Cambodian students travel to Hong Kong on language immersion trip
Cambodian students travel to Hong Kong on language immersion trip
Earlier in the year, 40 of our students entered our English Language Speaking Contest. The contest’s final round which took place on Tuesday 29 January, saw 15 students compete for the top three places. Prizes included trophies and the opportunity to travel to Hong Kong for a week’s language immersion trip.
On Monday, 3 June 2019, our three winners – two girls and one boy under the age of 18 – travelled to Hong Kong with their English teacher Sothearith to experience culture and education in Hong Kong. For two of the students it was their first time leaving Cambodia and taking a flight. Upon arrival and travel into the city, their teacher said all the students could say was “amazing’’ over and over again as they gazed at the high-rises, bridges and tunnels. It was also a surprising experience for them to see people driving on the left on the high way.
On Monday evening, after their arrival, they visited the Hong Kong Football Club – a long term supporter of ISF – to meet the Crusaders Football Team who had previously traveled to ISF in Cambodia.
On Tuesday, the students experienced their first non-Cambodian style breakfast – bread and scrambled egg, milk and cereal and chips and cookies. They were hesitant at first, but were willing to again try later. After breakfast, they visited West Island School (WIS) and were warmly welcomed with a small gift from English Schools Foundation (ESF) – another great supporter of ISF – and the staff at WIS. Our students were given tours around the school and joined some sessions of classes that sparked their interest. In the evening they met ISF Trustee Martin Murray who brought them souvenir shopping to Temple Market.
On Wednesday, the students visited Ocean’s Park and enjoyed everything it had to offer from roller coaster rides to pandas, penguins and an aquarium.
Thursday saw them back in the classroom, this time with a visit to KGV School and another warm welcome from ESF. Students were again given tours around the school and got into sessions of class of their interest. Sothearith was also given a session to observe an English class and meeting with the Head of English. In the afternoon, the students had the chance to meet Ms. Penny Barsha, Corporate Responsibility Manager at Linklaters and other two staff from Linklaters who chatted with the students about what they do at the laws firm and encouraged them to study hard for their future and learn how to spot good opportunities. The students got a tour of the whole office and the chance to see people working there. They finished their day with a trip to the cinema with Pat Healy, another ISF Trustee and also their host during their stay in Hong Kong.
On Friday, the students enjoyed watching dragon boat racing and a cruise to Stanley. The two girls were seasick but still managed to have fun swimming and joining in on the water sports later on. After a good buffet dinner, the students were taken to the Peak to view Hong Kong from the top of the mountain and enjoyed taking lots of photos from the vantage point.
On the final day of the trip – Saturday – the students wrote a letter of thanks in a book and presented it to their hosts as a token of great appreciation for their kindness. All three students expressed what an amazing experience the week had been and wished they could stay longer. They enjoyed meeting so many new people and using their English language skills and reported feeling much more confident in their ability to speak English.
On behalf of everyone at ISF, we’d like to thank our supporters in Hong Kong who made this trip possible.
