Year 8 China Immersion Experience

Haileybury’s renowned language and cultural immersion experiences offer Year 8 students the opportunity to take their learning beyond the classroom and into the world. With destinations including Japan, France, Mauritius and China, these tours allow students to develop their language skills, while gaining a deeper understanding of different cultures and ways of life.

This year marked the first time that Haileybury Pangea students had the opportunity to participate in the program, and Year 8 student, Felix, joined the China Language Tour, an experience that has been inspiring students for almost 10 years.

Over an action packed 12 days, students travelled through Shanghai, Xi’an and Beijing, before concluding their journey with a visit to Haileybury Tianjin School where they met local students, connected with buddies, engaged in language and cultural lessons, and enjoyed friendly badminton games.

Having studied Chinese since Year 7, Felix was keen to see how the language he had been learning could be used in a true immersion experience.

“I’d been learning Chinese for a while, but I wanted to take my studies into real life,” he said. “When I heard about the opportunity, I thought it would be an amazing opportunity to travel somewhere I, or anyone in my family, had not visited before.”

Felix recalls the moment he will never forget. “I’ll never forget landing in China and stepping off the plane. I expected it to be similar to other countries I’d visited, but it felt like a completely different world.

“Melbourne suddenly felt tiny in comparison. It was amazing to see how much progress is happening in China from electric cars, robot room service and so much more.”

Throughout the tour, students explored some of China’s most iconic landmarks and participated in a wide variety of cultural experiences. For Felix, two highlights were visiting the Great Wall, and sharing a fun Karaoke session with his fellow travellers.

“The Great Wall was amazing. The scenery and mountains surrounding it were so beautiful and unlike anything I’d ever seen before. It felt so cool to be walking on a wall that people had been walking on for centuries.”

His second favourite experience shows how quickly friendships can be formed when students share new adventures together.

“The karaoke in Xi’an was so much fun. Singing together helped us connect so much more as a group, and it was especially interesting to learn and sing Chinese songs. It set our playlist for the rest of the trip, and I still have them stuck in my head.”

The immersion program brings together students from across Haileybury’s four campuses with the addition of Haileybury Pangea, creating opportunities to build new friendships while sharing a common interest in language and culture. As the only student from Haileybury Pangea participating, Felix arrived not knowing anyone.

“At the beginning, I didn’t know a single person,” he said, “but by the end, I knew everyone and we felt like we had known each other for many years, even though we had only known each other for 12 days.”

For Felix, one of the greatest benefits of the tour was the opportunity to practise Chinese in everyday situations.

“It’s one thing to learn how to order a meal on paper. It’s something else entirely to be in the moment, reading Chinese, speaking Chinese and responding in Chinese.”

He noticed a huge improvement in both his pronunciation and conversational confidence. Like many travellers to China, Felix quickly learned the art of negotiating at the local markets.

“On one of the final days, I managed to haggle a souvenir down from 150 yuan to 25 yuan!”

The itinerary provides a glimpse into China’s rich history, traditions and innovation. Students visited icons such as the Shanghai Tower, explored the ancient water town of Zhujiajiao, experiencing traditional Hanfu dress, toured the world-famous Terracotta Warriors Museum and even participated in a hands-on terracotta warrior making workshop. Their journey also included visits to Beijing’s Summer Palace, Tiananmen Square and the Great Wall at Mutianyu, as well as local markets, shopping districts and entertainment attractions.

“I didn’t realise how diverse and interesting Chinese culture is,” he said. “I learned so much about China’s dynasties, emperors and history.”

“Most interestingly, I didn’t realise how well China blends traditional culture with new tech. “When we were visiting the Great Wall, we saw bipedal robots marching nearby. Seeing modern technology alongside such an ancient landmark captured how China merges history with innovation.”

Since returning home, Felix has shared his experiences with the younger cohorts at a school assembly, encouraging them to embrace similar opportunities when they arise. “One hundred per cent go for it,” he says.

In addition to improving language skills, the tour helped him develop greater independence, confidence and time management skills, while reigniting his passion for travel.

“If I could go back tomorrow, I would gather up everyone who went on the trip and go back to do Karaoke, visit the Great Wall and see all the sites again. I couldn’t have asked for a better crew, and I don’t think there’s a better trip to go on.”

Joshua Wang, Head of Chinese – Middle School, says that staff enjoy seeing the growth in our students and the strong sense of community that develops throughout the trip.

“Travelling together allows us to get to know students in a very different way from the classroom, and it is wonderful to see new friendships form and students support and look out for one another,” he says.

“As the trip progresses, we also see students become noticeably more independent, confident and mature. It is incredibly rewarding to witness that growth and to share experiences and memories with students that stay with them well beyond the trip.”