Group photo of Chinese students at Lanier Middle, with the student tour guides in the front row. Photo Courtesy of Matt Hoffert
In mid-July, an envoy from China visited the United States – but the trip had nothing to do with politics.
Instead, a group of teenage students, plus some parents and teachers, visited Lanier Middle School and Fairfax High to see firsthand what schools are like in the U.S. They were here via a program sponsored by the City of Fairfax and the American Assn. of School Administrators (AASA).
“They came from some of the top schools all over China,” said Elizabeth Eby, an eighth-grade math teacher at Lanier. “They wanted a real, American experience. They’ve been taking English since kindergarten, so they can read and write it well, but they’re a bit shy conversationally; but when talking with our students, it flowed naturally.”
Some 54 Chinese middle-school students visited Lanier July 17, while 150 students there attended SELT (Summer Extended Learning Time). The Lanier students were taking English, reading and math classes in Honors Boot Camp, a math camp to “solidify student foundations and give them hands-on exploration of math,” said Eby.
The visitors talked about things they liked and disliked, plus the similarities and differences between them and the American students. “They’re touring the East Coast and all the landmarks,” said Eby. “These students are also considering college in the U.S., so this was a preview.”
Lanier’s rising ninth-graders were the ambassadors, giving tours of their building, and Eby said they “absolutely loved” the visitors. She said the Chinese students asked questions such as, “When you want to speak in class, do you stand up or raise your hand?”
“In China, class is more formal; here, it’s more interactive,” said Eby. “They also found our schools to be more diverse than theirs, and they liked it. It was night-and-day different for them. They told our students about their favorite music, foods, sports and celebrities. One class was so inspired by them that they want to study more about China – they’re completely fascinated.”
The group, which also includes 88 high-schoolers, explored the City of Fairfax, New York and Washington, D.C., as well. “We’re just one stop on their amazing journey,” Eby said.
Chinese teachers visited Fairfax High on July 14. They saw how technology’s used in the classroom and received student presentations not just on academics, but also on extracurricular activities, community service and college. Chinese students – including 50 who attend an English-language immersion school – visited Fairfax High on July 19-20.
Eby said the whole shebang was organized by AASA’s Chuck Woodruff, COO, and Tara Gao, marketing associate, plus Fairfax City Superintendent of Schools Peter Noonan. Also helping was the Chinese students’ local coordinator, Amy Wang.
“We wanted to promote cultural understanding in the field of education,” explained Eby. “Cultural exchanges of students, teachers and administrators were arranged throughout Virginia.”