From the Great Wall of China to the classrooms of Shanghai, Croton-Harmon High School students were treated to a trip of a lifetime over spring break.
Fifteen students, all of whom have taken at least one year of Mandarin classes, and two administrators worked with partner schools Beijing 101 and Jian Ping High School in Shanghai to plan an exciting visit.
“The group toured cultural and historic sites such as the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square in Beijing, as well as Yu Yuan Gardens, the Bund and historic parts of Shanghai,” said CHHS Assistant Principal Mark Maxam.
Students visited the partner schools in both cities, met with local students and observed lessons taught in Chinese. In Shanghai, students also stayed with host families, a highlight of their experience.
“I like learning Chinese because it is unusual,” said CHHS junior Forest Balemian-Spencer, who added that the pronunciation of Mandarin words has been the most difficult part of learning the language.
For classmate Henry Jaensch, exploring the country’s rich history in person was exciting. “Every place we went to had a distinct style and historical relevance,” he said. “The architecture referenced all the different time periods.”
The differences between the looks of Beijing and Shanghai (more of a modern metropolis) were stark, students said, but equally interesting. All students agreed that they were grateful to be studying Mandarin, which helped them appreciate the trip as they practiced their speaking and reading skills.
“Mandarin is becoming such a global language,” said junior Nicki Lam. “It’s really good to know.”
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