1.u going global

Visits from China and India sparked 1.u off as the school's first 'global class'

Grenaa Gymnasium is a member of the network Globale Gymnasier and 1.u is our first 'global class.' As such they had their start-up in January with guest teachers from China and India, Liwen and Priyanka.  During this spring term they will in their English class be further introduced to different cultures and be communicating with persons in different parts of the world. This will take place as part of a course on cultural meeting and English as a global language.

 The intention of having the two guest teachers was to inspire them to think differently about themselves and the rest of the world. They prepared for the visits through an exercise focusing on the difficulties in communicating without our usual strategies, like body language, or when e.g. noise from the surroundings or accents "interfere on the line" - or when we are not responsive and patient enough. This exercise resulted in an interesting discussion and in the fact that the students were very responsive and open minded towards our guests.

Well done in your first cultural meeting, 1.u!

Below are some of the students' reflections.

Reflections on our visits from India and China

"Priyanca (our guest from India) was really sweet. I think it was very exciting and I learned a lot. I thought they had arranged marriages in every single family in India. But Priyanca could choose a partner herself, which surprised me." Grith, 1.u

"What was very interesting about Liwen's (our guest from China's) presentation was the one-child policy and how different children are brought up. It was intriguing how different it was from our way. Also how strict parents are and how they have to achieve so much and be pressured into so much homework and extra curricular activities. The homework and extra studying in vacations and week-endes. We live in Paradise compared to Chinese teenagers." Nina, 1.u

"(Liwen told us) that only a few percent make it to the top of the "pyramid of education". You have to be good in elementary school or else you will not enter the good secondary school, high school or college. She described through a movie how important it is to be at peace with yourself and have the right reasons before you make important decisions." Anne-Sofie, 1.u

"Try to think about having no siblings. It must be weird -  also for the parents. China also sounds like a very interesting country. I would really like to go there in my 2^nd year. The two meetings have made me want to see the world and explore new cultures and societies." Regitze, 1.u

"At school in Denmark we make learning into play and the teachers are talking about how funny it is to learn. In China they just learn that it is not funny to learn at all. It is just something you have to get through. When you look at the worldwide examinations China is on the top of the list of best children in school and the highest educated grownups. I am completely sure that you have to make learning fun but I also know that children in China are much better in school because they are been telling that it is just something they got to get through. I don't know what's best, I just know that Chinese children are very good in school and Danish children aren't good enough."  Nanna, 1.u

"I kept comparing what they told us, to my own country and culture. I was both amazed with and surprised about the differences between our two cultures but also about the ways we were alike. It was truly an interesting experience." Kasper, 1.u

"It was really fun and it would be nice if something like this could be done again". Karoline, 1.u

 

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