From July 21 to 28, 17 students from Grade 8 to Grade 9 of Guangzhou SCA School traveled to Singapore to kick off an 8-day exchange program at Hwa Chong International School (abbreviated as "HCIS").
This program is part of the long-term collaborative exchange initiative jointly launched by SCA and HCIS. Every year, the two schools regularly carry out student exchange visits. Students engage in immersive learning at each other's schools, and through classroom participation and daily life, establish an intuitive understanding and personal perception of different educational cultures.
This year's exchange program not only focuses on "stepping into the campus" but also extends to "stepping into the city", guiding students to comprehensively experience Singapore's educational philosophy and cultural background from the two dimensions of "learning" and "living".
The students attended classes together with those from HCIS, studying core subjects such as Chinese, English, and Mathematics, and experiencing the diverse and open classroom atmosphere. During the daily CCA (Co-Curricular Activities) time, they also participated in CCA programs including archery, badminton, and basketball, actively engaging in campus club life.
On July 24, the students specially participated in HCIS's featured program - the Shamrock Programme. As a key course integrating interdisciplinary learning and practical exploration, this program encourages students to step out of textbooks, learn through real scenarios and team collaboration, so as to broaden their horizons and stimulate thinking.
In this activity, students were divided into groups and went to different learning sites, including the National Natural History Museum, Math Trail, Middle Eastern Drum experience, and Singapore Sustainability Gallery. Through exploring and interacting with partners from different cultural backgrounds, students not only felt the diverse possibilities of learning but also deepened their understanding of global issues and local culture.
In the second half of this exchange experience, the students started a "cultural visit to the city".
From interactive learning at the Science Centre Singapore, to the multicultural "walking reading" at Gardens by the Bay, National Gallery Singapore, Kampong Glam, and Katong Peranakan Cultural District, and then to the leisure exploration at Universal Studios Singapore and Singapore Zoo, they perceived the ecological philosophy, multiculturalism, and urban vitality of this "Garden City" through various urban routes. They also gradually learned to build connections, observe the world, and express themselves in a foreign country.
Exchange learning is far more than "having classes in another place"; it is a real cultural traversal and self-challenge. It not only allows students to walk into different classrooms, compare the differences and commonalities of educational concepts, but also encourages them to walk into the city and the crowd. In the process of adapting to language, culture, and social interactions, they build confidence, expand their boundaries, and gain precious experiences of independent growth.
