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International Students NewsFrom Confortare - October 2011Homestays: benefits both ways!
our familes talk about their experience.
Kathleen Atkinson: We are a family of four or I should say five with Yoshiki. When my eldest son commenced SHC in 2005 we decided to take an International Student and we have never looked back. We have previously hosted students from Korea, China and Hong Kong.
How do you feel in general about being a host family?
Kathleen: Like all families our life is hectic, with work, study and a very active social/ sporting calendar. Being a host family is rewarding in that we are their “home away from home”; we provide a safe and caring environment for them to grow and develop during their time in New Zealand.
How do you form a caring, constructive and successful relationship with your International Students?
Kathleen: We always think how the student must be feeling arriving in a new country to a new school and English not being their first language; there is a settling in period, however, they still are teenage boys who need clear guidelines and boundaries and if something isn’t working you need to point it out and explain why. These boys have high expectations put on them - there is never any doubt they are here to learn English and achieve to a very high standard.
with them and explain what is required, so that there are no misunderstandings later on. And that goes both ways. By talking, we learn more about them and where there from. And how to make them feel comfortable in our own home; meeting new people and making new friends. Learning about other cultures is an added bonus. Talking about the food from home countries. It’s a good ice breaker early on.
Please share a happy story with us
Kathleen: Our current student Yoshiki is from Japan. He arrived at our home in February 2010 and will remain with us until the end of 2012. Yoshiki is a super young man and has embraced every part of our home life, integrating with our extended family and the many activities the boys take part in with the No1 sport being football. Yoshiki has also embraced the SHC community life and plays in the 2nd XI. We are a football family with much rivalry as we support Man United and Yoshiki supports Chelsea. Yoshiki and Adam enjoy great games of FIFA 11.
Iain: Every dinner time, my son and our Thai homestay play chess, or Chinese checkers. They joke around all the time, and are close friends now because of this.
Ting Xu, Director of International Students Ph: 529 3660, ext 882 Email: txu@sacredheart.school.nz
A truly multi-cultural contribution
Sacred Heart College continues to gain popularity in the International Student market. In Term 1 2011, the College welcomed 15 new International Students from Fiji, Tonga, France, Thailand, Korea, China and Hong Kong. Five more students start in Term 2, taking the entire International Student body to 45, representing 10 nationalities. This is a truly multi-cultural contribution to the College life. All the new boys have settled well and are working hard toward achieving their goals at the College.In the past year, two courses have been introduced into the senior school for students who have English as a second language. The English for Academic Purposes (EAP) Programme is for Years 11-13 and provides the support they need to achieve well in their other academic subjects. The focus is on improving academic vocabulary as well as being able to read, understand and write meaningful academic texts. Students are able to gain Level 1-3 ESOL credits in this course. The other course is a three-year senior Religious Education course for International Students from Years 11-13 who are not from a Catholic or Christian background. The aim is to ensure students have an appreciation of the Catholic, Marist and Champagnat nature of the College and are able to participate with understanding in all areas of the wider school life. The courses include topics such as understanding the Gospel story, the study of social issues, values and decision making and a study of world religions. There is always a focus on language and meaning, and assessment is facilitated through the ESOL Level 2-4 standards. The International Department is also pleased to have Mrs Cheryl Wrigley providing administrative support for the Department. Mr Ting Xu, Director – International Students SACRED HEART COLLEGE, 250 WEST TAMAKI ROAD, GLENDOWIE, AUCKLAND 1071, NEW ZEALAND
admin@sacredheart.school.nz . TEL: 09 529 3660, FAX: 09 529 3661 |
