DOHA: Under the supervision of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE), 11 Qatari students are participating in the activities of the Summer Language and Culture Camp held in the cities of Beijing and Hangzhou in China from July 2 to 27, as part of the project to expand the teaching of foreign languages to government school students.
It is dedicated to eleventh-grade students who study Chinese as an elective subject at the Language Center of Hamad Bin Khalifa University. This is the second camp of its kind in which our students participate.
The camp aims to introduce students to the culture of the People's Republic of China, enhance their language skills in a local environment, and their personal characteristics, and introduce them to available future jobs. The camp also aims to enhance global awareness, understanding, and cultural exchange through students' participation in group lessons. Students at level (YCT4) studied the Chinese language intensively at Beijing Foreign Studies University and were given the opportunity to develop their communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills according to the competencies and values of the general framework of the national curriculum.
The camp’s curriculum includes introductory meetings and sports activities, such as a friendly match with the Chinese team, visits to heritage sites such as the National Museum of China, a visit to the largest public square in China, known as Tiananmen Square in Beijing, the Great Wall of China, and the Imperial Palace, in addition to participating in various lectures and Chinese cultural experiences, such as a visit to Beihang University, which is considered one of the best universities in the field of aeronautical engineering, and BAIC Motor Company, where students learned about the latest technologies in the automotive industry.
The team is accompanied by Qassim Al Shammari, Visual Arts and Theater Guidance Expert at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, and Fahad Al Yousef, Administrative Supervisor at Al Wakra Secondary School for Boys.
Student Hussein Ahmed Al Mannai from Khalifa Secondary School for Boys said that the camp was very enjoyable and beneficial, as it enhanced his personal skills such as self-reliance, taking responsibility, and working as a team with colleagues from different nations. He pointed out that it also contributed to developing his social skills such as getting to know different nations.
Student Khalid Ahmed Al-Naimi from Ali Bin Jassim Al Thani Secondary School for Boys said: “I benefited a lot from the camp, as I learned the Chinese language. Despite the difficulty of this language, I was able to develop my skills through my second participation in the camp. I also learned other skills such as respecting time and taking responsibility. I thank the supervisors for their support during the camp period.”
It is worth noting that the summer language and culture camps come within the project "Expanding the Teaching of Foreign Languages to Public School Students" launched by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, with the aim of enhancing the language skills acquired by students during their study of foreign languages at school. These camps also provide an opportunity to learn about the culture of the host country and enhance their personal characteristics through various events and activities.
