Chinese Exchange Program: SHS

ChEx: Some Basic Information Introductions Brief History of the Program Our roles as hosts and ambassadors Our roles as guests and ambassadors Questions

Extremely Brief History Initiative of Claire Jackson’s, carried on by Barbara Dunham, & Tim Farmer First Trip 2008 Currently self-funded Blogs and photos on SPS website under Curriculum & Assessmenton SPS website under Curriculum & Assessment

Two Phases of Exchange Being a host/ambassador Being a guest/ambassador

Being a Host/Ambassador

Where is Sharon, MA, USA?

Three Primary Venues School At Home Out and about

School: Life at SHS Chinese students enroll in classes Chinese students spend time together each day as a SHS Chinese students travel to and from school with your student. Bus transport provided. Lockers provided School lunch ticket provided Please pack them Eagle Block Snack(s)!

Welcome Program at SHS At SHS in the evening soon after they arrive Your students should attend! The Really Big Show

Life at Home own room support with unfamiliar ways showers laundry meals

your choice any American activity can be an adventure hanging out at home is an activity parents in past organized! students are covered by insurance no sports rider Out and About

Special Trip to NYC For Chinese Exchange students, their teacher and SHS chaperone only some three day weekend you transport kids to SHS or Sharon train station or the like you pick them up afterward

SHS Guests/Ambassadors in China

Where is Xi’an?

School Life in Xi’an students attend classes minimum of 90 minutes of Chinese language/day; important students also receive a culture class/day students receive a lunch ticket travel to and from school; varied

SHS work and ChEx Trip approximately 3 hours/day for SHS work students need to be in good standing academically, motivated & relatively independent some students brought laptops/netbooks and/or photocopied textbooks, packets, etc could access teacher webpages, BUT...

Home Life Placed in fine, modern homes Own rooms, even if host sibling’s room Chinese host sibling Not all had wifi or internet; students could Skype at school 12 hour time difference!

Out and About/Travel Beijing 3 days Overnight train ride to Xi’an! Xi’an and Environs 5-ish weeks Shanghai & Suzhou 4 days

Beijing

Xi’an

Shanghai/Suzhou

Warnings, Disclaimers and The Processes

Your Questions...