Fushun High School Students’ Homestay Visit to the U. K.

Hello， duck，” the residents of the town of Leek in the central England county of Staffordshire greeted 10 Chinese children who went there on a six-day visit at the end of January. They were students of Fushun No. 2 Middle School and were in the United Kingdom for the first time. Their arrival enlivened this small town of some 10，000 people.

Arranged by Keith Hollins， Executive Head Teacher of Westwood College and Cheadle High School， the 10 Chinese students attended classes at the Westwood College to gain a personal experience of the way of teaching and learn about the educational system in the U. K. The Chinese and British students lived， studied and took part in other school activities together. All this enhanced the Chinese students’ understanding of this strange and faraway country and they arrived at the conclusion that education in the U. K. is well-developed.

They were immersed in culture wherever they went and whatever they did. They visited Oxford University， art museums and the Beatles Exhibition in Liverpool， sitting in on a drama class， or cooking the traditional British meal “sausage and mash” (sausage and mashed potato) together with their British peers.

In Leek， the students of Fushun No. 2 Middle School saw the ease and freedom with which their British companions studied， which would surely fire their imagination and creativity in future. In the present world of high-level economic development， imagination and creativity are of great importance to the development of a country.

The homestay visit was short and it was difficult for the Chinese students to part with their host families after such a delightful time.

“Fushun No. 2 Middle School is the first school we has cooperated with China and all the exchanges are impressive，” said Keith Hollins.

Cooperation started in 2008 when the Fushun City People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries contacted Leek Town for educational exchanges. Westwood College then sent people to Fushun No. 2 Middle School to discuss the matter and contacts between the two sides grew increasingly frequent. In October 2009， Westwood College sent the first delegation of teachers and students to Fushun for a week-long study and homestay visit. It turned out to be a full success.