schoolmates will tend to search for more information of our school just to be well-prepared when introducing. Therefore, this can boost their sense of belongings to the college. Build up an English-speaking environment As it takes time for foreign exchange students to get used to Chinese-speaking environment, English will be used as a main communication medium among our schoolmates and foreign exchange students. Through this, school s favourable atmosphere enhances their language proficiency. 2014-2015/SC/ForeignExchange/Proposal/Page6
1. Teachers-in-charge - Details - Mr. Chan Ting Man (adviser of the Student Council) Mr. Wong Chi Ka (head of CCA) Mr. Ng Kar Ho (the Assistant Principal, Dean of Students) Career Action Group 2. Students-in-charge 5F Tam Yung Tak (the Chairperson of the Student Council 2014-2015) 5F Sin Hau Ching (the Vice-chairperson of the Student Council 2014-2015) Executive members of the Student Council 2015-2016 Student helpers 3. Stakeholders and their responsibilities Parties Responsibilities School/Teacher(s)-in-charge Contact the organization for hosting a foreign exchange student (Application) Executive arrangements (to be discussed), for example, lesson arrangement for the foreign exchange student, school stuff (books, school uniform...)that can be lent by school, registration process, administrative work, exam arrangements, etc. Supporting Members of SC Promotional works Assist the hosting-foreign-exchange-students matters Discuss with school/ teachers-in-charge Supporting exchange students to get adapted to school lives Arrange chances for exchange students to share ** A foreign exchange student can be treated as an ordinary local student. The foreign exchange student will have his/her own host family which is responsible for taking care and looking after him/her. Therefore, school s responsibilities are mainly ensuring that the foreign exchange student can adapt into the school life in the college and the discipline. 2014-2015/SC/ForeignExchange/Proposal/Page7
4. Difficulties Increase workloads for teachers (e.g. special arrangements for the exchange student, extra care, etc.) Solution: the executive members of the Student Council and student helpers will be assistants Language barrier Solution: language courses will be provided by AFS Differences in school systems and school rules between two regions Solution: Explanation and clarification should be made with the foreign exchange student Cultural differences (Are our students ready and prepared to accept something that is completely new and fresh.) Solution: we may discuss and decide the form of the exchange student being arranged to be senior so as to let the more mature group to approach these shock preliminarily. 5. Matters which may need to take into account Arrangement of class placement The foreign exchange student should be placed in the form which belongs to his/her age group. However, even the exchange student will have his/her home class, they can still spend some time on having lesson with other classes or even with students of other forms. Therefore, more schoolmates can have an opportunity to meet the exchange student. Arrangement for lessons conducted in Chinese Language Note that it is a responsibility for the foreign exchange student to learn Chinese language as he/she is an exchange student living in Hong Kong. They should be treated as an ordinary student. However, arrangements can be made according to the preference of the exchange student, for example, reduce the number of Chinese lesson taken per week, and he/she can go to other classes to have other lesson. Teachers DO NOT need to prepare any extra assignments/notes for the foreign exchange students. 2014-2015/SC/ForeignExchange/Proposal/Page8
Uniform test/exam Period The foreign exchange student is required to engage in a certain number of examinations (rules specified by AFS). Special arrangements can also be made, for example, tutorial class on Chinese language, etc. Absence of the exchange student due to other activities by AFS Special activities/ programmes/ camps/ trips will be launched by AFS during school days and therefore the exchange student may be absent from school if they engage in those schemes. Opportunities for the exchange student to share his/her own culture Sufficient opportunities should be provided for the foreign exchange student to conduct, e.g. presentations, sharing during roll-call or assembly period, etc. so as to promote cultural exchange. - Conclusion - This is believed to be a rewarding program in which every stakeholder involved can gain insights in a special and different way. Through joining and being the host, they can bring up the decent globally diverse atmosphere to students and not only benefiting students academically but also strengthen their interpersonal skills which are more than useful for them in the foreseeable future. 2014-2015/SC/ForeignExchange/Proposal/Page9