"Ms Deng, is my sister as tall as you yet?" This was the first question that Oscar, the student ambassador from far away in the UK, asked his Banzhuren, Ms Deng, during a video call with the BMH homeroom.
It was easy to answer this question because the next moment Ms Deng had Oscar's sister, Mia, walk up to the camera and stand alongside her. It was also a difficult question to answer, the height could be measured but no one could solve the problem of "I miss you".
In mid-May, the two student ambassadors each had a video call with their BMH class teachers and classmates. Not only did Richard and Oscar miss everything about BMH, but their classmates missed them as well. When Richard and Oscar's faces appeared on the screen, all the children in the class cheered and shouted their names.
The following text was compiled from a video call with Richard and Oscar, and is a fresh take from these two spirited kids.
The children in both classes asked the question, "Will there be Chinese lessons in the UK?"
The answer was, of course, no. Richard and Oscar, like all students at UK schools, had the challenge and opportunity of having all lessons taught in full English.
Richard shared with his classmates that they are studying Harry Potter in their English classes this term and he even thought that English lessons in the UK would be easier than at BMH. During the conversation, Richard's expatriate Banzhuren, Ms Melia, noticed a marked improvement in Richard's English pronunciation and communication fluency.
Oscar told us that his English has improved as he has had to adapt to the English lessons and communicate with his classmates in an English-only environment. However, he still needs to work hard to keep up with all his English lessons and exams.
▲Oscar introduced his classmates to boarding parent Mr Lawton
When it comes to the teaching methods in the UK, Richard gave us a vivid example. He said his last maths lesson was a class study on how to throw paper balls into the bin, everyone had a go and the teacher had various ways of playing games in class so it was always fun in class.
When sharing the best thing that had happened in the past month, they talked about very detailed and childish things.
Oscar was happy that he had made a good friend, even though he didn't know what country his friend is from; the day before the video call they had both eaten an entire large pizza in the canteen; they were surprised and happy that there was very little homework in the UK, almost only once a week or two; after the video call they would have one week of bank holiday in the UK and they can move to a new House ......
▲Richard had the pizza he loves at the Italian Food Festival
They described the events they have attended at Bromgrove UK as "more than you can imagine" - sports days, theatre plays, Italian food festivals, coronation ceremonies ...... They kept telling us about the events they had attended and it all ended up with the word 'fun'.
For the two young boys, the fact that they can drink water straight from the tap is the most different thing they have encountered in the UK. The curriculum and communication at school were not too difficult for them, as they were learning to live in England like any other child, accepting the local customs as they are.
The problem for the two young footballers is why the school football pitch is made of real grass. If it rains, the pitch is muddy and they get mud on it easily. Let them struggle with this problem, as the joy of a real grass pitch will hopefully be felt in one day.
▲The Astro Field mentioned by Richard
After a month away from their families and school, the two children have experienced the challenges of being 'new to the UK', missing home and friends and Chinese food, but always giving us positive feedback. During our weekly phone calls they sit together and play around, putting their faces close to the screen and counting off what they had for breakfast this morning, looking at each other and laughing...... We think it's more important how they come across than what they say, so we are overjoyed after each call.
At the end of the call with the class, Richard asked the class what had happened at school recently. The children mischievously held up test papers and workbooks that had accumulated on Richard's desk, causing Richard to frown in the video in a rare moment.
Don't worry kids, enjoy your homework-free days in the UK!
