SCHOOL-TO-SCHOOL EXCHANGES Exchange programmes in the Modern Languages Department
The best way to gain real global perspective and develop your own cultural empathy is to live for an extended period of time in a foreign country where English is not the primary means of communication.
“Learning another language helps us to gain a deeper appreciation of how other cultures think and perceive the world,” says HoD Modern Languages Susan Harding. “Going on exchange is a perfect way to go beyond the tourist experience and gain real cultural insights. Exchanges also have the added bonus of direct curriculum benefits as proficiency levels improve dramatically upon return.
“From our perspective, as language teachers, we are always delighted to see how much more confident the boys are and how passionate they have become about their learning. “The exchange partners provide invaluable support for all the boys in languages classes when they come. We encourage them to give their perspective on the topics we study and they enjoy being informal tutors for our students.”
“Going on exchange is a perfect way to go beyond the tourist experience and gain real cultural insights.” Susan Harding The Modern Languages Department offers three quality exchanges. The German exchange is our oldest exchange and has been running for more than 20 years. Students from throughout New Zealand go to the Nordrhein-Westfalen region of Germany for approximately eight weeks over our summer, with their exchange partners arriving late February–March for a similar period. Christ’s College has a “brother” school, Konan Boys’ High School in Kobe, Japan. Every year we exchange two boys and have been doing so since 2005. Our boys also go for the December–January period.
Konan Boys' High School campus.
Christ’s College Canterbury
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