Students' visit puts China in their hand 11.10.07
A Group of students are set for the experience of a lifetime on a two-week trip to China. Sixteen pupils from Landau Forte College left Derby yesterday morning. The visit will include living with Chinese families and walking along the Great Wall of China.
The trip is the result of five years of planning. Previous expeditions had been held back because of bird flu and Sars.
Jacqueline John, director for languages at the college, in Fox Street, Derby, will accompany the pupils, said:
"Our principle Stephen Whitely visited China five years ago and was so blown away by the experience he set up a partnership with schools there.
"We have had a teacher from China at the school every year since then and have offered Mandarin lessons to pupils who are strong at languages."
The language barrier was one thing that caused some worries among students.
Fiona Rudge, 15, of Portreath Drive, Allestree, said: "It's the other side of the world and everything will be so different. But it will be good to see how other people live and explore their culture."
The group is due to arrive in Jin Hua, south of Shanghai, tonight. They will spend five days at the city's Number 5 Middle School before traveling on to Shanghai and working with pupils at the Wu Ai Senior High School.
They will spend the rest of the visit exploring Beijing and sights such as the Summer Palace and the Great Wall.
You can keep up with the students' progress by visiting their blog.
Source: Derbyshire Evening Telegraph
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