Four Wilson High students prepare for trip to China

Four students from Wilson High School in Florence will travel to China for a two-week summer immersion program to improve their Chinese language skills and learn about China’s rich culture.

John “Matthew” Bryant, Thomas Wells, Christian “Todd” Rhodes and Tiffany Collins will all travel to China beginning July 15 to attend the Chinese Bridge Summer Camp, a language and culture training camp for American high school students studying Mandarin Chinese.

Teachers also have an opportunity to attend the camp that ends July 31.

Dr. Mary Bryant, a school psychologist for Wilson, will serve as the group’s chaperone.

The Confucius Institute at the University of South Carolina is working with the Office of Language Council International to recruit qualified high school students.

Bryant said the camp was open to Wilson students, particularly those who participated in the school’s summer Chinese course called “Splash into Chinese.”

She said students were introduced to the Chinese language and culture through that program, and this year’s summer program would expand their knowledge.

“They had the beginnings last year of learning Chinese and learning about the culture,” Bryant said. “Now they’re actually going to China to experience it and see what’s it like.

“They’re taking what they learned in the classroom and applying it to real life, which is what learning is all about,” she said.

Matthew Bryant participated in the “Splash into Chinese,” which was made possible with a STARTALK grant from the National Foreign Language Center at the University of Maryland.

He said he is really excited about the trip because he loves to travel and learn about different cultures.

“I’m looking forward to learning about the different types of food because I love to cook,” he said. “Overall, I’m looking forward to all of it. The people, the food, the sights.”

The students will begin their two-week adventure in Beijing to attend opening ceremony and orientation activities. Students then travel to a selected study site in China for language and cultural training classes.

The camp is organized by the Office of Language Council International, also known as Hanban, and is a division of the Chinese Ministry of Education.

The Office of Language Council International’s mission is to make the Chinese language and culture teaching resources and services available to students and teachers across the world.

All costs associated with room and board, transportation , food, and activities held while in China will be paid for by Hanban.

On the Web

Wilson High School, http://www.fsd1.org/wilson

Office of Language Council International, http://english.hanban.org/zdxm.php

The Confucius Institute at the University of South Carolina, http://www.cas.sc.edu/ci/index.html