Mandarin Excellence Programme students from across the country spent the first two weeks of July taking part in the first ever Intensive Learning in China study trip, which saw the students based in Universities across Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu.
To give a brief insight into the trip, we’ve collated some of the tweets made during the trip by those taking part.
A warm welcome to the first 400 participants in our #MandarinExcellence Programme’s two-week intensive Chinese language learning programme, who arrived at their host institutions in Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu over the weekend. @educationgovuk @UCL_IOE_CI pic.twitter.com/E3QQbRMIOg
— BritishCouncil China (@cn_British) July 2, 2018
Upon arrival in their host city, all students were taken directly to their host University, where they would spend the next two weeks alongside other schools participating in the Mandarin Excellence Programme.
Our Year 8 students currently on their China trip have been welcomed into Beijing with an amazing opening ceremony by local school children. They have then had the opportunity to use and develop their #mandarin language skills whilst shopping. pic.twitter.com/yb2QroZYTT
— Homewood School (@Homewood_School) July 3, 2018
Each of the host Universities prepared an Opening Ceremony to welcome the UK students, which also acted as a great opportunity to meet students from local schools in China.
Our #MandarinExcellence Programme is well on its way, with our students putting their newly acquired vocabulary into practice by visiting @CCTV’s meteorological studio in Beijing and interviewing locals in Shanghai, among a range of other activities. @educationgovuk @UCL_IOE_CI pic.twitter.com/4QA4TghBeC
— BritishCouncil China (@cn_British) July 5, 2018
On a typical day, students would study Mandarin for four hours each morning alongside students from another UK school.
Students met The team that makes the weather (not literally) and did their own forecast.
After a dumpling supper it was off to the Silk Market for some knock-off Supreme and Prada at knock-down prices.#BethsChinaTrip2018 pic.twitter.com/EHbsbrHEdY— Beths Grammar School (@BethsGS) July 4, 2018
The afternoon presented a great opportunity for students to put this language to practice. For some students, this included a chance to present their own weather forecast at the CCTV weather studios!
The participants in our #MandarinExcellence Programme have been getting hands on with traditional Chinese art, including puppetry and ink painting, complementing the new vocabulary they learned this week in Chengdu with cultural insights. @educationgovuk @UCL_IOE_CI pic.twitter.com/bLEpgxZPTZ
— BritishCouncil China (@cn_British) July 11, 2018
The afternoon activities also allowed students to learn more about Chinese culture, whilst putting their newly learnt vocabulary to test.
It's been a busy first week in China for our Year 8 #MandarinExcellence students, who are in Beijing, Chengdu or Shanghai. Now for a weekend of sight seeing, and perhaps a 🐼 or two! pic.twitter.com/TzomE1QBXg
— UCL IOE CI (@UCL_IOE_CI) July 6, 2018
As the first week was finished, students had the opportunity to go an explore some of the “must see” sights in their city.
Some photos from the MEP trip to China!
Staff and students all having a wonderful time. pic.twitter.com/I6tPwI1SiQ— QMGS (@qmgs1554) July 10, 2018
The Mandarin students visited the pandas today! pic.twitter.com/KLlDhMR03V
— Bohunt (@BohuntSchool) July 7, 2018
This included The Bund in Shanghai, The Great Wall in Beijing, and of course, the Pandas in Chengdu!
Y8 Mandarin Excellence Programme pupils are attending an intensive learning course in China. They visited our Shanghai link school – Shanghai Caoyang No.2 High School's attached Middle School on 7th July. Students from both schools had a day out in Shanghai.#wow! pic.twitter.com/fIrFlawCww
— @UptonHallFCJ (@uptonhallfcj) July 11, 2018
Over the course of the trip, students were able to spend time and form friendships with their Chinese peers. Student’s exchanged contact details at the end of the two weeks, and will have the opportunity to keep in touch in the future.
MEP China trip- Football night (quarter final)! @DGS_MFL and @DartfordGS pic.twitter.com/XuIDjI8cMc
— DGS MFL (@DGS_MFL) July 11, 2018
Whilst World Cup fever was hitting its peak back in England, students were able to watch the drama unfold live (and in Chinese!) at World Cup match screenings put on by their host University.
Our first #MandarinExcellence intensive Chinese language learning programme was a success, with nearly 400 students from across England visiting China and boosting their Mandarin. Our ambition is to put 5,000 students on track towards fluency by 2020. @UCL_IOE_CI @educationgovuk pic.twitter.com/YahWjzrNYE
— BritishCouncil China (@cn_British) July 16, 2018
At the end of the two weeks, all host Universities organised a final Closing Ceremony. This time, the Mandarin Excellence Programme students showcased their skills through speeches, songs, dances, catwalks, plays and more.
Next year, Year 8 students from 37 Mandarin Excellence Programme schools will get the opportunity to take part in the 2 week Intensive Learning in China trip, which will once again run in July 2018.
For more information on the Mandarin Excellence Programme (MEP), please visit our website.