From May 19-26, Headmaster Peter Benedict traveled to China to strengthen MVS’ relationship with a sister school. The following is a reflection on that trip.

Letter by Headmaster Benedict

The last week of May 2012, I visited the Second Foreign Language School of Nanshan in Shenzhen, China to solidify the next steps in an evolving partnership with our Chinese sister schools. (We also enjoy a partnership with NFLS – The Nanjing Foreign Language School, Nanjing, China.) During the visit, I met with administrators, students, and parents to discuss our relationship.

Background on Exchange Elements:

Exchange programs typically involve a quid pro quo exchange of students, teachers, and administrators, but as this partnership has evolved, we have discovered that each school has different goals. One of the purposes of this trip was to revise our original agreement, signed in the summer of 2010, which was a more typical exchange agreement and to sign a partnership agreement that more accurately reflected our goals.

History with SFLSN

Spring 2010 – Connection made through MVS teacher and The Ohio State University
Summer 2010 – Bill Glisson travels to China to sign Partnership Agreement
Spring 2011 – Principal of SFLSN visits MVS
Summer 2011 – 19 MVS students visit SFLSN
Fall 2011 – MVS teacher teaches at SFLSN for three months
Fall 2011 – SFLSN teaches at MVS for three months
Spring 2012 – Peter Benedict travels to China to update Partnership Agreement

Structure of Program:

At SFLSN (an 8-year-old, grades 1-9, public school), students participate in a rigorous curriculum that includes daily English instruction. There are more than 200 students per grade and the school has received recognition as the number one school in a city of 13 million people. In grade seven, 50 students join a three-year American Studies Program, designed to prepare them for high school (grades 10-12) in America. Students in this program take additional math and English classes each day taught by American teachers. Affluent parents pay the additional costs of the program. The first cohort of the Program is just finishing seventh grade. The Program is designed as follows:

Grade 7
•American teachers
•All students attend MVS summer program

Grade 8
•Select students homestay at MVS
•American teachers

Grade 9
•Apply for American high school
•MVS attracts 5-7 students

The Partnership:
MVS Provides
• American teacher(s)
• Curriculum support
• MVS Summer Program (between grades 7-8) for up to 50 students
• 2-week homestays in grade 8 for select students
• Certificate of completion of the Program
• American experience for visiting SFLSN teachers

SFLSN Provides
• Homestays for visiting MVS students
• Coordinating support for upper school China Immersion
• Access to recruit 5-7 tenth-grade students who have completed the program
• Chinese experience for visiting MVS teachers
• Compensation for MVS summer program and American teachers