The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
Pupils from Coláiste Muire will be among the largest ever delegation of transition year pupils to visit China with University College Cork (UCC) this Easter. Last year, the school began offering lessons in Chinese to its 60 transition year pupils.
Next week, some of these will be among 90 pupils, and one parent, who will take part in the visit to China organised by UCC, Ireland and Shanghai University. The delegation will include pupils from 32 schools across Ireland who will spend two-weeks immersed in Chinese culture.
One parent was so impressed with the schedule on offer they decided to pay their own way and travel with the pupils from Cork Airport next Tuesday. Coláiste Muire is the only Clare school that will be going on the trip. Coláiste pupils will be joined by pupils from from secondary schools in Kerry, Cork, Limerick, Waterford, Tipperary, Kildare, and Galway.
The demand for places on the Easter Camp programme to Shanghai, which runs from Tuesday until April 16, was extraordinary according to Professor Fan Hong, director of School of Asian Studies, the Irish Institute of Chinese Studies and the Confucius Institute at UCC.
“Beyond the enthusiasm demonstrated by the pupils themselves, many of their parents were incredibly eager to give their sons and daughters an opportunity they never had – to experience Chinese culture and society first hand.
“A series of visits to some of the 20+ schools across Shanghai will not only allow the pupils to actively practice their Chinese, it will also nurture lifelong friendships and mutual understanding between Ireland and China”.
The Irish Consulate in Shanghai will also welcome the pupils and host a session to discuss relations between Ireland and China. The trip is jointly organised by the UCC Confucius Institute, the Irish Institute of Chinese Studies at UCC and Shangahi University, and sponsored by the Headquarters of the Confucius Institute (Hanban) in Beijing.
Between two and five pupils are travelling from each selected school, drawn from those studying the Chinese Culture and Language module as part of TY and nominated by their respective schools. The pupils will be accompanied by Professor Fan Hong, Professor Mary Ruane, Mr Yongbin Xia and tutors from the UCC Confucius Institute, teachers from some Irish schools, as well as teachers from Shanghai University once the pupils touch down in Shanghai.
As well as attending language classes, the pupils will experience many cultural outings, including practical martial arts, paper cuttings, and calligraphy. They will also have time to explore the immense city of Shanghai, one of China’s most populous metropolises and the neighbouring cities of Suzhou and Hangzhou. Pupils will also compile a pre- and post-trip journal, reflecting upon this rare opportunity.
