La Salle Study Centre Changjiao
Visit of Hong Kong Lasallian Education Council Members
August 2010
|
Wednesday, August 18, 2010 8:41 AM Subject: Visit to Changjiao LSSC |
 |
Dear All,
Four LEC members (Measure Hung, Victor Ling, Michael Tse and myself) together with one family member (Victor's daughter) visited Bro David's La Salle Study Centre in Changjiao, Dabu, Meizhou two weeks ago during the first half of the Centre's Summer English Programme.
This year's
Programme attracted almost 300 students, from Secondary 1 to University
level. It is a 4 week intensive English programme divided into four
levels. A lot of the senior level students are doing the programme for
the third or fourth year and they all show greater confidence in
learning and using the language.
The first class, for Level 1, starts at 7 am with Bro David doing the
teaching. The class then breaks into small groups of 5 or 6 students
with a senior volunteer leading and drilling the students in practising
what they have learned. The whole process repeats itself for each level
until about 11.30 am when the Centre breaks for lunch. Students of the
lower levels return home for the day. The senior level students return
to do more study in the afternoon. Indeed as they have to help in the
tutoring of the younger students as volunteers, they are provided with
board and lodging (rather basic) in the Centre if they do not live in
the village. There are occasional evening activities (games and drama),
in English, in the Centre to build up an English learning environment
for the students. Apart from the senior students, there are also
external volunteers from Bro David's Lasallian connections. This year
there are 3 teachers and five Form-6 students from Hong Kong (majority
from La Salle College) helping out with the programme.
It was quite an eye-opener to see the LSSC in operation. The students
come from villages and cities in the vicinity. They do not need to pay
any fee (so Bro David is not beholden to the parents if the children
misbehave or do not study hard and have to be expelled). The students on
the whole are serious about learning. Bro David does most of the
teaching with occasional support from volunteer teachers. Seeing him in
action reminds us of the La Salle Brothers who taught us before -
typical Lasallian commitment and dedication to the interests of their
students. The senior students are eager and confident to share their
knowledge of English with the junior students. As for the volunteers
from Hong Kong, the experience of living in a village environment devoid
of modern urban amenities and with children of a totally different
background is a rewarding experience. We witnessed some tearful
farewells between the Hong Kong volunteers and the local students. The
whole programme is infused with the Lasallian spirit of faith (not in
the religious sense, but in the belief of what one is doing), service
and community.
You can view some photos of this year's summer programme by clicking the
following link:
http://lasallestudycentre.shutterfly.com/69
Nicholas
All good things must
come to an end...
...so that better things
may begin!!!
Fraser's Hill -1976 -
BDLiao