Certain skills in life can only be acquired by experience. One of the richest experiences that we can provide our students is the opportunity to experience a different culture, language, history and community through travel – both within Australia and especially internationally.
Through travel, girls find themselves immersed in a different culture, whether it be haggling in a Russian market in Phnom Penh or integrating into a foreign classroom setting. They learn the culture of the community from being physically present and actively engaging with the people around them. They face the challenge of using a foreign currency and communicating in another language. They can also develop a sense of adventure, independence and perhaps find additional motivation for particular subjects at school. Sharing moments with their peers in very different settings not only builds social connections between individuals but also develops their sense of connection with the global community. The knowledge and skills they acquire at Queenwood can be applied and explored in an authentic setting and, particularly in senior years, girls can enhance their resilience, confidence and leadership qualities.
At Queenwood we offer a diverse range of international experiences. Language trips and exchanges can provide an exceptional boost, as there is nothing as effective as fully immersing yourself in the language. They are enriched by experiencing the foods and customs of their host countries and also experience history in a new and very real way. Our girls regularly go on exchanges to Japan, France and Germany, and our exchanges with New Zealand and the UK broaden their perspective by exposing them to very different school and family settings. Those who do not participate in the exchanges themselves also benefit as the exchange partners spend time with us.
In addition to our language exchanges and tours, there are many other opportunities. Our Drama students visit the global hub of theatre in New York and Los Angeles. As they visit workshops and shows, they acquire a deeper appreciation and respect for theatre practitioners, live performance and the processes involved in creating wonderful theatre. At the other end of the scale, our students can engage with the history and culture of a developing nation through our annual trip to Cambodia. The girls are expected to prepare thoroughly by learning about their destination, including its troubling history in recent times, so their time on the ground is not just an opportunity to experience a beautiful and rich culture, but also to see first-hand the impact of history and the knotty issues of global development. The Cambodia tour forms part of our long relationship in that country, providing teacher training and access to education, and we emphasise the importance of responsible and sustainable tourism.
This year we have also become a member of the
World Leading Schools Association, linking us with a strong global network. The Association’s mission is to connect cultures through international programs between leading secondary schools across the world. Many of the member schools internationally are familiar names – such as Eton, Cheltenham Ladies’ College, Brearley, Groton, Harrow, Winchester – and it includes schools in South America, Africa, India, China and more. This association opens up possibilities for conferences, staff exchanges and other activities, the first of which will be a student conference in South Korea in a few weeks’ time. WLSA’s activities aim to create strong and responsible global leaders, and two of our Year 11 girls will travel to South Korean for a week of cross cultural leadership training together with students from across the globe.
We are also excited by future trips currently being planned. These include:
- A Mandarin language tour, during which students will visit the Great Wall of China, the Terracotta Warriors and experience some local Chinese high schools.
- A French language tour to Noumea which will allow girls to practise speaking French through workshops and daily language lessons.
- A World Challenge Tour to Fiji in 2019, with an emphasis on service and challenge through supporting communities in need.
- A History & Latin tour to Europe which is planned to include museums in London, Berlin, Pompeii and Rome.
Queenwood’s strategic direction, Towards 2021, identified the development of an expansive perspective on the world as a key element of a Queenwood education. It states:
- We are internationally minded, developing in every student intercultural understanding and respect and an awareness of contemporary social and political issues which complements and deepens understanding of our own cultural and national identity.
- We have a strong outward focus, actively engaging students in debates, issues and cultures beyond our boundaries, and offering a range of experiences that generate meaningful links with people who have different lives and perspectives.
- This goes beyond our rich language and student exchange programs to curricular, co-curricular and service programs that integrate deeper perspectives. Our partnerships locally and globally aim to create sustainable, long-term relationships with mutual engagement and learning as the foundation.
Our international programs allow girls the opportunity for growth and challenge in line with these longer-term objectives.
Ms Alyson Morgan
International Programs Coordinator