In today’s ever-evolving educational landscape, students’ perspectives on learning extend beyond the confines of textbooks and classrooms. It is crucial to introduce students to diverse experiences that can shape their outlook and foster empathy.
While book bans continue to make headlines, there is an alternative approach that can profoundly impact students’ understanding of the world: international school trips. In light of recent events, we will explore the transformative power of school trips (and school trips to China that WildChina can offer) in expanding young minds and fostering a more inclusive educational experience. In this exploration, we will delve into the profound impact of school trips on broadening young minds and creating a more inclusive educational experience.
A study found that, during the COVID-19 pandemic, children lost about 35% of a normal school year’s worth of learning. Because of this, schools, educators, and students are still trying to catch up on the learning deficit created by the pandemic. In order to mitigate these effects, strategies such as tutoring, one-on-one learning, summer programs, or longer school years have been proposed or implemented.
However, there is a concern that some of these methods may further overwhelm students who are already struggling to adapt to the pre-pandemic learning environment. Some researchers suggest a renewed appreciation for the role of play as a supplementary form of learning.
In addition to lost literacy skills, kids also missed out on social and emotional skill development, as well as a sense of community. Play-based learning, or game-based learning, can act as an antidote to pandemic-related losses. Not only does game-based learning support mental development, but also academic learning and cognitive performance.
How A School Trip Can Broaden Students Perspectives
Stories have the power to nurture empathy, confidence, and self-acceptance in students. When these narratives are limited, it becomes essential to leverage alternative avenues of education to provide students with the well-rounded learning they deserve. .
Experience Different Cultures
School trips offer students the unique opportunity to immerse themselves in diverse cultures firsthand. By venturing into unfamiliar environments, students gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for various traditions, languages, and ways of life. Taking one of our school trips to China, for example, is a great way for students to do this. On these trips students would be exposed to not only China’s rich history and unique customs but also the global significance of one of the world’s leading economies.
Global Awareness
Facilitating global awareness and nurturing responsible global citizens are additional advantages of school trips. By engaging with different societies, students are exposed to global issues such as poverty, inequality, and environmental challenges. Witnessing the struggles faced by people around the world motivates students to become agents of positive change.
Empathy and Tolerance
What’s more, school trips can foster empathy and tolerance among students. When they interact with people from different backgrounds, they gain insight into the daily lives and struggles of others. This exposure encourages empathy and helps break down stereotypes and prejudices. By embracing diversity through travel experiences, students learn to appreciate differences and develop a more inclusive worldview.
Language Learning
Language acquisition is yet another benefit of school trips. Traveling to another country creates an immersive environment where students can apply and enhance their language skills in real-life situations. School trips to China, for instance, can significantly improve students’ fluency and boost their confidence in their language abilities. This linguistic immersion ensures a more holistic learning experience that transcends the confines of the classroom.
Independence and Resilience
Other skills that school trips cultivate are independence and resilience in students. Traveling requires students to step out of their comfort zones and adapt to new environments. They learn problem-solving skills, develop self-reliance, and gain confidence in navigating unfamiliar situations. These qualities are invaluable for personal growth and future success.
School trips also cultivate independence and resilience in students. Traveling necessitates stepping out of one’s comfort zone and adapting to new environments. Students learn problem-solving skills, develop self-reliance, and gain confidence in navigating unfamiliar situations. These qualities are invaluable for personal growth and future success.
WildChina’s School Trips to China
If you’re interested in exploring school trips to China, consider checking out WildChina Education’s "Anhui Village Immersion and Service" program. This 5-day school trip to Anhui (安徽, ān huī), China, is an off-the-beaten-path program that combines service learning with history and culture objectives.
Anhui is known for its rich history, stunning landscapes, and unique architecture influenced by Feng Shui and Confucian principles. In ancient times, residents in this area were some of China ’s most successful imperial merchants, building beautiful towns with incredible regional architecture. The ancient stone villages may seem unassuming, but Anhui is home to the exquisite landscapes of the Yellow Mountains, making this stunning architecture even more unique.
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Program Details
Days 1 to 3
Starting off your adventure on Tunxi Old Street (屯溪老街, tún xī lâo jiē), enjoy browsing local tea shops and snack aisles. Lined with Ming-style Huizhou buildings, it will be a pleasant starting point for the days ahead. Students will learn how to make traditional Huizhou snacks from a local master, and then have traditional Anhui cuisine for dinner. Since this activity inspires enthusiasm and engagement, learning how to make traditional Huizhou snacks can be a type of game-based learning.
Students will spend two days working on an Ancient Residence Restoration Program in Anmei Village as part of the Service Learning aspect of the trip. Students will learn the repairing skills of carpenters, bricklayers, and masons from the craftsmen. By the end of this program, they will know how to do this independently.
Days 4 to 5
Continuing in Anmei Village, students will be helping out other members of the local community. They will cut firewood and do some farm work in the fields before having lunch at a local farmer ’s home. Taking care of the widowed elderly is another thing that students will do on this trip. To learn more about what local life is like, students will have the opportunity to talk to students in a rural school.
An integral part of Chinese culture is tea, which students will have the opportunity to learn about. On these school trips to China, you will pick tea with local farmers and learn how to produce traditional Chinese tea. Tangmo Ancient Village (唐末村, táng mò cūn), another stop on these school trips to China, is shaped like a dragon and is one of the first water gap garden villages in China.
Join Us On One of Our School Trips to China
Feeling compelled to move beyond book bans by joining us on one of our adventure-filled school trips to China? Anhui is just one of the many school trip destinations that we offer here at WildChina.
Contact us directly via phone or email, or chat with us through our social media accounts about the off-the-beaten-path places that you want to take your students to. Our Academic Managers can also help you add any learning objectives that you may want to include in your school trip program. We are looking forward to planning a school trip with you, talk soon!
Sources
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/sep/22/democracy-book-bans-us-public-schools-rise
https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/carroll-county-public-school-students-take-a-stand-against-potential-book-bans/
https://firstamendment.mtsu.edu/article/book-banning/#:~:text=removal%20of%20books.-,Opponents%20of%20bans%20argue%20that%20by%20restricting%20information%20and%20discouraging,%2C%20free%20expression%2C%20and%20democracy
https://source.wustl.edu/2022/05/what-banned-books-can-teach-us-about-power-in-education/
https://www.gse.harvard.edu/ideas/news/23/05/new-data-show-how-pandemic-affected-learning-across-whole-communities
https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/30/health/covid-learning-loss-study-wellness/index.html
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03004279.2022.2052235
https://www.playworks.org/case-study/kids-are-still-recovering-from-pandemic-losses-play-can-help/
https://edsource.org/2023/sports-and-play-are-even-more-essential-for-mental-health-after-the-pandemic/697049
https://wildchinaeducation.com/tour/anhui-village-immersion-and-service/
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/china/anhui/tunxi/attractions/tunxi-old-street/a/poi-sig/1241204/356188
