Through an exchange of conversation and games, Schoolcraft Learning Community students and students visiting the Bemidji area from China shared their cultures with each other this week.
Twelve Chinese students ages 11-16 who are studying English at Concordia Language Villages, where Schoolcraft is located, spent Monday morning with sixth- and seventh-graders at the charter school. The Chinese students, who have all studied English in school in China, are participating in a two-week CLV English language immersion program.
"They're from three different schools in the southern city of Yangzhou," said Laura Dehler-Seter, who runs English language immersion programs with CLV. "They're here for one week in Bemidji and three days in Fargo and three days in the Cities."
Schoolcraft's Marilyn Delaney, who teaches sixth- and seventh-grade social studies and math, invited the Chinese students to join Schoolcraft students for the morning. She noted that her social studies class is studying ancient China.
"It's just a great cultural experience," Delaney said. "It's just fun to watch them interact with each other because they're really just all kids."
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During the morning, the students taught each other games from their countries. And at lunch, Schoolcraft students were paired up with the Chinese students so they could eat together.
One of the Chinese students, 15-year-old Kaijian Chen, visited Schoolcraft two years ago in the fall when he participated in another English language immersion program through CLV. He has also participated in two summer programs at CLV.
"It's really cold, but I like the snow," he said of his first winter visit to northern Minnesota.
He noted that he enjoyed his time with the students at Schoolcraft Monday morning.
"It's very cool," Kaijian said. "We talk about different school life. They don't know about school life in my country."
He said education in China is difficult and involves much more work.
"Here, education is more kind of open," Kaijian said.
Schoolcraft sixth-grader Tyler Orozco quickly became friends with Kaijian Monday morning.
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"He's pretty cool," Tyler said. "It's fun to hear about his culture."
He said he learned some new things through the experience.
"I learned some words in Chinese," Tyler said. "They taught us games, too."
