Proposal for the Summer Youth Exchange Programme (5A)

1. Introduction:

A student exchange programme is going to be organized this summer. We aim at helping them to learn about some Chinese customs and their life in Hong Kong. 50 to 55 students, aged 15-17, from the United States are visiting Hong Kong and staying here for about three weeks. We would like to suggest some interesting and cultural activities for them to do as well as provide them with opportunities to mix with local students.

2. Activities fro learning about life in Hong Kong

2.1 Visiting Tai O

Hong Kong was developed from a fishing community into an international financial center. It would be interesting to learn the history of Hong Kong by visiting Tai O because it is a famous fishing town and well known as “Venice of Hong Kong”. Furthermore, the exchange students could taste seafood in Tai O in different cooking methods, such as stir-frying, steaming and stewing, which are distinguished from western styles of roasting and baking.

2.2 Visiting Temple Street

I suggest we could visit Temple Street at night, where fortune-telling service could be found. It reflects Chinese traditional culture and beliefs. I believe it could be an impressive experience for them. Besides, we could find some Chinese products such as Chinese stamps, Chinese paintings, and so on.

2.3 Visiting Ping Shan Heritage Trail

Hong Kong is characterized by it skyscrapers. Yet, it is also eye-opening for the exchange students to visit our historical sites. The hexagonal Tsui Shing Lau Pagoda in Ping Shan Heritage Trail is perhaps one of the most striking architectural works. We could also spot other temples along the trail. The life of the old-day Chinese would be displayed to the students.


3. Activities to mix foreign with local students
3.1 School visit
In order to provide a chance for foreign student to realize Hong Kong’s teaching and learning style, we would like to arrange a school visit. We are going to form groups consisting of the exchange and local students. By doing so, they could interact with each other well as they are all in their teens.

3.2 Sports day
Sport is considered the common language and culture all over the world so we could hold a sports day to help the students to further mix together. For example, students from the United States and Hong Kong could form teams to compete with each other in a basketball competition. In this case, we could foster cooperation, team spirit and communication among the students.

4. Conclusion
We strongly believe that these activities could help the foreign students to experience Hong Kong life and make friends with local students. The activities would definitely leave them memorable episodes.