Parent Teacher Magazine Union County Public Schools Sept/Oct 2017 | Page 9

UCPS educators have the “experience of a lifetime” during cultural exchange trip to China
Since 2010,
the teachers are
dozens of Union
soul-shapers. And
County Public
that’s exactly it
Schools (UCPS)
and that’s exactly
teachers have
why we do what
traveled to Nanjing,
we do. Having that
China every summer
bond – hopefully
to teach English
they can take that
to students. The
back and remember
annual trip -- which
the teachers from
is the result of a
America they met.”
partnership among
As she prepares
Marvin Ridge High,
for the new
the High School
school year, Kate
affiliated to Nanjing
said she plans to
Normal University
look for ways to
and the Asia
incorporate some
Society’s Confucius
of her experiences
Classroom Network
into lessons with
UCPS educators recently traveled to China to teach English to students. The annual trip
-- is an opportunity
students. With
-- which is the result of a partnership among Marvin Ridge High, the High School affiliated
for UCPS staff to
Western Union
to Nanjing Normal University and the Asia Society’s Confucius Classroom Network --is an
increase their global
Elementary
opportunity for UCPS staff to increase their global awareness and appreciation for other
awareness and
implementing a
cultures.
appreciation for other
global initiative
cultures.
this year, she will have the
So when Western Union
opportunity to talk to students
Elementary Assistant Principal
about her trip.
Kate Anderson learned about the
“It doesn’t have to be based
opportunity to participate in the
on the school part of my trip. I
program this summer, she jumped
can talk more about the cultural
at the chance to go.
exchange,” she said. “They
“I just believe in learning,
learned from us as we learned
growing and traveling because
from them.”
the more you learn about other
Indira Soto, a Splash
cultures, the more you grow as a
Language Immersion teacher at
person,” she said. “I was hoping to
Western Union Elementary, said
learn more about their educational
her experiences in China provided
system, but more than anything
her with an opportunity to
else, being a global person helps
reflect on the importance of her
give you a better perspective on
culture, language and behavior
everything.”
in comparison with another
After spending a few days
culture. When asked what kind
After spending a few days touring China, Western Union
touring China, Kate and her
Elementary Assistant Principal Kate Anderson and her colleagues of impact she hopes she made
colleagues spent two weeks
on the students in China, Indira
spent two weeks teaching English to students in fourth – ninth
grades
at
the
Sino-American
Bilingual
Summer
Camp.
teaching English to students in
said she ultimately hopes the
fourth – ninth grades at the Sino-
Chinese students understand the
things like, what is a picnic basket or what
American Bilingual Summer Camp.
importance of being bilingual.
is a sleepover? If I want to name a fruit,
Teaching in two 90-minute blocks to
“I wanted them to learn from me that
can I name it in English and Chinese and
the camp’s youngest students, Kate said
you can make your dreams come true,” she
not just Chinese?”
most of her lessons were spent reviewing
said. “I am proof of that.”
Although the rising fourth graders
very basic English. Many of her students
Want to learn more about what the
spoke very little English, Kate said, having
had taken one class of English for only
teachers did during their trip to China?
the opportunity to build a bond with them
one year, she said, and this was their first
Check out Weddington Middle Assistant
was the true opportunity of a lifetime.
summer camp and their first time being
Principal Brian Gray’s blog about their time
“My favorite part about the entire trip
away from home.
spent overseas.
was the relationships you make with the
—This article was provided by the Union
“I had to learn how to say ‘stop that’
kids,” she said, adding that she cried when
County Public Schools Communications
in Chinese because they didn’t understand
she left her students. “In China, they say
Office.
it in English,” she said. “So we worked on
Parent Teacher Magazine • Sept/Oct 2017 • 7