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Cara's shares about her live-video conference with China.
Submitted by cpauchnick on Sat, 2006-04-08 23:08.
Public
Cara, a student at Patrick Henry High School in San Diego, California, U.S.A. wrote about her experience with the live-video conference with students in the Guangxi Polytechnic University in Liuzhou, China.
"Sitting in class while listening to a classroom full of people in a different country has to be one of the most empowering things I've been through. Being able to communicate and being able to see the differences and similarities in a school in California, U.S., and a school in Liuzhou, China, is amazing. I enjoyed being able to see just how small the world is, and how big we think the world is. Talking to several different countries has broadened my horizons and has opened my mind to show me other world cultures. This program can help people of different backgrounds interact and could close the narrow-minded gap that some people live in."
This is her comment concerning having an epal:
"I have learned so much with this epals program. It has opened my eyes to a new way of living. I was able to communicate with a person on the other side of the world and seemed as though they were sitting right next to me. With this program it has made me want to visit other countries with open eyes and an open heart. In my opinion this program should be in every school! This way we could teach the youth of America the values and rewards of learning about parts of the world that seem so far away, but they are really in our own backyard!"
Thank you for your kindness and warmth.
Submitted by cpauchnick on Sun, 2006-04-09 23:11.
Wu Yuyin, Cheng Chunhua, Qin Tingting, Liang Yingshan,
What you have shared is filled with so much kindness and warmth. It has been such an honor for our students at Patrick Henry High School to connect to you at your wonderful university. We hope to continue this pleasure of exchanging e-mails. We have learned a lot from you and we appreciate all of you very much. Thank you very much for sharing.
Sincerely,
Candace Pauchnick
» reply
What did the Chinese students say about the project?
1. Wu Yuyin: This course gives me a bridge which leads me to the real English kingdom, and becomes my important enlightenment……Once I receive a letter (she meant an email.---yaodong), I will think about it before I embark on writing. I feel my mind has a lot of sentences dancing and shining. My epals are to be appreciated…….E-learning teaches me how to communicate. When I communicate with a foreigner, I should know beforehand his or her culture. So, would not hurt anybody. I have an epal who is a black American .He minds everything concerns with race…..E-learning gives me a profound impact. I like writing e-mails and chatting. I always try to be kind and friendly. Although I can’t speak to them ,when I type the words into the screen I feel y emotion, my caring, my love transform through the line and reach people right on the other side. And I certainly feel rewarded. Their kindness ,their love gives me the true pleasure and integrate my life.
2. Cheng Chunhua: (After the e-learning course) I realized that we can study English by ourselves. We can learn by ourselves. The teacher becomes an indicator (She meant facilitator) to supervise us. We can doubt what he said and find enough evidence to argue with him. The book is not the only tool any more…..I make a friend and we share every interesting thing with each other; on the other hand, he can point out my mistakes in e-mail and correct them. I learn from the mistakes, modify them and use them correctly.
3. Qin Tingting: It seems that the (e-learning) teacher open a door which leads to a new world of English learning. After I study this subject, I feel learning English is no longer boring. It is colourful, vivid and imaginative. With the variety of Internet resources, my interests of learning English is aspired again.
4. Liang Yingshan: I made some foreign friends by some foreign BBS. Olim is Russia, 23 years old. He teaches me a lot of web language and told me that I can ask him if I meet problems. He said he will help me as possible as he can…..He is busy with his work while I am busy with my study, neither of us have enough time to write a snail letter for each other. Email is quick and convenient…..Raja is another good foreign friend of mine. He is from Indian. He is 25 years old this year. He is a lovely boy. When I told him my English he asked my Chinese name because he is interested in China……He said that in his hometown every family has a family God, every child must follow their family God. When I told him I had met some problems in my study, he would encourage me not to lose heart. ”Learn from the past, plan the future and enjoy present.’ He said to me………Internet is very useful. It makes us get closer and closer, make the world smaller and smaller, and make our life more and more convenient.